US1873760A - A cobfobation ojt - Google Patents

Description

g- 1932. I c. w. GREEN CASH REGISTER Filed March 6, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Au 23, 1932. c. W/GREEN 1,873,760

' CASHBEGISTER Filed March 6, 192:5v v 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 l ///////////////1///////mway/10111011110 WNW Jmnmtot c. w. GREEN 1,873,760 CASH REGISTER F1193 llarqh e, 1925 Aug. 23, 1932.

'10 Sheets-Sheet 4 C ha rZeJ (116mm Aug. 23, 1932. c, w, GREEN 1,873,760

CASH REGISTER I Filed MarchG, 192s 1o Sheets-Sheeh 5 int 1? Hill Char/co U). firwn C. W. GREEN CASH REGISTER Fild March 6, 1925 10 Sheetsheet 6 gnwntox Charles Wfi'mm aRonwqA' Aug. 23, 1932. c. w. GREEN 1,873,760

QASHARVEGISTER meg March 6, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 j gwwntoc Aug. 23, 1932. Y

C. W. GREEN 1 CASH REGI STER Filed March 6, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 gwwmtoz Charles W Green as g 4 v Aug. 23, 1932. c. w. GREEN I CASH REGISTER Filed March 6, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 'o 0 0.00TOTAL r Aus-s (lair/es Wfirzm Mug Aug. 23, 1932. c. w. GREEN CASH REGISTER Fild March 6, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet Jwoemtoc E 1 -iwillimwm Ram/w Patented 23', 1932 s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. GREEN, OI ILION, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' MARYLAND L8! REGISTER Application fled larch s, 1925. Serial No. 18,470.

This invention relates generally to cash registers of thekey operated type and particularly to that class adapted to totalize a series of items and employing printing de- 5 vices for obtaining the printed totals and other information.

More specifically, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an accounting machine which will be simple and inexpensiveto manufacture and which will be capable of producing a fprinted record of. all of the data necessary or the protection of theproprietor of a store in which the machine is to be employed. Thus, in addition to providing aprinted record of the total.

amount of sales during a given period the machine of the present invention contemplates the production of an accurate printed record of the number of timesthat the totalizing device has been reset. With this record the proprietor, who is normally the only person authorized to perform a resetting operation is t OIICG IlOtlfit 1f any attempt on the part of a dishonest clerk to erase an amount from the t'otalizer since the last rec- A 0rd of the total was printed. This phase of the invention is specially suitedas well to a system of chain stores in which an auditor is normally the only authorized person to reset the totalizer, while the manager of a particular store may be permitted to print a, daily record of totals. Other desirable printed information is also available by the resent invention as, for example, a recordof the total number of operations of the machine as well as of the no sale operations which together, by mere mental subtraction, will disclose the number of actualsales, while means for identifying the record by date or similar suitable designation is also contemplated. Many detailed improvements are incorporated in the printing section of the machine and among these may be mentioned the provision of special designation printing blocks adjacent each group of printing elements, and the provision of simple and readily replaceable inking members whiclrwill require noconnection to the operating por- 6 tions of the machine for the-purpose offeeding or shifting.

In order that the machine adapted to carry outthe foregoing objects may be properly safeguarded so that only authorized persons may have .access to the various special features and so that misoperations either intentional or accidental may be minimized or entirely eliminated, it is an object of the .present invention to provide a system of general control member, such as a lever, may

be located under the lid for determining whether the machine shall be operated regardless of the position of a cash drawer, or shall require the closing of the drawer between successive operations, or whether the machine shall be locked against all operations, or shall be condition for total printing and resetting. It is also contemplated that a resetting lever shall be provided under the locked lid so that under proper condi tions the proprietor or other'person' having control over the lid lock shall be able to reset the various registering elements. The placing of the total printing mechanism as well as the bell muffler control under the same locked cover is in accordance with the object to simplify the protection of these features.

In connection with the various operable elements of the machine, such as the operating keys, the general control lever, the resetting mechanism, and the printing mechanism, it is an object to provide a simple and effective locking and interlocking systemto properly regulate their operation. For example, the system may be so designed that in certain positions of the control lever none of the remaining elements maybe operated, whereas in other positionsof this lever merely the o crating keys may be operated either depen ent upon or independent of the position of the'cash drawer, while in still another pos1- tion of the lever only the operating keys are locked while any one, but only one,of the remaining operable elements may be operated.

To this end it is a part of the invention to employ a series of pivoted and sliding elements to serve both as a lock for certain members under control of the general control lever and as an interlock to prevent the operation of more than one of a plurality of members, which may be free to be operated.

In a modified form of the invention, which is particularly suited for the auditors type of machine before mentioned, it is contemplated that asecond lock should readily be adapted for addition to the machine so that either of a pair of locks may control the release of the lid, previously mentioned, while one look only is adapted to release the resetting mechanism for operation after the lid is opened and the control lever is shifted to the proper position. In the simplification of this mechanism it is a part of the present invention to employ a. single member under the control of both locks and adapted to be differently controlled by each so that one lock serves to unlock the lid and the control lever while the other lock serves to release the resetting mechanism in addition to the lid and control lever.

