US1865647A

US1865647A - Cash register

Info

Publication number: US1865647A
Application number: US344362A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernis M Shipley
Original assignee: NCR Corp
Current assignee: NCR Voyix Corp; National Cash Register Co
Priority date: 1929-03-05
Filing date: 1929-03-05
Publication date: 1932-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1949-07-05
Also published as: AT125371B; FR691081A; GB349619A; DE521908C

Description

July 5, 1932. B. M. SHIPLEY CASH REGISTER Filed March 5. 1929 Zlwtwntoo Berni: M. Shipley y His (Maw ll :3. t.

Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PA'TENT OFFICE BERNIS M. SHIPLEY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND CASH REGISTER Application filed March 5,

This invention relates to' improvements in cash registers and similar machines, and more particularly to improvements in ribbon feeding and reversing mechanisms for such machines.

The invention is illustrated in connection with, and is adapted to be used with machines of the type illustrated and described in applications for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial Numbers 261,996 and 3%,077, filed March 15, 1928 and March 2, 1929, respectively, by Bernis M. Shipley.

It is an object of this invention to providea machine of the type indicated, with a novel spring-actuated ribbon-reversing mechanism. 7 I

Another object is to provide a machine of the type indicated, with a novel control for a ribbon reversing mechanism.

Still another object is to provide in a machine of the type indicated, a ribbon reversing mechanism having a. novel means to insure complete operation of the controlling element.

lVith 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 drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in left elevation of one convenient form of ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism embodying this invention. V

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken through one of the ribbon spools.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 33, Fig. 2, through the ribbon spool, look ing in the direction of the arrows.

The machine chosen to illustrate the present invention is of the press-down or keyoperated type, and is equipped'with a plurality of groups of keys, depression of any single key of any of which groups operates the well-known key coupler through which several functions of the machine are effected. The ribbon frame is readily placed in and V 1929. Serial No. 344,362.

Operation of a key also sets indicators, adds the amounts represented by the particular key or keys depressed, onto totalizers, sets type elements, and takes impressions therefrom on record materials None of the elements for accomplishing these results are disclosed herein, as they have no bearing on the present invention.

In machines of the class illustrated in the above-mentioned applications, it is customary to efl'ect the record of the amounts or other data set up on the type carriers, by interposing an ink ribbon between the type carriers and the record material.

The ink ribbon (Fig. 1) through which the impression platen (not shown) takes impressions from the set of type elements (also not shown), is alternately wound on and unwound from two

ribbon spools

31 and 32, rotatively mounted at the opposite ends of a self-contained ribbon frame or unit removably supported in the machine above the type elements. This ribbon frame includes similarly

shaped sides

33 and 34 joined by

cross pins

35 and 36, projecting from the side 33, and telescoped within the inner ends of tubes 38 supported on studs 39, only one of which is shown, ig. 2), projecting from the side 34:. A cross rod 40, also projecting from the side 34 extends between the two sides and through a hole in the side 33, the outer protruding end of the cross rod having an annular groove formed thereon, adapted to be engaged by a retaining clip 41 pivoted at 42 to the outer face of the side 33 to hold the

sides

33 and 34 together. The

cross pins

35, 36 and the cross rod 40, also serve to guide the ribbon 30 as it is fed at each operation of the machine.

After the removal of the ribbon frame from the machine, it may be quickly disasremoved from the machine. To insert the ink ribbon frame into the machine, it is only necessary to enter the headed studs 42 and 43 projecting from the outer face of the side 33, into the mouths of

slots

44 and 50 in the machine frame 51, shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. The ribbon frame is then pressed downwardly guided by the walls of the slots ,44 and 50until the studs 42 and 43 rest'at the bottoms of the slots.

The ribbon spools are each supported in like manner at the respective ends of the ribbon frame, and only the spool 32, which appears in section in Fig. 2, need be described.

