US1821339A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1931. w. GREEN 1,821,339

oAs'n REeIawsn Original Filed April 15. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 1 E 5 3 85% ('harlesllllirceq,

Sept. 1, 1931. c. w. GREEN 1,821,339

CASH REGISTER Original Filed April 13. 1927 3 Shasta-Sheet 2 Sept. 1, 1931. c. W. GREEN 1,321,339

CASH REGISTER Original Filed April 13. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I,

avwento'p QQLM i Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. GREEN, OF ILION, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY,

INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CASH REGISTER Original application filed April 13, 1927, Serial No. 183,392. Divided and this application filed November This application is a division of my copending application, Serial Number 183,392, filed April 13, 1927, 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 in conjunction with a particular type of cash register as illustrated in the parent application, their utility is by no means limited to this specific embodiment. The improvements are of such a nature that they may be applied in various modifications to many other types of cash registers and accounting machines.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for indicating or exposing thevalue of a transaction. In this connection the invention relates particularly to the construction and arrangementof the indicating elements and to the provision of improved means for holding up the operated indicators and releasing at each operation those that have been previously operated.

My invention is disclosed in conjunction with indicators of the socalled tablet type,

, since the inherent characteristics of indicators of this type provide many advantages over others. They present a plane surface to the eye and the extent of surface on each is great enough to permit the useof characters of such size that they may be read from a reasonable distance. One disadvantage of the usual form of tablet indicators, how-' ever, as applied to a machine of the general type illustrated arises from the fact that the keys are arranged transversely or the machine and that the ends of the keys must 7 directly co-operate with the indicator stems.

This has usually necessitated a corresponding arrangement of the indicators and keys whereby adjacent indicators of different groups overlap each other. The result has been an indication which is confusing since two adjacent numbers could not be clearly exposed but by changing the form of the indicators and rouping the indicators according to denominations the objection just mentioned may be overcome. Vfhile such Serial No. 318,399.

grouping of the indicators eliminates many of the objectionable features of the prior art constructions in which the indicators are otherwise arranged, the grouping of indicators in different denominations also brings up another objection. Since the indicators, due to their thickness, cannot be arranged compactly enough to bring them all in subs antially the same plane within reasonable anceof the glass through which they are read, if the indication is viewed from any position except from directly in front of the machine, one indicator may partly conceal another and thus interfere with the utility of the indicators. This problem in the machine shown has been solved by dividing the indicators of a particular denominational group further into separate smaller groups. The construction and arrangement which have been devised r sult in an indication which is very satisfactory both from the viewpoint of manufacture and commercial use.

A further object of the invention consists in providing indicators which are simple in construction, being formed without lugs or any other projections, and cooperate with an element so constructed and arranged as to coact with the indicators to hold them in elevated position until it is desired to drop them.

Another object is the provision of a novel and effective means for preventing overthrow of operated indicators.

[in additional object is to provide a novel operating or controlling means for the membar which holds and releases the indicator tablets.

llith these and incidental objects in View th invention consists of certain novel feaes of construction and combination of ts, the essential elements of which are set fo :th in the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter des ril with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specilication.

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the machine in connection with which my invention is 'units, dimes and dollars.

illustrated, the cabinet being cut away to show the arrangement of the mechanism located within. This view shows particularly the grouping of the novel indicators together with the indicator operating means and the various controlling keys.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the construction and arrangement of the indicators and the cooperating retaining bar.

Fig. 1 is a view taken on line d4c of Fig. 1, showing particularly the means for controlling the operation of the retaining bar.

Keg s, key coupler and fuZZ stroke (Zem'ee Described in general terms the illustrative machine comprises keys 32 1 and 2) divided into groups; one group for each denominational order, such as, for example, Gbviously, more amount keys could be provided if more groups or higher denominational ord rs were desired, so as to increase the capacity of the machine. A special key 31 is also provided and is designated as the No sale key, the primary function of which is to release the cash drawer for the making of change.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the amount keys 32 and the No sale key 31 are pivoted upon a shaft 33 supported by the side plates 20 and 21. In order to provide a suitable bearing for the shaft 33, since the side plates are of relatively thin material, these plates 20 and 21 are punched and drawn outwardly at the proper points so as to form portions 3 1 1) in the form of collars, the internal bore being substantially that of the diameter of the'key supporting shaft 33. By the construction just described suitable journalling points are provided for the said support shaft. Lateral movement of the shaft 33 is prevented by the cabinet 27, the sides of which are adjacent the ends of said shaft.

