US1874805A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 30, 1932.

W. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Sept. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet gnue'rfloz William H. Robertson affonwuyq Aug. 30', 1932. w. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Sept. 4. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet gnw'nfoz William H. Robertson By M Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H.-ROBERTSON, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL CASH REG- ISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND oAsn REGISTER Application filed. September 4, 1929. Serial No. 390,319.

This invention relates to improvements in registers, calculating machines and the like,

and, for convenience, is shown applied to a type'of machine, the general principles of which are disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,816.263, issued on August 4, 1931. to lVilliam H. Robertson, and in the applications of William H. Robertson for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial Nos. 169.583 and 172,660, filed February 19,

1927, and-March 4, 1927, respectively.

In adding operations on machines of the above type, the keys representing the amountto be added, are depressed to arrest the differential actuators associated with each bank or denomination of keys, on the advance of such actuators from their normal positions. Before the amount actuators start their return movements, but after they have been arrested by the depressed keys, the totalizer is engaged therewith, so that the actuators on their return, will accumulate on the totalizer the amount corresponding with the values of the keys depressed. After the actuators return to their home positions, the totalizer is disengaged therefrom preparatory to a succeeding operation.

In total taking operations, this condition is reversed. The total lever, when adjusted, sets the machine to cause the totalizer to engage its actuators before the latter start their excursions. so that as the actuators advance they turn the totalizer wheels in reverse direction from that in which the wheels turn in adding operations.

Thelextent of advance of the differential actuators from their normal positions determined by the amount previously /registered, and when the totalizer wheels reach their zero positions. they arrest the actuators against further advance. The totalizer is then disconnected from its actuators and the latter are restored idly to their normal positions. Heretofore. during a totaling operation, if a key of a lower value than the digital amount on the denominational totalizer wheel associated therewith. was accidentally or intentionally depressed, the extent of travel of the differential actuator from its normal position, would be determined by the key, and

not by the digital amount accumulated on the wheel during adding operations. This condition would result in the machine indieating and printing an incorrect total, and permit of inaccurate records.

In repeat operations, which in machines of the type mentioned, are effected without the use of the keyboard, mechanism set by the last previous operatlon, controls the excursions of the several actuators, so that they will advance only to the extents permitted on the previous operation. During such operations, if a key of lower value than the digit to be registered, is depressed, the actuator associated therewith will be arrested by the depressed key, while the mechanism for controlling the repeat operation will tend to force the actuator to the full extent of travel it received during the previous transaction. This condition would strain or break the parts, or otherwise injure the machine, and render it-useless.

In the commercial manufacture of machines in quantities, it is not practical to adhere strictly to the dimensions on the drawings. In quantity production, therefore, it is possible now and then that a machine will'be assembled in which some of the parts will be afforded more than the necessary amount of play, and when this condition prevails, it might be possible to make a repeat or a total taking operation while amount keys are in their depressed positions. the foregoing, however, that any amount key remaining depre ssed during total taking or repeat operations, results in the printing and indicating of incorrect totals, or causes a serious disorganization of the mechanism, which requires the services of a mechanic to repair.

For these and other reasons, it has been customary, therefore, to provide various forms of interlocks in cash registers and similar machines, to prevent theaccidental or intentional depression of amount and special keys in total taking or repeat operations.

One object of this invention is to eliminate the interlocks, hitherto considered necessary in total taking and repeat ope-rations.

Another objectof this invention is to si'rn- It is obvious from plify and improve the repeat mechanism shown in Robertsons application, Serial No. 169,583, above referred to, and to a great extent, render the machine immune to misoperation either accidental or intentional. As a result, the accidental or intentional depression of amount keys during totaling or repeatoperations, will have no effect upon the excursions of the totalizer actuators, and the danger of incorrect results and of damage and injury to the machine will be avoided.

As one convenient way to accomplish the above objects, means is provided to disable the usual inter-relation between the actuators and the keys, by equipping the actuators with flexible extensions shiftable, into and out of effective position relativey to the keys, and controlled as to their effectiveness, by the means which controls the machine for making repeat or total taking operations, to allow the diflerential actuators to complete their excursions from and towards normal position, notwithstanding the presence of improperly depressed keys in their paths of travel. By such arrangement, the flexible or shiftable extensions with which each of the respective differential actuators are equipped, may be positioned to cooperate with the inner end of their respective keys to arrest the differential actuators at the points in their paths of travel, on adding operations, such extensions being shifted out of effective position relatively to the inner ends of the keys, if any be depressed. during total taking and repeat operations, to enable the differential actuators to complete their excursions, irrespective of any depressed key or keys in their paths of travel.