The spools each comprise a tube, from the opposite ends of which project lugs 49 which pass throughperforations formed through

apertured disks

52 and 53 respectively, the ends of the lugs being bent outwardly radially of the disks to secure the latter snugly against the ends of the tube 32, to form a spool, the bore of the tube lying in line with the apertures in the disks.

The spool is rotatably supported at one end on a trunnion 54 projecting inwardly from the side 33 of the ribbon frame, and at its 0pposite end on an elongated thimble or bushing 55 journaled on a stud 56 secured to and projecting inwardly from the complementary side 34 of the ribbon frame.

The trunnion 54 is journaled in the side 33 through which it projects, the. longer inner end of the trunnion extending through the aperture in the adjacent end disk 52 and into the bore of the tube 32. Preferably, the diameter of the trunnion 54 is just sufficient to enable it to pass through the aperture in the disk 52, which aperture, as well as that in the disk 53, is of less diameter than and is concentric with the bore of the tube 32, so that the spool is supported at its opposite ends by the edges of the

disks

52, 53.

The aperture in the disk 53 encircles the thimble 55, the open end of which is outwardly flanged, as at 47, and accommodates the stud 56. The stud 56 is provided with a reduced extension 46 passing through a hole formed in the inner closed end of the thimble, the reduced end acting as a guide for the thimble. A spring 57 encircling the reduced end 46 of the stud 56 and hearing at its opposite ends against the closed end of the thimble and the shoulder formed by reducing the end of the stud 56, serves to advance the tliimble to the left (in Fig. 2), which latter, by its flange 47, forces the spool towards the'left (Fig. 2) to press the outer face of the disk 52 at the opposite end of the spool against a shoulder 48 formed on the trunnion 54, thereby forcing the trunnion to the left. A disk 58 fast on the trunnion is thus pressed against the inner face of the adjacent side frame 33 to create friction which prevents overrunning of the spool and a too-free rotation thereof, for the purpose of holding the ribbon taut at 52 and 58 respectively to connect the disksand the trunnion 54 so that they will rotate as a unit.

Ribbon feeding

mechanism Ratchet wheels

60 and 61 are secured to the outer ends of the respective trunnions of each spool 54 to rotate the

spools

31 and 32, thereby winding the ribbon on one spool, and unwinding it from the remaining spool.

A bell crank 62 (Fig. 1) journaled on a rod 63, supported in the frame 51 of the machine, and adapted to be rocked first counter-clockwise and then clockwise at each operation of the machine, carries feed pawls and 71, pivoted on arms 72 and 73, respectively, of the bell crank. Springs 74 and 75 rock their respective feed pawls 7 O and 71 into co-operative relation with their

corresponding ratchets

60 and 61. However, only one of the feed pawls 70 or 71 is permitted to engage its ratchet at any time, the other feed pawl being held clear of its ratchet by a

stud

78 or 79 therein resting on one of a plurality of lobes 76 on the periphery of a control disk 77 j ournalen on the rod 63. [is illustrated in Fig. 1, the stud 78 on the feed pawl 70, rests on a lobe 76 of the control disk 77, to hold the pawl 70 clear of its ratchet 60, whereas since no lobe 76 is in contact with the stud 79 on the feed pawl 71, the spring 75 holdsthe free end of this feed pawl in contact with its ratchet 61, so that when the bell crank rocks counterclockwise it will advance the ratchet 61 one step or notch in a counter-clockwise direction to feed the ribbon, unwinding it from spool 32 and winding it on spool 31.