The amount keys 32 and No sale key 31,

V which carry at their respective outward ends or front portions thereof suitable key cups bearing indicia designating the nature of the keys, play in the vertical slots 28 (Fig. 2)

, formed in the cabinet. At their rear ends the keys are guided by slots 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) formed in a plate 36 secured to the cross bar 25 by screws 37 Extending between the side plates 20 and j 21 and resting upon the rear ends of the keys is a key coupler 39. The key coupler is pivotally supported by means of plates 40 and 41 (Figs. 1 and 2) attached to the key coupler and which are suitably apertured to receive a transverse shaft 4-2 located approximately above the aforementioned shaft 33. Said shaft 412 is supported by the side plates 20 and 21 in a manner similar to the shaft 33. It will be obvious that when the forward ends of the keys are depressed the key coupler 39 will be rocked clockwise so that its rearward end will enter the notches 38 of the depressed keys. The purpose of such key coupler mechanism is well known in the art and need not be discussed herein.

As is well understood, in machines of this character means are provided for effecting the entry into a totalizer or registering device of amounts represented by the keys depressed. Various types of means for accomplishing this function are known in the art, and, in addition, in my parent application aforesaid there is disclosed mechanism for this purpose. Since such mechanism does not constitute part of the invention claimed in the present application it will not be herein described.

To insure a complete performance of the started registration before a second operation can subsequently be effected, any suitable full-stroke mechanism may be employed (such, for example, as that disclosed in my parent application hereinbefore referred to). Various full-stroke devices are well known in the art and need not be here discussed.

Indicating mechanism The present invention, as has been previously noted, is concerned particularly with improvements in indicating mechanism whereby the items as represented by the various keys are publicly indicated during each operation of the machine. The indicators in the present instance comprise flat tablets 140' bearing suitable indicia, the tablets being provided with stems which directly cooperate with the rear ends of the operating keys. As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the indicators are arranged in groups of three so that for a full bank of nine keys there will. be three adjacent groups of indicators. By this construction it will be obvious that the indicators are more nearly in the same plane than would be possible if each group contained the nine tablets related to aparticular denomination. Also in the event of the depression of the adjacent keys of different denominational orders one indicator will not hide the other to the same extent as if they were otherwise arranged.

The upper portions 140 of the indicators. as will be seen in 3, carry the designating characters, and the character bearing portions are shown integral with indicator stems 140. The indicators are confined and guided in their reciprocatory movements by having the stems fitted into slots formed in an upper supporting plate 141 which is attached to a cross bar 24; and a lower supporting plate 142 which is attached to cross bar 25. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that, considering the indicators of a group of three, the foremost indicator has its stem offset to one side of a central vertical line of the group so that the stem is in the path of the rear end of its related key. Furthermore, the rearmost indicator of the same group has its stem offset to the other side of the vertical center line so that this stem may also be in line with its related key. The intermediate indicator of the group is different in shape from the others and has its indicator stem centrally located so that it is directly in line with its related key. By this construction and arrangement it will be obvious that each indicator may be directly elevated by its associated key.

The stem 140 of each indicator is provided with a pair of centrally located rectangular slots 143 and 144 which are separated by an integral portion 145. Extending between the side frames of the machine is an indicator supporting bar or bail 146 located forwardly of the indicators and pivoted by integral side arms 147 which are apertured to receive a shaft 148 extending transversely of the machine and journalled in, the side frames 20 and 21. The bar 146 is of channel formation and the lower horizontal portion is formed with a plurality of projecting fingers 149 substantially equal in length and each of which projects through the lower rectangular slot 144 of one of the indicator stems 140. The cooperation of the lower ends of the slots 144 with the fingers 149 serves to stop the upward movement of the indicators when raised by their keys and especially to prevent any overthrow movement of an indicator when the associated key is operated violently and quickly.