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

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken substantiallythrough the center, and shows an improved differential actuator equipped with a flexible extension, and means to shift the flexible extension out of cooperative relation with the keys.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the means which controls the positions of the flexible extensions of the differential actuators.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the total taking lever, showing its control of the shifting means for the flexible extensions.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a repeat key, with its control of the shifting means for the flexible extensions.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the differential actuator driving mechanism.

Detail description The illustrative machine is provided with a plurality of key frames 30, (Fig. 1), supported side by side on cross rods 31 mounted at their opposite ends in the right and left side frames 32, only one of which is shown. A denominational row of depressible keys 33 is slidably mounted in each key frame 30 to control the extent of travel of the difierential actuators 35, through which the setting of the denominational type carriers, the indicators, and the addition of amounts into the totalizers 7 O is effected. Each key 33 carries a stud not shown) which cooperates with its appropriate hook on a retaining detent bar 29 to retain the keys when depressed, in such positions until released near the end of each adding operation. Springs 34 restore the keys to their normal positions when released by the retaining detent bar 29.

The inner end of any of the keys 33 in any row. when depressed. enters the path of travel of its corresponding denominational actuator 35, comprising, in the present instance, a differentially adjustable toothed segment pivoted on a rock shaft 36 journaled in the side frames 32. A universal restraining and restoring bar 38 carried by arms 39 (see also Fig. 5) fast on a rock shaft 36, normally lies in the paths of the several differential actuators 35 to hold them in their home positions against the tensions of their individual springs 46.

The keys 33, when depressed, also displace zero stop pawls 37 in the'corresponding banks. which pawls normally lie in the paths of the diflerential actuators 35 to arrest the latter upon an operation of the machine, in case no keys are depressed in the corresponding denominational banks.

To effect an operation of the machine, the main drive shaft 43 (Fig. 5) is given one complete rotation counter-clockwise. in any suitable and well-known manner. Cams 41 and 42 fast on the main drive shaft impart a rocking movement first counter-clockwise and then clockwise. to a transmitting lever 44 pivoted at 45. the arms of which lever embrace the cams. One arm of the transmitting lover 44 carries teeth 46 in mesh with teeth 47 on a disk 48 fast to one arm 39 of the restraining and restoring element, so that as the transmitting lever 44 rocks, it swings the restraining and restoring bar 38 first clockwise away from the differential actuators thereby freeing the latter to the actions of their springs 40. and then counter-clockwise to cause the bar 38 to restore the actuators 35 to their home positions.

An abutment 49 lies in the path of travel of opposed faces on one of the arms 39 to arrest the restraining and restoring bar 38 at either limit of its travel, to prevent overthrow thereof.

In adding operations, the operator first depresses the proper keys 33 to set up the amount to be accumulated, and then operates the main drive shaft 43 to withdraw the restraining bar 38 from in front of the differential actuators 35, whereupon the springs 40 will rock the actuators forwardly in clockwise direction until the latter contact and are arrested by the inner ends of the depressed keys 33, or by the zero arresting pawls 37 in those banks wherein no keys have been depressed. At about the time the restraining and restoring bar reaches its farthest position from home, the totalizer is rocked into mesh with the actuators by well known means, after which the restraining bar 38 retraces its path to its home position, picking up and returning the advanced actuators, and as the advanced actuators are thus restored, they rotate their corresponding totalizer wheels 70 to accumulate thereon the amount set up on the keyboard. The wheels comprising the totalizer 70 are journaled on a shaft 7 5 carried by arms 76 fast on a shaft 69, suitable means (not shown) being provided to rock the shaft 69 to engage the totalizer with and disengage .it from the actuators.

Upon the restoration of the actuators 35, the totalizer 70 is disengaged therefrom, and the depressed keys 33 released and restored preparatory to another operation of the machine.