The present invention embraces also a number of novel and effective features in connection with its resetting mechanism, and among these are the provision of a single lever for causing the simultaneous resetting of a plurality of registering devices mounted on separate shafts; connections from a single lever to first cause a lateral shifting and then a rotation of a totalizer resetting shaft to restore the elements to zero; means for preventing the rotation of the shaft until it has been properly shifted, this means being so designed as to limit the rotation of the shaft and connections from the resetting mechanism to a special counter whereby the latter will count only effective resetting operations, 7

this being accomplished by merely conditioning the counter for operation upon a subsequet operation of the machine when the resetting mechanism has been operated.

Many other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill appear from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which will hereinafter be given and among these may be suggested the mechanism for engaging the totalizer with the actuators and its relation to other features of the machine; improved special counter operating mechanism; improved latching and releasing means fora lid as well as means for holding the lid in any set position; and various improved details of construction of all features of the machine, particularly the total printing means, the resetting mechanism, and the interlocking devices.

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

Of said drawings:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of the machine to which the present invention is ap-' plied showing the arrangement of the operating keys. It also shows the control lever, the resetting lever, the printing button for effecting printing impressions and also the hinged cover for preventing unauthorized persons from having access to these parts. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, the cabinet having been removed. This view shows substantially all the devices embodied in the machine and the relation which they bear to each other.

Fig. 3 is a section of the machine taken substantially through its mid-portion. This view shows particularly the differential and totalizing devices and their relation to each other, as well as a section through the printing mechanism provided for effecting printing from the printing type.

Fig. 4 is a section through the machine. taken on the line H of Fig. 2 and shows the No sale key, and a portion of the rinting mechanism together with the interloc ing devices related with the resetting and control lever. This View shows how the control lever controls the locking devices when desired to require the closing of the cash drawer before a subsequent operation can be effected.

Fig. 5 is a view taken in a plane substantially parallel to the shafts which support the printing type, showing the totalizer, date setting wheels and special counters. This view also shows the resetting means common to the totalizer and special counters. Fig. 6 is a sectional view-showing the totalizer engaging devices aswell as a section through the reset counter illustrating the details of construction of the latter.

F ig.-7'is a section of the machine showing the control lever in the total position and its effect upon the key locking devices and drawer release mechanism.

Fig. 8 isa sectional view similar to Fig. 7,

but with the reset lever partially operated showing how the interlocking devices come into play.

Fig. 9 is a section taken just to the right of one of a pair of intermediate frames showing the lid releasing devices and the lock for the printing mechanism. This view also illustrates the bell sounding mechanism and the lever for disabling the same. I

Fig. 10 is a detail of the operating devices 12 for the customer counter.

Fig.'l1 is an end view of an assembly of the printer Fig. 12 is a front view of the printer taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a back view of the printer showshowing the rubber impression blocks and the spring receiving sockets.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the ribbon supporting frame on the line 1616 of Fig. 17. r

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the ribbon and its associated supporting frame.

Fig. 18T is an example of total printing capable of being performed by the illustrative machine.

Fig. 18Z is an example of printing performed by the machine after the resetting operation has been performed.

Fig. 19 is a detail of the totalizer shaft shifting devices, effective during resetting operations.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view showing the relation between the totalizer pick-up pawls and the shifted totalizer resetting shaft.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view through the totalizer element showing the normal relation between the pick-up pawls and associated resetting shaft.

Fig, 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 23 is a top plan View ofa portion of the cabinet cover and the attached index strip associated with the reset and control levers. I

Fig. 24 is a perspective viewof an assembly of the totalizer resetting shaft.

Fig. 25 is a viewof the resetting gear common to the resetting shafts showing particularly how one of the associated gears is aligned during the resetting operation.

Fig. 26 is a detail View of the shaftfor unlocking the levers in combination with multiple locks wherebythey can be unlocked singly or'together.

Fig. 27 is a detail of one of the special printing blocks provided for the purpose of identifying the totals printed by the special counters.

'For convenience of description the principal elements of the machine will first be enumerated and their general purpose, arrangementand co-operation will be briefly explained in order to indicate the general operation of the machine as a whole, after which the preferred construction of these parts will be described inore indetail together with the function. construction andoperation of certain secondary or accessory mechanisms associated therewith.

Briefly, stated in general terms the invention relates to a key operate-d cash register having a plurality of banks of amount keys and a special key designated as a No sale key. All of the amount keys have connections to indicator tablets and furthermore operate a differential mechanism so as to insert the item in a totalizer. As is usual in this class of machines when the keys are operated they are connected to a key coupler which has connections to elevate an indicator flash and drive a power shaft from which the various parts of the mechanism are operated.

During each operation of the machine a unit is entered in a counter designated as the Customer counter and each time that the N0 sale key is operated its associated counter will also be'operated.