The upper portion of the channel bar 146 is also provided with projecting fingers 150, which as shown in Fig. 1, are of different lengths. I When the indicators are in their lowermost position each finger projects into the upper slot 143 of its associated indicator. However, when an indicator is elevated by the associated key the related finger 150 will first be drawn out of cooperation with the upper slot 143 by means which will presently be described, and will then cooperate with the lower slot 144 beneath the cross portion 145, thus holding the indicator in raised position. It will be noted that since the fingers 150 are of different lengths, so as to project into the slots of the related indicator stems an equal amount, a definite rocking movement of the supporting bar 146 serves to disengage all the fingers 150 from cooperation with said indicator slots, thus permitting all the raised indicators to be released at substantially the same time during the cycle of operation of the indicator releasing mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 4 one of the side arms 147 of the indicating supporting bar 146 is connected to a slidable member 151 the forward end of which is guided by a slotted stud 1552 (Figs. 1 and 4) carried by the left side frame 20. The extreme forward end of the slidable member 151 is provided with a lug 153 in the plane of an extension 154 of the key coupler supporting plate 41. A spring 155 connected between the member 151 and a stud carried by the left side frame 20 urges the member 151 and indicator supporting bar 146 rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 until stopped by an extension 1471 integral with the left side arm 147 coacting with the bar 24.

The operation of the above described mechanism is as follows, it being assumed that an indicator has previously been elevated as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, at which time it will be noted that the integral portion 145 of the indicator stem rests upon the associated finger 150 so that the indicator is held elevated where it may be observed through an opening in the upper portion of the cabinet. During the downward stroke of the keys the extension 154 of the coupler supporting plate 41 will cooperate with the lug 153 thereby forcing the member 151 forwardly against the tension of the spring 155, rocking the bar 146 so that at a certain point in the operation of the machine the finger 150 will be disengaged from the portion 145 of the previously elevated indicator. It being assumed that the key corresponding with said indicator is not being depressed said previously elevated indicator will drop to its normal position at which time the portion 145 will rest upon the related finger 149 of bar 146 to retain the lower end of the indicator stem slightly above the associated key as will be best seen in 4. During the downward stroke of the depressed keys the rear ends thereof will cooperate with the stems of their related indicators, raising them so that as the finger 150 is being drawn out of the path of the portion 145 of the previously raised indicator the portions 145 of the newly elevated indicators will be permitted to pass above the related fingers 150, after which time the extension 154 will clear the lug 153 and permit the tension in the spring 155 to force the member 151 quickly rearwardly, thereby rocking the retaining bar 146 so that the fingers 150 project into the lower slots 144 of the newly raised indicators (Figs. 2 and 3) at a point beneath the portions 145 and thus holding said indicators elevated.

When the extension 154 passes by the lug 153 permitting the spring 155 to draw the slidable member 151 rearwardly, rearward movement of the member 151 is limited by the cooperation of the lug 153 with a shoulder 156 formed in the extension 154. This occurs just prior to the extreme downward stroke of the keys so that continued movement of the keys will move member 151 slightly forwardly and, as the keys return, the bar 151 will move rearwardly until extension 1471 strikes bar 24, after which the shoulder 156 will leave the lug 153. This retains the bar 146 in its outward position for a slightly longer time than it would be otherwise,thus affording more time for the elevated indicators to drop to normal.

During the return movement of the keys the substantially. horizontal edge of the era tension 154 will cooperate with the lug 153 thereby rocking the sl-idable member 151 about its pivotal point without effecting any movement of the bar 1 16 and permitting the newly raised indicators to be retained in elevated position. In rapid operations of the machine forward movement of the member 151 is limited by the contact of a shoulder 157 with the reduced portion of the stud 152.

Although the indicating mechanism and cooperating parts which have been just described are shown in connection with a particular type of cash register it is readily apparent that they may be applied to other forms of cash registers or adding machines.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that this embodiment is in '0- 1y illustrative, since the invention is susce=.=-

"tible of embodiment in various other forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

1. In a cash register, the combination of a plurality of indicators having lifting stems, a pair of slots formed in each of said indicator stems, said slots in each stem being sep arated by an integral portion, and a supporting member shiftable into cooperation with the integral. portions of the stems of those indicators which have been lifted to retain the indicators in exposed positions.