Each actuator 35 (Fig. 1) has associated therewith an individual toothed segment 57 journaled on the shaft 36, the actuators and their segments being arranged in pairs along the shaft, and being jointly controlled by the common restraining bar 38.

Normally, a broad pinion 56 journaled on a rod 68 swung by arms 67 from a shaft 66 journaled in the side frames 32, couples its corresponding actuator with its segment, there being a separate pinion for each pair or group. The segments 57 are each equipped with toothed sectors 71 in mesh with gears 72 fast on the inner ends of a nest of concentric sleeves 73 surrounding and rotatable about a supporting shaft 74 journaled in the side frames. The sleeves control the positions of type carriers (not shown) to accord with the values of the particular keys 33 depressed. A series of intermediate gears 80 journaled for independent rotation on a cross rod 79 mounted in the side frames 32. mesh with the respective gears 7 2 and with pinions 81 fast with indicator wheels 82 journaled on a cross rod 83 ettending between the side frames 32.

Aligner fingers 84 fast on a cross shaft 85 journaled in the side frames 32 engage th indicator pinions 81 to lock the latter and their wheels in adjusted positions.

Assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1, and that an adding operation is to be performed, rotation of the main drive shaft 43 (Fig. 5) operates through means (not shown) to rock a shaft 58 (Fig. 4) having an arm 59 fast thereon, and releasably connected by a link 60 with an arm 65 fast on the rock shaft 66 to which the arms 67 of the coupling gear frame are also secured. The arm 65 carries a stud 64 which fits in a notch 63 in the link 60 so that when the shaft 58 rocks clockwise and then counter-clockwise in timed relation with the rocking of the transmitting lever 44 (Fig. 5) controlling the swinging of the restraining bar 38, the shaft 66 is rocked'to disengage the coupling wheels 56 from the pairs of companion members 35 and 57, after which the transmitting lever 44 operates to draw the restraining and restoring bar 38 away from the actuators 35 to free them to the action of their drive springs 40.

In the positions shown in Fig. 1, the restraining bar 38 reaches its farthest limit of travel at the time it touches the faces 89 on the segments 57. Meanwhile the actuators 35 corresponding with those denominations wherein keys have been depressed, have advanced with the restraining bar 38 and relatively to their companion segments 57, until arrested by the inner ends of the depressed keys, as heretofore explained, and the shaft 69 has been rocked by mechanism, not shown, to engage the totalizer 7 O with the actuators.

Substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the totalizer wheels 70 with the actuators 35, the shaft 58 rocks counter-clockwise to rock the shaft 66 and restore the coupling gears 56 to effective position, so that, as the restraining bar 38, on its return, picks up and restores the advanced actuators 35 to register on the totalizer the amount set upon the keyboard, the actuators will correspondingly rotate the coupling gears 56 and rock the companion segments 57 counter-clockwise to the same extents that the actuators have ad- .vanced. For instance, if the units actuator 35 advanced five steps and the tens actuator advanced two steps. they will, on their return i to normal retired positions, rock their companion segments 57 a respective corresponding number of steps, so that at the end of the operation, the units segment 57 will have traveled five steps counter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 1, and the tens segment 57 will have moved two steps, in which positions they remain until the next operation of the machine.

Obviously, the segments 57 in their counterclockwise travel, turn the gears 72 to set the type carriers (not shown) to print the amount set up on the keyboard, and through the intermediate pinions 80, set the indicator wheels 82 to display the same. amount. Timed means, not shown, disengages the aliner fingers 84 from the indicator pinions 81 to enable the indicator wheels to be set, and after the setting has been accomplished, the aliner fingers are restored to effective positions to prevent accidental displacement of the indicator wheels and type carriers.

On the succeeding operation, the restraining bar 38, on its outward travel, restores the segments 57 to their zero positions, and in so doing (the aliner fingers 84 being withdrawn) returns the type carriers and indicator wheels to their zero positions, from which they are adjusted in accordance with the new amount set up on the keyboard, during the return of the restraining bar 38 to its normal home po sition.

Repeat key control of stops on the dz'ficrcnzial actuators In machines of the class described, a repeat hey lever 62 (Fig. 4) pivots on the shaft 36, and when depressed, sets mechanism to effect repeated addition on the totalizer of the last amount for which the parts have been adjusted, as fully set forth in application, Serial No. 169,583, filed February 19, 1927, above mentioned.