To rock the bell crank 62, the end of the arm 73 thereof is forked to embrace a stud 80 projecting laterally from a driving arm 81 ex tending forwardly from the well-known rocking key coupler 82 supported in the machine frame 51, and in another frame, not shown. Depression of any of a plurality of keys 83, a fragment of one of which appears in Fig. 1, pivoted on a cross rod 84, supported in the side frame, not shown, of the machine, rocks the key coupler 82 clockwise, which, through the arm 81 and its stud 80, rocks the bell crank 62 counterclockwise to draw the feed pawl 71 downwardly and thus advance the ratchet 61 and spool 31 one step in a clockwise direction. On this movement, the stud 78 on the feed pawl 70 rides on the arcuate edge of the particular disabling lobe 76 of the control disk 77 to prevent engagement of the feed pawl with its ratchet 60. Upon removal of pressure from the key 83, the force of gravity acting upon the key coupler 82, restores the key 83 to its undepressed position and rocks the bell crank 62 clockwise to its normal position, which restores the feed pawls 70 and 71 to their normal positions.

The feed pawls and 71, on their restoring travel, do not affect the

ribbon spools

31 and 32, the active pawl, which is in contact with its ratchet, merely riding idly over the ratchet to its normal position.

Ribbon feed renaming mechanism Obviously, if the control disk 77 is advanced one step, it will shift the active lobe 76 away from the stud 78, for example, to enable the spring 74 to rock its feed pawl 70 to effective position relatively to its corresponding ratchet 60, and by the same movement, will introduce another lobe 76 beneath the stud 79 of the active feed pawl 71 to rock the la ter to idle position against the tension of its spring 75.

However, the control disk 7 7 remains where set'until the ribbon is practically fed off of one spool and onto the other, at which time, means is provided to automatically advance the control disk one step to reverse the direction of feed of the ribbon.

A pawl 94 pivoted on one arm of a lever 96 journaled on a cross rod 97, engages a ratchet 98 fast with the control disk 77 to actuate the latter step by step. A spring 93 connected to the pawl 94operates to impose a continuous draft on the pawl tending to rotate the ratchet 98 and control disk, 77 counter-clockwise, but such advance of the control disk is normally prevented by restraining means under control of the ribbon, as now explained.

When the ribbon is nearly all'unwound from one of the

spools

31 or 32, it is desired to reverse the direction of feed so as to re wind the ribbon on the spool from which it was just unwound, and unwindfit from the spool upon whichit wasjust wound. Mechanism under control of the well known collapsible spool (see Letters Patentof the United States issued to C. F. Rosien on March 23, 1926, No. 1,578,209) to accomplish this 5 reversing action, will now be described.

The periphery of the disk 52 is recessed, as shown at 90, (Fig. 3), the recess being normally closed and the circumference of the disk 52 filled in by an annulus 91, pivoted at 59 on the

disks

52 and 58. The stud 59-is riveted to the annulus 91 and enters openings in the disks 52 and 28 as hereinbefore described.

The annulus surrounds the tube forming the body of the spool 32, the inner perimeter of the annulus having a lip 92 struck laterally therefrom to lie within an aperture 89 formed in the tube, though this aperture is not essential to the operation ofthe parts.

When the ribbon is wound on the spool 32, it winds over the lip 92 on the annulus 91 and presses it inwardly towards the axis ofthe spool, so as to cause the periphery of the annulus to fill out or complete the circumferential periphery of the disk 52. The tendency of the control disk 77 to rotate under the influence of the spring 93 presses the inclined edge of one of the lobes 76 against a stud 99 on an elbow lever 100, one end of which elbow lever is pivoted at 101, and tends to rock the elbow lever counter-clockwise. A roller 102 mounted on the offset free end of the elbow lever 100 is forced into contact with the peripheries of the disk 52 and its auxiliary annulus 91, and so long as there is suflicient ribbon on the spool to confine the lip against the tube of the spool, so as to maintain the annulus in position to prevent entry of the roller 102 into the recess 90 in the disk 52, the elbow lever is prevented from rocking, and hence its stud 99 in contact with one of the lobes 76 of the control disk effectually holds the control disk 77 against rotation by the spring 93 and pawl 94.

