US1763697A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1930. F. FULLER 1,763,697

CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 19, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet l fi'edericlf. LTI'J/lel:

I atfotneg jam? T CASE REGI S'IfEF.

Sheets-$heet Original New deriefi June 17, 1930. F. L. FULLER 1,753,697

' CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 19 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fieden'cQLfbl/en MZM Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK L. FULLER, OF ILION, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON ARES COH- PANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CASH REGISTER Original application filed November 19, 1918, Serial No. 263,125. Divided and this application flied 1928. Serial This invention relates to cash registers in general, and has more particular relation to interlocking mechanisms whereby it is necessary to depress a key of one class prior to a key of another class in order to release the machine for further operation.

This application is a division of the inventors co-pending application, Ser. No. 263,125 filed November 19, 1918 to which reference may be had for a more complete description of the cash register to which the present invention has been applied. While the improvements set forth in this application are shown applied to a particular type of cash register illustrated in the parent application, the invention is not limited to this specific embodiment, as the improvements are of such a nature that they may be applied in various modifications to many other kinds and principles of cash registers and accounting machines.

The invention relates more particularly to cash registers of that class in which the operatin keys of diflerent groups may be suceessivdiy coupled or attached to a key coupler or a common member so that a number of keys may be successively attached to the key coupler and the operation of all of them then completed by giving the key coupler a full movement byfully depressing any of the attached keys. ,The provision of means for thus permitting the successive connection of the keys to the key coupler renders it unnecessary to simultaneously depress all of the keys which maybe re uired at a given operation, so that their com ined values as represented by more than one key may be indicated, registered and printed by one hand if desired.

The mechanisms whereby the above mentioncd functions and results are obtained usually have no means whereby it is necessary Kay 4,

special indications, such as the clerk operating the machine, departmental designations, or the like, so that each transaction will be completely identified. To eifect such a result the present invention employs an improved type ofinterlocking mechanism in connection with the coupling device whereby it is necessary to depress one of the special keys before the keys of other groups may be operated.

A practical objection which has been found in the use of that type of machine whereby the keys may be successively attached-to the key coupler is that keys of certain groups may inadvertently be slightly depressed beyond a certain point and since the mistake cannot be corrected the amount represented by that key would have to be indicated and registered whether it corresponds to the amount of the sale or not. It is an object of the present invention to provide improved means associated with certain keys and in connection with the interlocking devices, whereby the key coupler may not be moved beyond a position in which keys may be connected therewith, even though the keys are operated violently and wit-h considerable force. This mechanism is ositive in its action, precluding any possi ility of the disarrangement of the machine performed either accidentally, or intentionally by prejudiced persons.

It is a further object of the present invention to include pendants or key stops of the usual type whereby it will be impossible to depress more than one key in a certain roup preventing disarrangement of the di erential devices with a corresponding confusion in the indication and printed record.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts,

portion the back of the machine showing in detail the interlocking mechanism and the associated with the various groups in normal position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the position that the interlocking devices occupy when a clerks key has been partly depressed.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs..3 and 4 showing the position of the parts when a clerks and amount key are fully depressed.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the interlocking mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the machine showing a modification of the present invention, the parts being shown in normal position.

Figs 8, 9 and 10 are detail views of the modified form of the interlocking device shown in Fig. 7, showing the position the interlocking devices occupy when keys of two groups are moved to different positions.

Keyb om'd pendants keys all The illustrative machine is provided with three classes of keys. There are three different groups of amount keys, onegroup for entering amounts from 1 to 9c, one group for amounts ranging from 10 to 90 and the remaining groups, for amounts from $1.00 to $7.00 inclusive. Four transaction keys are also provided for denoting the type of transaction entered in the machine, and the remaining group of keys comprises two keys, designated as clerks keys, A and B.

The transaction keys which are shown in Figs. 1 and 3 are designated by reference character and comprise a series of four keys for designatin the following transactions paid out, charge, no sale and received on account. Each of the transaction keys is provided with suitable key caps bearing indicia to designate the type of transaction registered by that key. Each key is loosely mounted upon a transverse shaft 21 and is guided in its reciprocating movement at its forward end by means of slots 22 formed in the cabinet 23, and at its rearward end by slots 24 formed in a guiding plate 25 attached to a frame 26.

The amount keys comprise a series of keys, the rear ends of which are shown in Fig. 3 and designated by reference character 27, the keys bein divided into groups as hereinbefore exp ained. The construction of the amounts keys is similar to the transaction keys. The clerks keys of which there are two, are designated by reference character 28 4) and are'situated at the extreme left of the machine, and are likewise similar in construction to-the amount and transaction keys.