In repeat operations, the differentially positioned companion segments 57 control the extent to which the diii'erential actuators shall advance, in accordance with the last setting of such companion segments, whether under control of the keys 33, as in adding 0perat-ions, or of the totalizer wheels 70, as in totaling operations.

The repeat key 62 conditions the machine to repeatedly add the last amount for which the parts have been adjusted, by interrnpting the drive between the rock shaft 66, and the shaft- 58. As previously stated the link leading from the rock arm 59 has a notch 63 to fit over the stud 64 on the arm fast on the rock shaft (36. The upper end of the link 60 has a pin 53 entered in a slot in the inner arm of the repeat key lever 62.

Depression of the repeat key 62 rocks the link (30 clockwise, through the pin and slot (31 to disengage the notch 63 of the link from the stud 64; mounted in the arm 65 fast on the shaft 66, so that no motion will be communicated from the shaft 58 to the coupling gear frame, and the coupling gears 56 remain in mesh With their respective pairs of actuators and the companion segments 57. throughout the entire operation of the machine. The repeat key 62 is provided with an open-ended slot 86 coo 'ierating wit-h the stud 6-1 to latch the rock shaft 66 in its set position, when the link 60 is disengaged from the stud 64, and thus hold the coupling gears 56 in effective positions.

Referring to Fig. 1. it can be seen that when the companion segments 57 are in their zero or home positions, to which they are returned by an idle or blank operation of the machine, they position: the upper ends of arcuate slots 87, one of which is formed in the slots 87 of the respective mtermediate gears 80.

In an adding operation the actuators 35 operate through the coupling pinions 56, as explained, to impart to their companion segments 57, extents of travel in counter-clockwise direction, corresponding to the advance permitted the respective actuators.

The number of steps of movement given the companion segments 57 from their zero positions by the actuators 35, through the coupling gears 56, positions the upper ends of the arcuate slots 87 in the intermediate gears 80 a like number of steps from the arresting rod 88, the segments 57 and intermediate gears 80 remaining in their adjusted positions at the end of the operation. Therefore, on repeat operations, as the restraining and restoring bar 38 starts its closkwise excursion, the actuators 35, under tension of their springs 40, advance with the restraining bar, and through the coupling gears 56, rock their respective companion segments 57 in the same direction.

The distances the respective actuators 35 are permitted to advance from their home positions, are determined by the distances to which the upper ends of the slots 87 of the intermediate gears 80 have been positioned from the arresting rod 88 in the previous operation. As viewed in Fig. 1, the actuator 35 there shown, would be held, on a repeat operation, against any clockwise movement, due to the companion segment 57 associated therewith being in its zero position, with the upper end of the slot 87 in its intermediate gear 80 substantially in contact with the rod 88. However, if, on the previous operation, the companion segment 57 had been advanced five steps, for example, from its zero position, it would have positioned the intermediate gear 80 with the upper end of the arcuate slot 87 therein a corresponding number of steps from the arresting rod 88, so that on a succeeding repeat operation, the actuator 35, under the influence of the spring 40 associated therewith, would be permitted an advance equal to the number of steps the end of the arcuate slot 87 was distant from the transverse rod 88.

As the restraining and restoring rod 38 starts its return counter-clockwise movement to normal position, it picks up the actuators 35 that were permitted to advance and re stores them to their normal positions, the actuators, in turn, through the coupling gears 56, again positioning the companion segments 57 associated therewith and their trains of gearing an equal number of steps from their Zero positions, thus repeating the transaction of the previous operation.

The foregoing is fully illustrated in the above-mentioned applications, and a thorough understanding of the machine can be ha by reference thereto.

N ooel feature Heretofore, in machines of the type to which this invention isapplicd, when it was desired to again add the amount last set up on the keyboard, for instance, or to reaccumulate the total, providing it was taken on the last previous operation of the machine, the operator merely depressed the repeat key disclosed in the application for patent of Robertson, Serial No. 169,583, filed February 19, 1927, and if necessary, operated the handle. It will be noted that all keys 33 remain in their undepressed positions during a repeat operation, but with all of the keys 33 in such positions, it was necessary to provide means controlled by the repeat key, to displace the zero stop pawls 37 which ordinarily prevent the advance of the actuators 35 in those denominations wherein no keys have been depressed.