In order to operate the machine in different ways, such as, b requiring the cash drawer to be returned before the keys may subsequently be operated, or by permitting the machine tov be successively operated irrespective of the position of the cash drawer,

a single lever is provided for controlling suitable mechanisms. Movement of this lever to another position furthermore will totally lock the keys against manipulation.

At the termination of a days business the same control lever is brought to the position designatedas a Total position in which the machine is conditioned for total printing and resetting and simultaneously the cash drawer is released.

In order to print the totals and the information standing upon the totalizer, the special counters, and a series of date printing wheels, a suitable printing mechanism is provided, which is operated by the depression of a knob extending from the front of the printer casing.

After printing, the paper is simply drawn out and detached from the rest of the roll. Upon completion of the printing operation, the resetting lever is manipulated and all the elements of the totalizer and counters will be restored to zero with the exception of those belonging to the reset counter. The control lever is then brought back to one of the adding positions and upon asubsequent operation of the machine the reset counter operating means which has been shifted during the reset-tingoperat-ion will be operated so as to add a unit to the counter to cause it to denote a resetnumber corresponding'to the next series of sales registered.

In order to lock the various manipulative devices against unauthorized operation ahinged cover is provided which. when secure- 1y locked prevents access to said levers.

The machine as shown in the drawings is provided with a single exterior lock for obtaining access to the levers located under the cover, but a modification is also shown whereby a supplemental lock may be provided so that either may unlock the cover, while the depending upon which of the pair of the exterior locks has been operated.

In order to insure that the manipulative devices are not operated improperly suitable interlockingdevices are provided so they cannot be operated simultaneously. This insures the proper recording of the amounts and that the F mmework The various parts of the mechanism are supported by a suitable framework comprising a base 20 and arallel side frames. 21' and 22 (Fig. 2). rearward end of the frames 21 and 22 is a. supporting frame 23 utilized to support the indicating and other mechanism. The side frames 21 and 22 are rigidly connected together at their forward ends by a bar 24. Extending between the supporting bar 23 and the bar 24 and parallel to the frames 21 and 22 are frames 25 and 26, the front ends of which are bifurcated at 27 to engage a shaft 28 passing through ears integral with the bar 24. The upper rear ends of the side frames 25 and 26 rest against the frame 23 while the lower rear ends of the frames 25 A and 26 are apertured to receive a shaft 29 which passes through ears integral with the framework 23. The intermediate frames 25 and 26 are furthermore suitably joined together by means of shaftsand other connections which will be referred to hereinafter.

As best shown in Fig. 1 the mechanism is enclosed by a cabinet 30 which may be made of any desired material. The cabinet 30 is slotted at 31 to receive the forward end of the key levers and is furthermore apertured at its upper end so as to permit the viewing of the raised indicators. Thev printing and other associated mechanisms are concealed by means of a cover 31 which is rigidly attached to the cabinet30, but is apertured so as to permit the access to some of the parts. In order to completely conceal and to prevent unauthorized persons from having access to the printing devices and controlling levers these are adapted to be'c'overed by means of a cover 32 hinged to the cabinet 30 and so arranged that when this cover is socurely locked access cannot be had to any of the controlling devices.

Keg .9 and key coupler The illustrative machine-is provided with a number of keys divided into groups (Figs. 1 and 2) one group for registering amounts from 1a to 10, another group for amounts ranging from 10 to 90 and a third group Xtending between the' for registering values of $1.00 and $2.00 amounts. A special key is also'provided and is designated as the No sale key 33, the function of which is to release the. cash drawer to make change, etc. The amount keys 34 and No .sale key 33 are pivoted,

upon a shaft 35 (Fig. 3) journaled between the side frames 21.and 22 and resting upon the rear ends of the keys is a key coupler 36 provided with a nose 37 co-operating with notches 38 formed in the rear endsof each of the operating keys. )Vhen the forward ends of the operating keys are depressed the key coupler is rocked clockwise and the nose 3? enters the notches 38 of the depressed keys. The purpose of such key coupler mechanisn'i is well known in the art and will not be discussed herein in detail.

Connected to the key coupler at 39 is a vertical reciprocating rack plate provided with rack teeth 41 which alternately mesh with a gear 42 (Fig. 2) fast to a shaft 43. The arrangement of this mechanism is such that a reciprocation of the key coupler 30 by the keys will effect a complete rotation of the gear and the shaft 43 to which the gear 42 is secured. This mechanism is also well known in the art and shown in many patents and one form which this mechanism might take is illustrated in detail in the patent to Thomas Carney, #482,461 dated September 6, 1892.

After a registration has commenced it is essential that some device be provided to insure a complete performance of the started registration before a second operation can su s'equently be effected. To this end any suitable mechanism can be provided but in the present instance it comprises a springpressed pawl 44 (Fig. 2) bearing against a ratchet wheel 45 secured to the main operating shaft 43.