Key coupler As is usual in cash registering machines of the type used for illustration, there is provided a key coupler 29 journaled at 30 between the side frames, the key coupler resting upon the rear ends of all the operating keys. Mounted upon the nose of the key coupler 29 is a series of pivoted latch: plates 31, a latch plate being provided for each group of amount and transaction keys. Reference to Fig. 1 shows that the pivotal points of the key coupler 29 and the keys are so related that the arc described by the key coupler 29 will intersect the are described by the keys. Advantage is taken of the intersecting arcs for the purpose of latching and coupling the ke s so that a de ression of a single coupled Key will result in a depression of all the other keys that have been attached to the coupler. This mechanism is well. known in the art and will not be described in'detail.

Driving mechanism Connected to the key coupler 29 is a bifurcated plate 32 (Fig. 2) provided with two sets of rack teeth, 33 and 331, adapted to selectively engage a pinion 25 fast to a shaft 34 journaled between the side frames. When the key coupled is rocked by the keys plate 32 is vertically reciprocated, and the rack teeth 33 engage the pinion 35 on its upward movement, while the teeth 331 engage the pinion on its downward movement. By this 7 means a complete reciprocation of the coupler effects a complete rotation of the shaft 34.

It is essential to provide a mechanism whereby once a registration has commenced it must be completed before a subsequent registration can be started. To this end there is attached to the shaft 34 a ratchet wheel 36 against which bears a spring-pressed full stroke pawl 37. It will be noted that a number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36 have been cut away and a single tooth 38 has been provided for a special reason, to be pointed out hereinafter.

Uoupling devices i in its partially depressed enables the operator to indicate and register with one hand a registration requiring the operation of two or more keys, since it obviates the necessity of spanning several keys with his hands in order to secure the simultaneous operation of the several keys. The device for accomplishing this will now be described.

As, stated hereinbefore there are mounted on the key coupler 29 a plurality of springpressed latch plates 31. Each latch plate 31 is' pivoted to the key coupler by means of rearwardly extending arms 39 (Figs. 1 and 2) fixed to the'key coupler and which are apertured to receive the pivot studs 40 carried by cars 41 integral with the latch lates 31. A spring 42 projecting into sockets ormed in both the latch plates 31 and the key coupler tends to rotate the latch plate 41 until stopped by an arm 43 integral with'one of the ears 41 contacting with the upper face of the key coupler. Each bank of amount and transaction keys has associated therewith its separate latch plate 31, which may be operated independently of any other latch plate.

For the purpose of positively raising thekey coupler to what is known as the coupling point any of the amount ortransaction keys may be employed, but in the present instance the special keys designated as clerks keys 28 alone can perform this function.

As will be pointed out hereinafter the amount and transaction keys are normally locked against operation so that in order to operate the machine it is necessary for the operator to depress one of the clerks keys. The group of clerks keys are not provided with a pivoted latch plate 31, but the key coupler has rigidly secured to it a block of the same height as the plate 31, and of a widthsufiicient to co-operate with the two clerks keys 28. 1

When a clerks key is partially depressed it will raise the key coupler to a partially elevated position, the nose of the key coupler and the fixed clock entering a notch 44 formed in the rear end of the clerks key. By mechanism which will be described hereinafter, the clerks key may be depressed but a limited distance prior to the depression of an amount or transaction key. This initial movement of the clerks key brings the key coupler to the coupling point and the movement of the key coupler to this position will effect a partial rotation of the driving shaft 34, moving the special tooth 38 past the full full-stroke pawl 37 (Fig. 2), thus holding the key coupler at the coupling point and the clerks key osition. At this time any of the amount an transaction keys may be similarly depressed and engaged with the key coupler.

Whenever the key coupler has been raised to the coupling point the latch plates 31 mounted thereon will be above the notches 44 formed in the rear ends of the amount and transaction keysyand will bear against the edges 45 of the keys, which edges are-arcs substantially concentric with the key coupler pivotpoints. When it is desired to attach an amount key to the partially raised key cou ler the finger piece on the desired key is epressed slightly. The rear end of the key is thus elevated, and the engagement of the edge 45 with the rear edge of its latch plate 31 will rock said latch plate counterclockwise until the concentric edge 45 clears the same. At this time the latch plate 31 will be free to rock clockwise .under the influence of the spring 42 thereby permitting it to engage the notch 44 formed in the rear end of the depressed key. In this manner any amountke is positively engaged or attached to the ey coupler and in a similar manner any transaction key may be partially depressed so as to attach it to the key coupler. As previously described, the complete operation of any of the attached amount or transaction keys will result in the simultaneous depression of all the keys which have been attached to the key coupler.