When, after repeated operations of the machine, the ribbon is nearly all unwound from the spool 32, the pressure of roller 102 on the periphery of the annulus 91 as the recess 90 arrives opposite the roller, rocks the annulus 91 and shifts the lip 92 away from the axis of the spool 32, allowing the roller to enter the recess 90 in the disk 52, which enables the elbow lever 100 to rock, carrying its stud 99 clear of the lobe 76. As a consequence, the spring 93 operates the pawl 94 to rotate the control disk 77 until the action of the spring is arrested by the free end 103 of the lever 96 striking a stud 104 in the arm 73 on the bell crank 62. This movement of the control disk 77 is just sufficient to shift the lobe 76 from beneath the stud 78, whereupon the spring 74 rocks the feed pawl 70 counter-clockwise to engage its feed ratchet 60. At the same time, the inclined edge of another lobe 76 wipes beneath a the stud 79 of the feed pawl 71 and rocks the latter counter-clockwise clear of its ratchet .61. Now, when the machine is operated and the bell crank 62 rocks counter-clockwise, the pawl 70 advances its ratchet 60 to wind the ribbon 30 on the spool 32, while one of thelobes 76 of the control disk 7 7 holds the formerly active feed pawl 71 ineifective. On the first counter-cdockwise movement of the bell crank 62, after the control disk 7 7 has been rocked to reverse the ribbon feed mechanism, the stud 104 rocks the lever 96 counterclockwise to raise the reversing pawl 94 to its normal position, so that spring 93 acting through pawl 94 again urges the control disk 77 in counter-clockwise direction. Rotation of the control disk 77 is now restrained by the engagement of the inclined edge of one of the lobes 76 with a stud 110 on an arm 111 pivoted at A roller 113 on the arm 111 rests against the peripheries of the disk 52 and collapsible annulus 91 of the spool 31, which latter holds the arm 111 against movement, thereby preventing another advance of the control disk "7 until the ribbon 30 is nearly all unwound from the spool 81, whereupon the collapsible annulus 91 (not shown) on this spool, yields to permit the arm 111 to carry stud 110 out of the path of the lobe 76, thus freeing the spring 93 to operate the reversing pawl 94: and turn the control disk 7 7 one step to disengage the feed awl from its ratchet 60, and reengage the feed pawl 71 with its ratchet 61.

Since the control disk 77 is spring-actuated, it is conceivable that some peculiar condition might arise to prevent the full step of movement of the control disk. This could result either in holding both the feed pawls 7 0 and 71 clear of their

respective ratchets

60 and 61, or in permitting both feed pawls to engage their ratchets at the same time. Also, in a case of this nature, the reversing ratchet 98 would not be sufficiently advanced, and the reversing pawl 94, when retracted, would fail to engage the next ratchet tooth. To obviate such a condition, a spring-pressed dog 115 pivoted on an arm 116 projecting from the feed pawl-carrying bell crank 62, is given an invariable movement at each operation of the machine, first in counterclockwise direction, and then clockwise to normal. In case the spring 93 fails to advance the control disk 77 its full step of movement the dog 115 on the first operation of the machine following the collapse of one of the collapsible annuli, picks up the reversing ratchet 98 and advances it and the control disk 77 the proper distance.

It is to be understood that the normal movement of the control disk 77 is effected by the spring 93, and that it is only in case of failure of the spring, due to some obstruction beyond the power of the spring to over come, that the dog 115 becomes effective. This dog is, therefore, merely a device to insure that the control disk 77 makes its full step of movement at each operation.

lVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fullfill 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.

WVhat is claimed as new, is:

1.111 a machine of the class described; the combination with a pair of ribbon spools; of feed pawls adapted to drive the respective spools; a single bell crank located intermediate the spools, both feed pawls being mounted thereon and operated thereby; and an intermittently rotatable control disk operable directly upon the feed pawls to hold the pawls alternately out of operative relation with their spools.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of ribbon spools spaced apart from each other; of feed pawls normally adapted to drive the respective spools; a single bell crank located intermediate the spools, one of the feed pawls being mounted on each arm of the bell crank and operated thereby; and means co-axial with the bell crank to render ineffective one or another of the pawls.