2. In a cash register, the combination of a plnrlity of indicators having lifting stems, a pair of slots formed in each of said indicator stems said slots in each stem bein se arated by anintegral portion, and a shift-able supporting member provided with lugs related to the several indicators, and means for shifting said member to carry some of i said lugs into cooperation with the integral portions of those indicators which have been lifted to retain them in exposed positions.

3. In a cash register, the combination of an indicator provided with a rectangular slot. means for lifting said indicator, a supporting plate cooperating with the ends of said slot to limit the movement of the indicator in both directions, and a shif-table device adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the slot to retain the indicator in exposed position when elevated.

4. In a cash register, the combination of an indicator, a lifting device therefor, a pivotally mountedsupporting bar for said indicator, means for rocking the supporting bar into position to retain the indicator exposed when lifted, and means caried by the supporting bar to prevent overthrow ofthe indicator as it is lifted.

5. Ina cash register, the combination of an indicator provided with a. slot, a lifting device therefor, a pivotally mounted supporting bar, means for rocking the supporting bar into cooperation with the slot to retain the indicator exposed when lifted, and means carried by the supporting bar cooperating with the slot to prevent overthrow of the indicator as it is lifted.

6. In a cash register, the combination of an indicator provided with a plurality of rectangular slots, a supporting bar provided with a pair of lugs each normally cooperating with a related one of said slots, and means for moving the indicator and the supporting barso that both lugs will cooperate with only one slot.

7. In a cash register, the combination of an indicator provided with a plurality of rectangular slots, a supporting bar provided with a pair of lugs each normally cooperat ng with a related one of said slots, and means for lifting said indicator and concurrently moving the supporting bar to withdraw one of the lugs from its slot and return it into the other slot so that both lugs will cooperate with only one slot of the lifted indicator.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of indicators arranged in groups and one behind the other within the groups, the stems of said indicators being provided with rectangular slots, a supporting bar provided with means cooperating with saidslots and adapted to hold one in each of a plurality of groups elevated and meansfor moving said bar so constructed and arranged that all of the elevated indicators willtbe released at substantially the same time regardless of their positions within the groups.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of keys, a corresponding number of indicators adapted to be lifted thereby, a rectangular slot formed in each indicator, and a supporting bar for the indicators cooperating with the indicators for holding them elevated when lifted by their associated keys and cooperating with the slots to prevent overthrow as the indicators are lifted.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an indi 'ator, a supporting bar to hold said indicator when el vated, and means comprising a lug carried by the bar cooperating with a slot formed in the indicator tolimit the movement of said indicator.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of indicators, a supporting device therefor, an operating mechanism, means operated by the operating mechanism for rocking the supporting device against the action of spring tensioning means, and means controlled by said first mentioned means to arrest the initial return movement of. said supporting device when it is released for movement'by the spring tensioning means.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of liftable indicators, a supporting bar therefor, an oscillatory operating mechanism, a spring for urging said bar in one direction, means actuated by the operating mechanism on movement of the latter in one direction for rocking the bar against the tension in the spring to release previously lifted indicators and for subsequently permitting the spring to rock the bar to hold the indicator in lifted position, and stop means carried by said first mentioned means for limiting the initial return movement of said bar when it is rocked by said spring.

13. In a machine of the class described, a group of indicators all arranged in a roW one directly behind another, a stem extending downwardly from each indicator, said stems being each arranged in a different plane transversely and longitudinally with respect to the others, a slot formed in each of said stems, and a bail provided with tWo sets of fingers one of each set of Which enters a slot in one of said indicators, the fingers of one set being of equal length and the fingers of the other set being of unequal lengths.

14:. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of liftable indicators, a supporting bar therefor, an actuating member attached to said supporting bar, an oscillatory operat ing member having a plurality of abutting faces for successively engaging said actuating member during movement of said operating member in one direction.

CHARLES W. GREEN.

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