Dziferentz'al mechanism The differential mechanism and devices controlled by each of the various banks of amount keys are all similar in construction and operation and a description of one will suffice for all.

Each of the amount keys, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with an upwardly extending arm 48 carrying at its extreme end a roller 49 which co-operates with a slot having two branches 50 and 51 formed in cam plates 52. The cam plates 52, of which there is one for each key in a bank, are carried by 'a frame 53 loosely pivoted upon a transverse shaft 54. The slots 50 in the cam plates 52 are concentric with the shaft 54 while the slots 51 are eccentric with respect to the key shaft 21. From the foregoing it will be evident that upon the depression of an amount key a differential movement willbe imparted from the frame 53. When the frame 53 is operated by a key of a certain bank the rollers 49 associated with the undepressed amount keys in the same bank, will play in the arcuate slots 50 which permit the upward tilting of the frame 53 without interfering with the stud: carried by the unoperated keys of that ban It will be understood that there is a differential frame 53 for each grou of amount keys and transaction keys as well. Each differential frame has secured or connected thereto so as to be movable therewith, a segmental an item type wheel 56. Thus it is evident that when the keys are depressed the corresponding racks 55 are moved and are given a differential degree of movement so that the item type wheels 56' will be rotated correspondingly. When suitable impression (not shown) means is actuated the item type wheels will print characters indicating-the amount and type of the transaction entered in the machine.

Below the item type carriers 56 are two totalizers 57 and 58, the upper totalizer 57 is for convenience designated as the A totalizer, and the lower 58 as the B totalizer. These may be used for the purpose of registering amounts selectively controlled by the two clerks keys 28 so that the related totalizer may be operated by means of the racks 55. The totalizer engaging mechanism and associated devices comprise no part of the present invention and for this reason is not explained in detail in the present application.

Interlocking mechanism- It is desirable in machines of the class to which the present invention is applied to compel a clerk or operator of the cash register to depress his key in order that the proper indication and record of the clerk operating the machine will be effected during each reg istration. As previously stated the clerks keys are first given a partial movement, this movement operating the interlocking mechanism so that it will serve to unlock the keys representing the type of transaction and the amount of purchase, thereby permitting the latching of these keys to the key coupler.

The mechanism whereby the above-mentioned results are obtained will now be described. Referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the rear ends of the clerks keys 28, transaction keys 20 and amount ke s 27 extend through the slots 24 formed in the guide plate 25. The clerks keys 28 co-operate with a pendant 59, the series of transaction keys co-operate with a series of pendants 60, while each group of amount keys cooperate with their respective groups of pendants 61, all of which are pivoted to the frame 26, and lie adjacent to the slotted plate 25. These pendants serve in the usual way to prevent the simultaneous operation of two or more keys in a group which would probably result in the disarrangement of some of the mechanisms and confusion in the printed record.-

The pendants denoted by reference characters 62, 63 and 64, which as will be noted in Fig. 3 are located between the pendants of each group, are of a different form than the other pendants, and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a slide 65. Pivotally connected to the slide 65 is a latch member 66 provided with a downward extension 67 to which a spring 68 is connected, the opposite end of the spring being connected to a stud carried by the plate 25. The latch 66 is provided with an upward extension 69 which is bent forwardly at 70, as shown in Fig. 1 and then extends further upwardly vertically to form fingers 71 and 72 separated b a notch 73 provided for a purpose to be escribed hereinafter. The latch 66 is pivoted at one side of the slide 65, but is offset at 74 so as to extend to the other side of the slide 65, the offset portion being provided with a nose 75 which as shown in Fig. 3, normally abuts against the side frame 76.

It will be obvious from Fig. 3 that none of the transaction keys may be operated due to the fact that their pendants 60 and 62 are locked against oscillation by the latch member 66, since the nose 75 contacts with the side frame 76. Similarly none of the amount keys may be operated since their. pendants 61 and 63 are locked against operation by reason of the fact that the slide 65 is held against movement by the latch member 66.