Difierentz'al mechanism The differential mechanisms or devices controlled by the variousgroups of keys for plate 48. Loosely mounted upon a transverse shaft 49 which is journaled between the machine side frames is a frame 50 provided with spaced slots in which are secured by means of pins 51, a series of the cam plates 48. The cam plates 48 are formed with L shaped slots 52 and 53, the slots 53 being concentric with respect to the shaft 49. The slots 52 are, however, graduated so that when the roller 47 carried by the arm46 of a dc pressed key operates in the cam slot 52 of I its associated cam plate 48 it will move the frame 50 differentially and to an amount commensurate with the value of the key depressed. When, however, the frame 50 is rocked by the depression of a key 34 of a certain group, the rollers 47 related to the undepressed keys of that group will play in the arcuate slots 53 of their respective cam.

plates 48, thereby permitting the frame 50 to be rocked differentially without interfer-' ence from the rollers 47 of the unoperated keys.

ential frame for each group of amount keys and that the differential frames associated with the three groups of amount keys have attached thereto a segmental rack 54 (Fig. 3).

the plurality of associated segmental racks differentially so that this movement can be transferred to the totalizer pinions in the manner which will now be described.

Totalz'zere-ngaging mechanism The totalizer embodied in the machine shown in the drawings comprises a frame 55 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) which is .journalled in the intermediate frames 25 and 26 by means of journal pins 56 passing through the intermediate frames 25 and 26 and into sockets formed in the totalizer frames. These pins are the pivotal points of the totalizer frame and the frame is adapted to be rocked about these points as a center to bring the totalizer pinions in mesh with the actuating racks 54 at the proper time. The totalizer may be made up of any desired number of numeral elements but as illustrated comprises a series of seven wheels 57 loosely mounted upon a shaft 58 j ournalled in the totalizer frame 55, and the peripheries of these wheels are formed with raised characters so as to effect printing upon a suitable impression material.

-Each printing wheel 57 has attached'thereto a pinion 58, three of which are adapted to mesh with the. teeth of the segmental racks 54 here'inbefore referred to. 1

In order to mesh the pinions 58' with the segmental racks 54 the following mechanism is provided, reference being had particular- 1y to Figs. 3,5 and 6. Slidably mounted on the left hand journal pin 56 is a bar 59 which is connected at its rear end to the mid-point of an arm 60 pivoted'on'a stud extending to the left side of the frame 25. The lower end of the arm 60 carries a stud adapted to engage a slot formed in a box cam 61'fast to It is to be understood that there is a differthe rotation shaft 43 while the forward end of the bar 59 is bifurcated to engage the shaft 58 which it will be remembered carries the totalizer wheels and pinions. 1 During the downward stroke of the keys the shaft 43 will be rotated in the direction of the'arrow shown in Fig. 6 and due to the configuration of the slot in the box cam 61 the bar 59 will be drawn rearwardly early in the depression of the keys so as to rock the totalizer frame 55 about its pivotal point 56 to bring the totalizer pinions in mesh with the racks 54 which are then diiferentially operated under control of the keys. During the return stroke of the keys the box cam will again act upon the bar 59 forcing it forward thereby withdrawing the totalizer pinions fromengagement with the actuatin racks 54 and leaving the pinions 58 in their difi'erentially adjusted positions.

In machines of the class under considera- 1 ndicators and flash It is desirable that when a key is operated some means be provided for indicating to the bystander the amount registered in the machine. The mechanism shown in the present application for accomplishing this function forms no part of the present invention and will be referred to only generally. As shown in Fig. 3 the rear end of each key is provided with a flat bearing surface underlying the stem of its related tablet indicator so as to lift it into view. 2

As best shown in Fig. 2 the amount indicators 40 related to the different denominational orders are arranged in groups and are suitably guided in the frame 23 to prevent interference with each other. Since the amount keys extend transversely of the ma chine and the indicators are arranged in a cash transaction has not been performed which, of course, is equivalent to a no sale operation.

In order to hold the indicator which has been raised by the depression .of a key in its elevated position so that the indication made thereby .will be visible until another item is entered in the machine, each indicator is provided with a rearward extending lug 62 co-operating with a wing plate 63. The

III

- newly raised indicator in its elevated position.

It is desirable, of course, in machines of this class to provide a flash or guard for the indicating tablets to prevent them from becoming visible during an operation of the machine and until after the registration has been completed. As shown in Fig. 2 the flash 65 is of box formation and extends around the amount indicators. The flash is supported in position at its opposite ends by means of slides 66 which are guided at the sides of the back frame 23 so as to be reciprocally movable. As is best shown in Fig. 7 the lower portion of the slide 66 which extends forwardly is bifurcated at 67 to engage the flange of the key coupler. By this means the operation or elevation of the key coupler will also raise the slides 66 and the guard or flash will remain in this position to conceal the indicators as long as the coupler remains elevated.

Date printing wheels and associated setting devices It is desirable that when the total amount of the sales and other information is printed upon a record bearing material that some means be provided to designate the day to which the information pertains or in some cases to show that it relates to the end of some arbitrary period.