3. In a machine of the class described; the combination with ribbon spools of feed pawls to drive the respective spools; means to support and operate the pawls; and a single lobed disc common to the feed pawls to hold any of the pawls out of operative relation with its spool.

4:. In a machine of the class described; the combination with rotatable ribbon spools; of feed pawls to drive the respective spools; means to actuate the feed pawls; a disk common to the several feed pawls and provided with alternate high and low peripheral areas to determine which of the pawls is to become effective; and means to operate the disk.

5. In a machine of the class described; the combination with rotatable ribbon spools; of feed pawls to rotate the respective spools; means to operate the pawls; a single control disc for the pawls, the operation of which disc is determined by the ribbon to select which pawl shall become operative; and means to intermittently advance the disc.

6. In a machine of the class described; the combination with ribbon spools; pawls to drive the spools; and means to operate the pawls; of a single control disc having lobes to maintain one or another of the pawls out of effective relation with its spool; a ratchet wheel fast on the control disc; and springactuated means cooperating with the ratchet normallytending to rotate the disc to shift the effective pawl out of cooperative relation with its spool and enable the previously ineffective pawl to become effective.

7 In a machine of the class described; the combination with ribbon spools; and pawls to rotate the spools; a single control disc to maintain one or another of the pawls out of efiective relation with its spool; a ratchet wheel fast on the side of the disc; and springactuated means normally tending to rotate the ratchet and the control disc to disable one of the pawls and enable another of the pawls to shift into effective relation with its ratchet.

8. In a ribbon reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; a feed pawl for each spool; and means to actuate the pawls; of a single control disk adjustable to successive positions to alternately disable one or another of the pawls; spring-actuated means to shift the control disk step by step; and means under control of the spools to normally restrain the control disk against operation.

9. In a machine of the class described; the combination with ribbon spools; a ratchet connected with each spool; a feed pawl to drive each ratchet; and means to actuate the pawls; of a sin le control disc for the pawls; spring ac uaterl means to advance the control disc step by step to effect alternate engagement and disengagementof the pawls relatively to their ratchets; and means under the control of the spools to normally restrain the spring-actuated means.

10. In a machine of the class described; the combination with ribbon spools; a ratchet connected 'With each spool; pivotally sup ported pawls to drive their respective ratchets; and means to actuate the pawls; of means to hold one of the pawls out of cooperative relation with its ratchet; spring-actuated means to rotate the holding means step by step to alternately move the pawls into and out of cooperative relation with their ratchets; and positive means to insure a complete step of movement to the holding means in case of failure of the spring-actuated means.

11. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism the combination with ribbon spools; a driving element for each spool; and means to actuate the driving elements; of means to control the operativeness of the driving elements, including a control disk common to the elements and having lobes spaced about its periphery adapted to disable one or another of the driving elements; spring-actuated means to advance the control disk step by step to bring one or another of the lobes to effective position; and means to insure a full step of travel to the control disk.

12. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; a driving element for each spool; and means to actuate the driving elements; of means to control the operativeness of the driving elements, including a control disk common to the elements and having lobes spaced about its periphery adapted to disable one or another of the driving elements; means to ad vance the control disk step by step to bring one or another of the lobes to effective position; and ribbon-controlled-means to restrain the advance of the control disk.

13. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism the combination with ribbon spools; a driving element for each spool; and means to actuate the driving elements; of shiftable means to control the operativeness of one or another of the driving elements; means normally tending to shift the control means; ribbon-controlled means to restrain the shiftable control means in any of its adjusted posions; and means to insure a full step of movement to the control means.

14. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; a driving element for each spool; and means to actuate the driving elements; of adjustable means to disable one or another of the driving elements as determined by the rib bon; means to shift the adjustable means; and means operable by the actuating means for the driving elements to insure full step of movement to the adjustable disabling means.

15. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; a driving element for each spool; and means to actuate the driving elements; of adjustable means todisable one or another of the driving elements; means normally tending to shift the adjustable disabling means to vary its control of the driving elements, and adapted to be restored to its effective position by the actuating means for the driving elements; and ribbon-controlled means to restrain theshifting means for the adjustable control means against operation.

16. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism the combination with ribbon spools; a driving element for each spool; and means to actuate the driving elements; of an adjustable control member common to the several driving elements to disable one or another thereof; means normally tending to shift the control member to vary its control of the driving elements; ribbon-controlled means to render the shifting means ineffective; and means to insure a full step of adjustment to the control member.

17. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism; the combination with ribbon spools; and driving elements for the respective spools; of a drive lever on which the driving elements are mounted; an adjustable control member to disable one or another of the driving elements; means to shift the adjustable control member to vary its control of the operativeness of the driving elements; ribbon-controlled means to determine the effectiveness ofthe shifting means for'the adjustable control member; and means actuated by the drive lever to insure a full step of adjustment to the control member.

18. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism; the combination with ribbon spools; and driving. elements for the respective spools; of a drive lever on which the driving elements are mounted; an adjustable control member to disable one or another of the driving elements; a potentially effective means tending to shift the adjustable control member in one direction to vary its control of the operativeness of the drive elements; and ribbon-controlled means to determine the effectiveness of the shifting means; the drive lever adapted to restore the shifting means to potentially effective position.

19. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; and a driving element for each spool; of a driving lever serving as a common support for the driving elements; an adjustable control member journaled coaxially with the drive lever, and operable upon the spooldriving elements to render one ineffective and enable another to become effective; alternately-effective ribbon-controlled means to restrain the control member where last adjusted; means, including a draft member and a rocking support, tending to adjust the control member; means controlled by the driving lever to insure a full step of adjustment to the control member, and to restore the draft member to its normal potentially effective position.

20. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; driving elements for the respective spools; and means to actuate the respective driving elements; of an adjustable control member to determine the operativeness of one or another of the driving elements; a toothed device fast with the control member; a pawl to engage the toothed device to intermittently actuate the control member; a lever to support the pawl; means operable upon the pawl to cause it to tend to actuate the control member; ribbon-controlled means to restrain the control member from operation; the actuating means for the driving elements adapted to restore the pawl to its potentially effective position.

21. In a ribbon feed and reversing mechanism, the combination with ribbon spools; driving elements for the respective spools; and means to actuate the respective driving elements; of a trunnion and a thimble on which each spool is rotatably mounted; means to releasably connect each spool with its trunnion; a friction disk mounted on each trunnion; a stud on which one end of each thimble is rotatably mounted, the thimbles each having a flange tocontact the adjacent disk of the spool; the studs each having an elongated reduced end passing through the closed ends of their respective thimbles to serve as guides; and means enclosed within and operable against the closed ends of the thimbles to thrust the spools axially and cause the disks at the ends of the spools opposite the, thimbles to force the trunnions and their friction disks against stationary supports and thereby retard overrunning of the spools.

22. In a machine of the class described; the combination of ribbon spools; means to drive the spools; and a spring-actuated control disk normally tending to rotate to control the eflectivity of the drive means.

23. In a machine of the class described; the combination of ribbon spools; a pawl to drive each spool; a spring-actuated control disk to maintain one or another of the pawls out of eifective relation with its spool, said disk normally tending to rotate; and means to release the control disk.

24. In a machine of the class described; the combination of ribbon spools; a pawl to drive each spool; a spring-actuated control disk normally tending to rotate to disable one or another of the pawls; means under control of the spools to release the control disk; and means to limit the extent of rotation of the disk when released.

25. In a machine of the class described; the combination of ribbon spools; means to drive the spools to wind the ribbon from one spool to the other and reverse; and a power driven control disk to control the drive means to reverse the direction of feed of the ribbon; and means controlled by the ribbon to release the power driven control disk.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BERNIS M. SHIPLEY.

ion