The pendant 59, however, is not normally locked and will permit the partial operation of one of the clerks keys 28. When a clerks key is partially depressed the rear end of the depressedclerks key will engage the portion of the latch 66,1e sulting'in lifting the latch 66 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the lifting of the latch member 66 will bring the nose to register with an aperture 77 formed in the side frame 76. The clerks key is locked against further depression by the engagement of the bent portion 7 4 of the latch 66 with the lower edge of the slide 65. It will also be noted that it will not be possible to depress the other clerks key 28 since it is locked by the pendant 59. The pendants for other groups of keys, however, are unlocked, since the slide 65 is now free to move, with the result that any of the other keys may partially be operated and latched to the key coupler, as previously described.

The initial movement of any key either in the transaction or the amount key banks will oscillate its associated pendant thereby moving the slide 65 to the right, (Fig. 5) and, the latching member 66 moving with the slide. the nose 75 enters the notch 77 of the side frame 76. Movement of the latching member 66 will carry the part 70 thereof out of engagement with the depressed clerks key 28, and permit a full movement thereof, the clerks key registering with the notch formed between the fingers 71 and 73, and the clerks key to the left lying on the left side of the member 70 and the finger 71. Any selected key may now be fully depressed and the key coupler will carry with it all the keys latched thereto, including the clerks key. Vhen the keys are returned to normal the spring 68 will rock the latching member 66 and slide 65 back to their normal positions (Fig. 3),

and the transaction and amount keys are again locked against depression.

While the construction previously described is a very satisfactory means for accomplishing the desired results it is to be understood that it constitutes only one embodiment of the invention and that other forms of the invention ma be used to accomplish the same results. or example, Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive show a modification which has been found satisfactory in operation, and is in some respects superior to the construction hereinbefore described. In this form of the invention the special pendants 62, 63 and 64 as well as the slide 65, the latch member 66 and associated elements havebeen dispensed with. In lieu of these parts a locking plate 78 is-provided. As shown in Fig. 7 the plate 7 8 extends across the back of the machine and is provided with upwardly bent ears 79 and 80 which are pivoted to the side frames 76. The plate is normally held in aforward position by a spring 81 (Fig. 7) connected between the plate 78 and a stud carried by the right side frame 76. The lower edge of the plate designated by reference character 82 is a portion which is of suflicient length and suitably bent so as to overlie all of the various groups of amount keys and the group of transaction keys. It is so positioned normally (Fig. 8) as to overlie these groups of keys, and, therefore, prevent their operation since the rear ends of each of these keys contacts with the lower edge of the portion 82. The portion of the plate 78 opposite the rear ends of the clerks keys, denoted by reference character 83 extends further backward and downward than the main part of the plate 7 6 and abuts against the rear end of each of the clerks keys 28. Immediately above the clerks keys the plate 78 is provided with a forwardly extending tongue or cam portion 84 which may be engaged by the rear ends of the clerks keys for rocking the plate 78 backward when a clerks key 28 is depressed. Immediately above the tongue 84 is located a stop 85 for terminating and positively stopping the clerks keys after the initial move ment has been given.

The operation of this device is as follows: Each group of amount keys and transaction keys are normally locked against operation. by the engagement of the rear ends of each ofthese keys with the lower edge 82 (Fig. 8) of the locking plate 78, and, therefore, none of these keys may be depressed. The clerks keys, however, are unlocked since their rear ends are free to be moved and the depression of one of these keys will oscillate the pendant 59 (Fig. 7) which will serve to prevent the operation of the other clerks key in a manner well understood. When a clerks key is given its initial movement, the rear end, on account of its engagement with the cam portion 84 will rock the plate 78 clockwise as viewedin Fig. 8 until the depressed clerks key is positively stopped (Fig. 9) by the engagement of its rear end with the stop 85. Rocking of the plate 78 slightly counter-clockwise brings the locking edge 82 out of locking engagement with the rear ends of the transaction and amount keys and releases them for operation. When any of these are partially depressed so that they may be latched to the key coupler,the rear end of the depressed key of any group engages a forward angular cam face 86 (Fig. 9) and rocks the plate 78 still further clockwise, which results in bringing the stop portion 86 from out of engagement with the rear end of the depressed clerks key, and therefore, unlocking it for further operation.

As previously described any key which has been latched to the key coupler may be depressed still further carrying with it all of the keys (Fig. 10) so latched, resulting in a complete operation of the machine by the manipulation of a single key.