For this reason the present register includes a series of date setting devices in the form of adjustable wheels 68, (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9) which project through an aperture formed in the cabinet 80, but which are normally protected against improper manipulation by means of the hinged cover 32 previously referred to. The date setting wheels 68 which are ad'ustable so as to set the type wheels for printing the month, as well as the days of the month, are mounted upon a shaft 69 which is fastened at its extreme ends to the intermediate frames 25 and 26. Each adjusting wheel 68 has integral therewith a pinion adapted to mesh with the teeth of a co-operating pinion 70 which is loosely mounted upon astub shaft attached to the side frame 26. The intermediate pinions 7O likewise mesh with the pinions of printing wheels 71 formed with raised characters and which are loosely mounted upon a shaft 72 passing between the intermediate frames 25 and 26. In order to hold the type wheels in theiradjusted positions there is provided a ing devices The illustrative machine is provided with a series of consecutive numbering counters which are adapted to register the total number of times that the machine has been operated, the number of times that the No sale key has been operated, and the number of resetting operations which have been performed. Since the first mentioned counter operates each time that the machine is operated and the no sale counter registers the number of times that its associated key has been operated, the difference between the amounts registered on these special counters will indicate the number of cash transactions performed during a certain period.

The special counters are of the multiple pawl, deep notch transfer type, well known in the art and described in many patents, one of which is the patent to Thomas Carney, #876,295 dated Jan. 7, 1908 and they are all mounted in one line on the shaft 72 which, as before mentioned, supports the dating type wheels. 7

The no sale counter comprises three wheels 74 (Figs. 2 and 5) the peripheries of which are formed with raised printing characters and these wheels have attached thereto ratchet wheels cooperating with a multiprong actuating pawl 75. (Fig. 3). The actuating pawl 75 is spring-pressed and pivotally mounted, by means of a pin 76, in a bail 77 loosely mounted upon the shaft 72 which carries all the consecutive numbering and dating wheels. The bail 77 has attached thereto a pin 78 co-operating with an arm 79 rigidly secured to a shaft 80. As is best shown in Fig. 2 the shaft 80 passes through the frame 25 and is journalled in the side frame 21 and has attached at its left end a second arm 81 (see Fig. 4 also) which is connected to the No sale key 33 by means of a link 82. From this it will be readily understood that when the No sale key is operated the shaft 80 will be rocked and by means of the pin and slot connection to the operating bail 77 and the actuating pawl 75 a unit will be added to the special counter.

As shown in Fig. 5 in order to accommodate a larger registration the customer counter which indicates the total number of operations of the machine is formed of four printing wheels 83 which co-operate with a multi-prong pawl carried by a bail 84.- which are similar to the bail and pawl previously described in connection with the no sale counter. The bail 84 has attached thereto a pin 85 (Fig. 10) co-operating with a slot formed in a bell-crank 86 loose upon the shaft 80. The lower end of the bell-crank 86 is connected by means of a pin and slot to a second bell-crank 87 loosely mounted upon the shaft 49 and bifurcated at its extreme end to co-operate with an eccentrically mounted disk 88 fast to the rotation shaft From the above it will be evident that when the shaft 43 is rotated by means of an operation of akey the bell-crank 87 will be rocked and through the co-o erating bellcrank 86 rock the bail 84 an through the actuating pawl insert a unit in the customer counter.

The counter on the left of the customer counter (Fig. 5) is known as the reset counter and it is provided for the purpose of registering the number of times that the resetting operation has, been performed. As is shown-in Fig. 5 the bail 89 which is associated with thereset counter wheels 90 is provided with a laterally extending lug '91 which is in the path of the pin 85 attached to the bail 84 associated with the customer counter. The bail 89 has attached thereto a laterally extending pin 92 which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is in the plane of an arm 93 loose upon the shaft 80. The rearward portion of .the arm 93 is connected by means of a link 94 to a resetting lever 95 loosely mounted upon the shaft 49. Fig. 7 shows the resetting lever 95 in its normal position and from an inspection of this view it will .be seen that when the resetting lever 95 is forced rearwardly to perform a resetting operation as will be hereinafter described in detail,

the arm 93 will be rockedupwardly to the' positionshown in Figs. 6 and 8 wherein it will be noticed that the pin 92 and bail 89 have been forced upwardly and forwardly but during this movement of the'bail and actuating pawl the pawl was merely slipped idly over the ratchet wheels. It is obvious, of course, that the resetting lever can be operated as many times as-desired without disturbing the bail 89 after it has oncebeen adjusted to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

However, when the machine is subsequently conditioned for an item entering operation and a key is depressed the customer counter will be operated in the usual manner. Since the bail 89 associated with the resetting counter has been forced upwardly and forwardly to bring it in line with the bails associated with the two remaining special counters, the-pin (Fig. 6) on the customerlcounter will contactwith the lug 91 and force the bail 89 downwardly to its normal position and thereby add a unit to the reset counter.v It will be clear, therefore, that the resettinglever merely cocks the 0pcrating means and that the unit is only entered whenever the machine is subsequently operated.