Furthermore, since the depression of a key 33 of lower value in any denomination wherein a digit of higher value is to be added on a repeat operation, would result in adding some lesser amount than the amount which it was desired to add on a repeat operation, interlocking means between the repeat key 62 and the amount keys 33 had to be provided, so arranged that upon depression of therepeat key, no amount keys could be depressed, and vice versa.

However, in the commercial manufacture of machines in quantities, it was possible that the interlocking mechanism would not be properly adjusted, as a result of which, the operator, either intentionally or accidentally, could depress an amount key just prior to actuating the machine on a repeat operation. Thus, if a key 33 of lower denomination in one of the rows, be depressed when taking a repeat operation, for example, the key in the first or 1 position, while the companion segment 57 is in its fifth position from zero, the restraining and restoring rod 38 will start its clockwise movement,

' releasing the actuator 35, which will follow under the influence of its spring 40 until restrained by the depressed key in the first position. The companion segment 57, being coupled to the actuator 35 by the pinion 56, will move only one step towards its zero position. The continued clockwise movement of the restraining and restoring bar 38 will contact the face 89 of the companion segment 57 to restore it to its zero position, but the companion segment being coupled to the actuator will be restrained from movement by the depressed key in the path of travel of the adding segment 35. This would result in the parts being strained and broken, rendering the machine useless until the service of a mechanic could be employed to replace and repair the broken parts.

The provision of the repeat key controlled means to disable the zero arresting stops, and the interlocking mechanism between the repeat key and the amount keys materially increased the cost of manufacture, and necessltated a considerable expenditure of time and skill to properly install and adjust.

The present invention is designed to obviate all of the foregoing disadvantages, and results, in the provision of a less expensive machine and one which the operator cannot force to render wrong results in the manner above set forth.

Heretofore, the actuators 35 have been each provided with a projection or stop rigid with its actuator, to contact its zero stop pawl 37 or the inner end of the particular key depressed, and it was because of this construction that the various disabling and interlockmg mechanisms referred to, were required.

In the present invention, adjustable stops or pro ections 55 are substituted for the former rigid form. These adjustable stops are also referred to as flexible means because they may be shifted into and out of effective position, as an incident to conditioning the machine to perform its various operations, as adding, repeat additions, and totaling.

Conveniently, the flexible stops or projections 55 comprise slides, one of which is applied to each of the actuators 35, the slides being slotted to accommodate the guide and supporting pins 111 carried by the actuators.

The outer ends of the slides 55 project beyond the peripheries of their respective actuators and preferably terminate in lateral cars 54 which normally lie beneath the zero stop pawls 37 when the actuators 35 are in their home positions, and when the zero stop pawls are displaced, traverse a path intersected by the inner ends of the keys 33, and are arrested by contact with such of the keys as are depressed.

Obviously, the actuators 35 are arrested substantially in their home positions, by contact of the outer ends of the slides 55 with the zero stop pawls 37 in those denominational banks wherein no keys have been depressed.

The restraining bar 38 completes its clockwise travel, notwithstanding the arrest of the actuators 35 by the zero stop pawls 37 or by the keys 33, the actuators remaining where arrested, until picked up by the restraining bar on its return stroke, as heretofore explained.

To render the actuators 35 immune to the depression of any of the keys 33 during a repeat operation, and to obviate the necessity for inter-locking mechanism between the keys 33 and the repeat key 62, means is provided whereby when making a re eat operation, the projections 55 are with rawn from the positions wherein they cooperate with the zero stop pawls 37 and with the inner 32. There is anindividual adjusting arm for each slide or flexible stop 55, the adjusting arms, each having a pin and slot connection 106 with a corresponding finger 105 of a series of such fingers, one for each adjusting arm, fast on an adjusting or control shaft 100 journaled in the side frames 32. A spring 101 secured to one arm of a lever 102 fast on the adjusting shaft 100, normally holds the adjusting shaft with its fingers 105 at one limit of its oscillatory movement, wherein the fingers 105 have rocked the adjusting arms 107 counter-clockwise to shift the flexible stops 55 to their effective positions with their ears 54 beneath the zero stop pawls 37, and in position to be arrested by the inner end of any depressed key 33.