In describing the construction of the mechanism of the present improvements it has been necessary incidentally to give a. thorough explanation of the operation of both the preferred form and the modification described, hence further description of the operation would be superfluous.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described in considerable detail and there has been specified the preferred forms of the parts with their relative arrangement and co-action, it is to be understood that these constructions merely are illustrative examples of an inventive concept susceptible of a variety of modifications all comin 'within the scope of the claims which fol ow What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of keys, a special key havinv an initial and a final movement in. one direction, pendants for the series of keys constructed to prevent the operation 0 more than one key in the series, av normally effective locking device for holding the pendants in a position to prevent operation of any key of the series, and means controlled by the special key during its initial movement for disabling the locking device.

2. In a. machine of the class described, the combination of a series of keys, a special key having an initial and a final movement in one direction, pendants for the series of keys, a

locking device for holding the pendants in a position to normally look any key of the series, and means controlled by the special key during its initial movement for disabling the locking device to release the series of keys for operation.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of keys, a series of special keys normally unlocked, each having an initial and final movement in one direction, pendants for the series of keys, a locking device associated with the pendants whereby the first mentioned series of keys are normally locked against operation and means controlled by any of the series of special keys during its initial movement whereby the locking device is disabled to unlock the normally'locked keys for operation.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of keys having initial and final movements in one direction, pendants for the series of keys, a special key, a locking device associated with the pendants whereby the first mentioned series of keys are normally prevented from being operated, and means controlled by the initial movement of the special key for disabling the locking device to permit an initial depression of any of the series of keys.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of keys, having imtial and final movements in one direction, a special key having an initial and final movement in one direction, pendants for the series of keys, a locking device associated with the pendants whereby the first mentioned series of keys are normally prevented from being operated, means controlled by the initial movement of the special key for disabling the locking device to permit an initial depression of any of the series of keys, and a member common to all the keys whereby the initially depressed keys may be simultaneously and completely operated.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount determining manipulative devices, means whereby operation of any of the said manipulative devices efi'ects operation of the machine, a series of independently movable members co-operating with the manipulative devices, a locking device common to the movable members whereby the manipulative devices are normally locked against operation, a special manipulative device and means controlled thereby for disabling the locking device to permit a release of the normally locked manipulative devices.

. 7 In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount determining manipulative devices, means whereby operation of any of the said manipulative devices effects operation of the machine, a series of pendants co-operating with the manipulative devices, a locking device common to the pendants whereby the manipulative devices are normally locked against operation, a special manipulative device and means controlled thereby for disabling the locking device to ermit a release of the normally locked manipulative devices.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount determining manipulative devices, means whereby operation of any of the said manipulative devices effects 0 eration of the machine, a special mampu ative device, a series of pendants co-operatm with manipulative devices, andan interlocking device co-operating with the series of pendants and special manipulative device whereby the keys of the two sets of manipulative devices are required to be operated in a predetermined se uence.

9. In a machine of the class descri d, the combination of a series of amount keys and a series of clerks keys, a plurality of independently movable locking devices for normally preventing the operation of the amount keys and means co-operating with the clerks keys for disabling the locking devices by a partial depression of one of the clerks keys.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of two series of operating keys, a plurality of independently movable locking devices for normally preventing the operation of the keys of one series and means 00- operating with the other series for disabling all the movable lockin devices by a partial depression of one of tfie keys of the second mentioned series.

11. In a registering machine, the combination of two series of keys, a plurality of lockingdevices for normally preventing the operation of the keys of one series, means cooperating with theother series for disabling all the locking devices by a partial depression of one of the keys of the second mentioned series, means for preventing a complete operation of the keys of the second mentioned series, said means being disabled by the movement of a key of the first mentioned series.

12. In a registering machine, the combination of amount keys, transaction keys and clerks keys, a plurality of independently movable locking devices for normally looking the amount and transaction keys against operation, means associated with the clerks keys for disabling all the locking devices for unlocking the transaction and amount keys, stop means for arresting the movement of the operated clerks key after an initial movement and means for disabling said stop means operated by the initial movement of any transaction or amount key.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of sets of keys adapted to be given an initial and final movement, amember common to said sets of keys whereby the initially depressed keys may be simultaneously and completely operated, a pivoted member carried by the common member whereby the keys of one ofthe sets may be connected to the common member during their initial movements, and interlocking devices between the sets of keys requiring their depression in a predetermined sequence.

14. In a machine of the class described, the 1 one set being adapted to partially move a member common to said sets of keys, a pivoted latching member carried by the common member whereby the keys of certain of said sets may be attached to the common member, and an interlocking device between the sets of keys requiring their depression in a predetermined sequence.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of sets of keys one set being adapted to partially move a member common to the sets of keys, a pivoted latching device carried by the common member whereby the keys of the other set may be attached to the common member, and an interlocking device between the sets of keys requiring their depression in a predetermined sequence and acting to positively arrest the common member when partially moved by the keys of one set.