In order to hold the pawl operating means in any adjusted position the bail 89'has its rearward portion formed with notches 9.6

(Fig. 8) co-operating with a spring-pressed pawl 97. By means of this device the. bail 89 will be held in its adjusted position and any accidental movement is prevented.

Printing mechanism In cashregisters of the class shown and described the total of the sales registered and other information is usually obtained by reading the amount standin upon the totalizer elements and other registering devices. It is preferable, however, to have this information printed upon a record bearing material as it then forms a permanent and un-' changeab-le'record which may be referred to at any desired time. For this reason the illustrative machine is provided with a simple and effective printing mechanism for printing the desired information upon a strip of paper.

In general the printing mechanism comprises a printing frame which is pivotally mounted and adapted to be manually swung about its pi-vot by the use of a knob or key to carry a pair of impression elementsagainst the two lines of printing type already described. This frame is normally spring held in its outward position and is provided with suitable inking devices and means for carrying and guiding a record stripl As has already been explained the locked cover 32 normechanism the bar 24 is provided with rear- I I wardly extending projections 101 (Figs. 2, 4 and-9) between which the lower end of the printer is positioned. J ournalled in the side plates 98 and 99 at their upper portions is a shaft 102 (Figs. 11 and 12) forming the pivotal point of a platen 103 (Fig. 15) provided with two parallel rubber impression blocks 104. In order to retain 'tdle shaft 102 in the proper position there is provided a set screw 105 mounted in the platen 103 and and adapted to contact with a groove in the shaft 102, and since the platen is prevented from any appreciable lateral movement by the sideplates the shaft is likewise retained in position. v

The ribbon supporting plates are comprised by two parallel plates 106 and 107 which are attached to each other by suitable means such as bent-over lugs 1061 (Fig. 13). The ribbon supporting plate 107 has attached thereto, by means of rivets 108 a pair of plates 109 fitting between the side plates 98 and 99 and the sides of the platen 103 substantially at right angles to the plate 107 and they are formed with elongated slots 110 (Fig. 14) to receive the platen supporting shaft 102. Springs 111 extend between projections on the plates 109 and the base of sockets 112 (Fig.

15) formed in the platen 103. By means of the four springs 111 the ribbon supporting plates 106 and 107 will be forced away from the rear face of the platen to the position shown in Fig. 11 wherein it will be noted that there is normally a considerable separation betwen these two elements thus facilitating the insertion of a paper strip in a manner which will be described hereinafter in detail.

It will also be noted from an inspection of this view (as well as Figs. 13 and let) that the supporting plates 106 and 107 are suitabl bent so as to form channels 113 located Just over the impression blocks 101 for the reception of a ribbon carrying frame or plate and that both are apertured at 1062 so as not to interefere with the printing action when the printing frame is rocked.

The inking ribbon 114; comprises a narrow strip of ribbon, (Figs. 10 and 17) and is held or fixed in a frame 115 apertured at 1151 and which is formed by bending so as to grip the ribbon. This construction permits the detachment of an old ribbon from the printer and the insertion of a new one without touching the moistened ribbon. There is a ribbon frame for each printing line so that they can be removed or replaced independently of each other. \Vhen it is desired not toprint the information from a certain line of type this can readily be done by removing the associated printing ribbon.

Referring to Fig. 11 it will be noted that the ribbon supporting plate 107 extends upwardly as well as downwardly and is curved so as tosuitably guide the paper when it is inserted in the printing frame. The plate 107 also extends laterally to a width greater than the side plates 98 and 99 and is bent at 1071 and 1072, the guard plates thus formed being adapted to cover at times the ribbon receiving apertures in the cover 31, for a reason which will be explained hereinafter.

Also extending between the side plates 98 and 99 is a curved plate 1152 (Figs. 3, 4 and 11) which is securely held in place by means of lugs 116 projecting throughslots formed in the side plates and this curved plate serves as a support and guide for the record material. It will be noted that the upper end of the fixed curved plate 1152 contacts with the lower rear edge of the pivoted platen 103 thereby limiting the rocking movement of the platen 103 under the influence of the upper springs 111 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 while a lug 1000 integral with the plate 100 will hold the platen against a counter-clockwise movement if the lower springs 111 urge it in this direction.

As is best shown in Fig. 11 the paper strip is drawn from a roll 117 which rests upon the curved plate 1152 the roll being held in the proper position by means of lateral springs 118 (Fig. 12). The end of the paper strip is inserted between the plates 107 and 1152 which guide it over the rear face of the platen 103 after which it will be guided by the upper curved portion of the plate 107 so that it passes forwardly under a plate 119 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the side pates 98 and 99 and is formed at its extreme forward edge with serrations 120 adapted to facilitate the tearing of a section of a record strip from the rest of the roll. From an inspection of Fig. 12 it will be noted that the plate 100 is cut away at 121 so as to permit the insertion of a finger to draw the upper portion of the record strip outwardly before detaching a section of it from the rest of the roll.

The relation of the printing devices to the cabinet cover is best shown in Fig. 1 wherein it will be noted that the cover 31 is apertured at its lower end at 122 to receive the roll of paper and is also apertured at 121' in line with opening 121 ofplate 100 to permit the insertion of a finger to draw out the printed record strip. The side portions of the cover 31 are provided with four elongated apertures 123, two of which are shown in Fig. 1 and the other two in F 9 and which are provided for the purpose of permitting a new ribbon frame to be inserted in the printer when the printer is in its normal position. When the printing mechanism is in its normal or raised position and it is desired to inserta new ribbon frame, the latter is merely inserted in the aperture 123 and by forcing it laterally the old frame will be ejected sufficiently to permit its withdrawal by the fingers so that the printer may accommodate and receive the new ribbon frame.

In some instances it would be of a particu- "lar advantage to persons who are permitted to obtain the printed totals from the machine to fraudulently manipulate the totalizer elements if that could be done so as to indicate a total less than that actually received. In

order to guard against such a misoperation the printing mechanism is so constructed and provided with shields as to prevent the insertion of an instrument in the various apertures in the cabinet.

' One way in which it might be possible to manipulate the printing wheels if no protective means were provided would be to withdraw one of theribbon frames and insert a wire or some other instrument in one of the apertures 123 in the side of cover 31 and through the apertures 1062 until the wire strikes one of the totalizer elements in such a manner as to rotate it fraudulently. It is evident that this misoperation would be facilitated if the platen were swung reara printing operation.

It is'in this connection that plate 107 is bent laterally to form side plates 1071 and 1072 which fit close against the sides of the cover 31 for the printer .as before explained. It will be understood that whenever the printer frame is moved toward the type wheels the apertures 123 will be covered by means of the plates 1071 and 1072.

In order to retain the printer in its forward or normal position the side plate 99 has attached thereto by meansof a lug 124 (Figs. 9 and 12) a bell-crank 125 loosely mounted upon the pivotalshaft 28 of the printer. The tension in the spring 126 attached to the horizontal arm of the bellcrank normally retains the printing devices in the position shown in Fig. 9.

In order'to prevent any lateral movement of the shaft 28 after it has been placed in its proper position one end of the shaft is provided with a groove 281 (Fig. 12). The

bell-crank is provided with an irregular shaped aperture 1251 (Fig. 9) which is constricted to the diameter of the shaft 28 at its grooved portion, but sufliciently large to receive the shaft 28. It will be clear that when the shaft 28 is inserted and shifted laterally the spring 126 will force the lever to cooperate with the groove in the shaft and rigidly hold the latter in place In "order to permit the printing mechanism to be forced rearwardly so as to take a printing impression from the adj ustedtype carriers there is provided a button 127 which as shown in Fig. 3 is slid'ably mounted in the cover 31 and has its rearward portion contacting with the plate 100. Each special counter has adjacently -mounted a special printing member 128 (Figs. 5 and 27) loosely mounted on the shaft 72 carrying indicia which designate the counter with which it is associated. In order to hold the blocks rigid the lower end of each is apertured to receive a rod 1281 journalled in the intermediate frames 25 .and' 26. The .totalizer also carries atype block 129 bearing the word Total which is in correspondence wit-h the printing line of the totaliz er elements.

Let it be assumed that the machine has been conditioned to permit total printing and thatthe record strip hasbeen properly inserted and that the ribbon frames are also in their proper places. The printing button 127 if now depressed will force the printing devices rearwardly, tensioning the spring 126. As the printing frame is forced rearwardly towards the type the rear ribbon supporting plate 106 will contact with a forward projection 1.30 (Figs. 4 and 9) of the intermediate frames 2:) and 26, thereby holding the ribbons and their supporting plates against movement. As the printing button is depressed still further the side plates 98 and 99 will,'through the shaft 102 continue slightly counter-clockwise so as to permit i the upper impression block to strike the special counter printing elements with the result that the elements of the two printing lines are struck with equal force. It will be understood that the rubber platen blocks must act .to force the paper against the inking ribbons and adjusted type. For the best results the button 127 should be depressed sharply and quickly with the thumb, so as to obtain a clear and legible printon the record strip.

After this has been accomplished the linger is inserted in the aperture provided for that purpose and the portion of the printed record strip is withdrawn and detached from the rest of the roll.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1ST there will be'seen an example of printing adapted to be performed by the illustrative machine. The word total is printed adjacent the figures representing the total of cash sales for some particular period and parallel to this printing line is the information which is printed by the special counters and the date printing wheels. After the resetting operation has been performed by the means which will next be described, the printing devices are again operated so as to furnish the proof that the desired registering elements again stand at zero. The proof of reset (Fig. 18Z) can be printed on the same paper as the total if desired, by simply withdrawing sufiicient paper out of the printer after total printing to insure that a fresh portion of the record strip stands over the previously zeroized registering wheels for the printing/of the proof.