16. In a machine of the class described, the (-on'rbination with a plurality of sets of keys, a member common to all the sets of keys adapted to partially move from normal by the keys of one set, interlocking devices requiring the operation of the keys in a predetermined sequence and means controlled by the interlocking devices for positively ara member common to all the sets of keys.

adapted to be partially moved from normal by the keys of one set, interlocking devices requiring the operation of the keys in a predetermined sequence, means controlled by the interlocking devices for positively arresting the common member at its partially moved position, and means controlled by the keys of another set for disabling the arresting means.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of two sets of keys the devices of one set being arranged to be given a partial operation as a prerequisite to the operation of keys of another set, a member common to all the sets whereby the keysmay be simultaneously and completely operated, a series of independently movable members associated with one of the sets of keys whereby the keys of that set are normally locked against operation and connections controlled by the keys of the other set whereby the movable members are rendered inefiective to lock the normally locked keys.

19. In a machine of'the class described, the combination of a set of keys, a series of pen'dants associated with the keys and adapted to be displaced thereby, a locking member for said pendants normally held against movement, a special key, and connections whereby the special key releases said memher and said pendants for movement.

20. In a machine of the class described, the

movement, and connections whereby the spe-- cial key releases the pendants for oscillation during, its initial movement.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a set of keys, a series of pendants associated with the set of keys, a member whereby the pendants are locked against oscillation by the depression of the keys, a special key having a partial movement, an element common to said keys and adapted to be partially moved by the special key, and connections controlled by the special key whereby the special key moves the member to release the pendants for oscillation during the partial movement of the special key and common element.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame member, a set of keys, a series of pendants associated with the set of keys, a latching member normally engaging a port-ion of the frame member whereby the pendants are locked against oscillation, an aperture in the frame member, a special key, and means whereby the special key moves the latching member to register with the aperture for releasing the pendants for oscillation.

23. In a registering machine, two series of keys, locking means for normally preventing the operation of the keys of one series and means co-operating with the other series for disabling the said locking means by a partial depression of one of the keys of the said second mentioned series, means for preventing a complete operation of the keys of the said second mentioned series,-said means being disabled by the movement of a key of the first mentioned series.

24. In a registering machine, the combination of a plurality of series of operating keys, pendants for each series constructed to prevent the operation of more than one key of each series, locking means for holding the pendants of one series of keys in a position to prevent operation of the keys of that series and means operated by one of the keys of another series for disabling said locking means.

25. In a registering machine the combination of a plurality of operating keys, pendants for each series constructed to prevent the operation of more than one key of each series, locking means for holding thependants of one series of keys in a position to prevent operation of the keys of that series and means-operated by one of the keys of another series for disabling said locking means, said means comprising a latch engaging an abutment and a projection on said latch in the path of a key of the second mentioned series,

whereby one of said keys may displace the latch to clear the abutment, thereby-unlocking for operation the keys of the first mentioned series.

26. In a registering machine the combination of amount keys, transaction keys and clerks keys, means for normally locking the amount and transaction keys against operation, means associated with the clerks keys 10 for unlocking the transaction and amount keys, stop means for arresting the movement of the operated clerks key after a partial stroke and means for disabling said stop means operated by the initial movement of any transaction or amount key.

27. In a registering machine, a series of amount keys and a series of clerks keys, locking means for the amount keys comprising a member correlated with said amount keys for movement thereby but normally precluded from such movement. and means whereby a partial depression of a clerks key adjusts said member to a position permitting operation of the amount keys.

g5 28. In a registering machine, two series of operating keys, locking means comprising a member correlated with the keys of one series for movement thereby but normally precluded from such movement, and means whereby a partial depression of a key of the other series adjusts said member to a-position permitting operation of the keys of the first mentioned series.

29. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a series of amount keys, means whereby depression of any of said keys effects operation of the machine, a special key, pendants for the series of keys, a locking device for holding the pendants in a position to normally lock any key of the series, and

means controlled by the special key for disabling the locking device to release the series of keys for operation.

30. In a machine of the class described, a

5 series of amount keys, a series of special keys,

pendants for both of said series of keys arranged in a common plane, means cooperating with said pendants for normally locking said amount keys against operation and means controlled by said special keys for disabling said first-mentioned means to release the amount keys for operation.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.

Images