Resetting devices At the termination of a days business or any arbitrary period it is desirable that the various registering elements be returned to zero prior to the registration ofthe sales tobe accumulated during a subsequent period. To this end the illustrative machine is provided with a single lever which, when given a complete reciprocation will reset the various elements to their zero positions.

- As best shown in Figs. 1 and 23 the resetting lever projects through and works in a slot formed ina portion of the cabinet 30 which is under the cover 32. The resetting segment 95 (Fig. 7) is loosely mounted upon the shaft 49 and is provided with a forward extension 131 formed with teeth meshing' with the teeth of a gear 132 (F ig. 5) loose upon a stub shaft 1331 rigidly secured to the side frame 25. The pinion 132 has attached at one side a multilated pinion 133 meshing with a pinion 134 loosely mounted upon the shaft 72 which .it willberemembered,supports the consecutive numbering counter wheels. Also connected to the pinion 132 at the other side is a bent disk 135. which co-operates with a spool 136 pinned to the shaft 58 which, it will be remembered, supports the totalizer elements. Attached to the spool 136 is a pinion 142 which is normally out of the plane of the pinion 133 with which it is adapted to mesh at certain times.

From the above it will be evident that when the resetting segment rotates the gear 132, the pinion 133 and bent disk 135 will rotate as a unit. It will furthermore be noted from an inspection of Figs. 5 and 22, that the pinion 134 has integral therewith a semi-annular ring 137 which co-operates with a lateral projection 138 itegral with a collar 139 pinned to the shaft 72. Due to the normal relationship between the semi-annular ring 137 and the lug 138, the pinion 134 can be given an idle movement before the semi-annular ring 137 contacts with the lug 138 to rotate the collar 139 and the shaft 72.

As is best shown in Figs. 20 and 21, each of the totalizer elements 57 carries a pivoted pawl 140 which is spring-pressed against the shaft 58. T he shaft 58 is provided with a series of notches141 one for each wheel of the totalizer. When the wheels are turned in the registering operations of the machine the pawls 140 will slip idly over the shaft 58, since it will be noted (Fig. 21) that the reset ting pawls 140 are normally out of the path of the associated notches 141. However, when the shaft 58 is shifted as will be explained, to bring the notches and pawls in co-operative relationship (Fig. 20) and when the shaft 58 itself is turned in th direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 20 the abrupt Wall of the notch will contact with the ends of the pawls 140 and pick up the totalizer elements in whatever position they may be standing at the beginning of the movement of the shaft and carry them around with it, so that a complete revolution of the shaft in such direction will serve to reset the totalizer elements to zero or initial position. This method of resetting is well known in the art and is a common expedient found in cash registers.

The shaft 72 which carries the special counters is provided with a series of notches similar to those in shaft 58 and they are normally in the plane of the resetting, pawls carried by the registering elements associated with the customer and no sale counters so that this shaft need not be shifted laterally. The reset counter wheels 90 (Fig. 6) are not provided with any resetting pawls or associated notches in the supporting shaft 58 so that when the shaft 72 is rotated as will hereinafter be described in detail, the Reset counter elements will not be restored to their zero positions, but will continue to accumulate units whenever the resetting lever and the operating keys are operated alternately.

As will be noted in Fig. 5 the disk 135 is bent at an angle and, the disk projects into a groove locked for operation it will be'obvious that when the resetting lever 95 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, the teeth of the segmental rack carried by the lever 95 will rotate the pinion 132 and the bent disk 135 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 7. Due to the co-operation of the said disk and the collar 136 the shaft 58 will be shifted to bring the pinion 142 carried by the shaft adjacent the collar, into mesh with the teeth of the mutilated pinion 133 and furthermore to bring the resetting pawls 140 and notches 141 into coacting relationship.

During this time the gear 134 will have been moved counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 22, until one end of the semi-annular ring 137 contacts with the lug 138 carried by the collar 139. At substantially the time that the pinions 142 and 133 are in engagement the annular ring 137 has been rocked sufficiently to contact with the lug 138 so that a further rear-' ward movement of the resetting lever will, through the train of mechanism rotate the shafts 58 and 72, the notches of which co-operate with the pick-up pawls .140 and restore the numeral elements to their zero positions. It may be noted that the wheels of the totalizer are restored by rotation in a direction opposite to that in which they are driven by the actuators, whereas the wheels ofthe special counter are restored through continuation of positive rotation.'

After the resetting lever has been forced rearward fully it is again returned to its normal position which will return the resetting shafts 58 and 72 backwardly without affecting the position of the registering elements, due to the formation of the notches with only one abrupt face and one face which is beveled to permit this idle return movement. It will be understood that at the beginning of the return movement of the reset lever there will be a lost motion between pinion 134 and shaft 72 until the element 137 engages the opposite face of lug 138, while toward the end of the return stroke shaft 58 will be laterally restored to normal. When the reset lever is at

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