A stud 103 (Fig. 4) projects laterally from the repeat key lever 62 into the plane of the other arm 104 of the lever 102 having an open-ended cam slot 112 formed in the end thereof, and limits the clockwise movement of the adjusting shaft 100 after it has positioned the ears 54 of the stops 55 beneath the zero stop pawls 37.

As the repeat key 62 is depressed, its stud 103 will enter the cam slot 112 of the arm 104, to rock the lever 102, and the adjusting shaft 100, with its fingers 105 in counterclockwise direction. As a result, the fingers 105 rock the adjusting arms 107 in clockwise direction to shift the flexible stops 55 rearwardly to withdraw the ears 54 from cooperative relation with the zero stop pawls 37 and the inner ends of the depressed keys 33, so that the actuators 35 are free to rock clockwise irrespective of any depressed key, and of the zero stop pawls. Mechanism (not shown) is provided to retain the repeat key lever 62 in its depressed position, until near the end of the operation, at which time it will be released and returned to normal position by its spring 117. The repeat key lever 62 as it returns to its normal position, withdraws the stud 103 from the cam slot 112, thereby freeing the lever 102, arm 104 and the adjusting shaft 100 with its fingers 105, to the action of the spring 101, which thereupon restores the parts to their normal positions, as determined by the position of the stud 103.

The fingers 105, as they rock clockwise to their normal positions, rock the adjusting arms 107 counter-clockwise, to draw the flex- .ible stops 55 outwardly to their effective positions.

Obviously, owing to the travel of the actuators 35 on which the stops 55 are mounted, the connection between the stops and their adjusting arms 107 must be such as to permit relative movement, and yet be such that the stops 55 on the return of the actuators to normal home positions, shall again be in positigrns to be controlled by the adjusting arms 1 To this end, the adjusting arms 107 are forked to accommodate the lugs 110 on their respective stops, and the restoration of the repeat key 62 is timed to occur after the return of the actuators 35 to their normal positions, so that the stops 55 will have resumed their connection with the adjusting arms 107 before the latter operate to shift the stops to their effective positions.

Latches 113, pivoted on one of the stopsupporting studs 111, enter notches formed in their respective stops 55, to yieldingly hold the stopsin either effective or ineffective positons relatively to the depressed keys. The latch springs 114 are readily overcome by the fingers 105 and adjusting arms 107. As the restraining bar 38 allows the actuators 35 to advance under the influence of their respective springs 40, the lugs 110 of the stops 55 on the actuators, disengage themselves from the open ends of the slots 109 of the respective adjusting arms 107, and the latches 113 then hold the stops in their proper positions against accidental displacement. The ends of the slots 109 in the adjusting arms 107 are beveled to insure the re-entry of the lugs 110 of the stops 55 in the slots on Lheir return to normal position.

It will be noted, that the withdrawal of the ears 54 of the stops 55 from cooperative relation with the inner ends of any depressed keys, obviates the necessity heretofore present, for providing mechanism to rock the zero stop pawls 37 out of the paths of travel of the actuators when making repeat operations.

Total key control of stops on (inferential actuators Means is also provided to shift the flexible stops to their ineffective positions when conditioning the machine to take a' total or a sub-total of the amount registered on the totalizer 70. As is well known in the art, in totaling and sub-totaling operations, the totalizer is engaged with the actuators 35 on the advance of the latter from their normal home positions, to enable the individual totalizer wheels to control the actuators on such advance and arrest them when they have turned their wheels to the zero positions. However, if the interlocks that have been provided heretofore, to prevent the depression of amount keys 33 in total and sub-total taking operations, permit suflicient play to enable the depression of a key, the result would be that such depressed key would arrest the corresponding actuator, before its totalizer wheel 70 had reached its zero position, and consequently, the indicator and type carrier would be set to indicate and print an incorrect total.

The present invention readily lends itself to overcome this disadvantage, to which end means is provided to shift the flexible stops to ineffective positions relatively to the inner ends of depressed keys, and the zero stop pawls, when taking a total or sub-total. A totalizing lever 122, (Fig. 3), to control the machine for total and sub-total operations, is pivoted on the rock shaft 36, and has a depending arm 123 carrying a stud 124 projecting laterally into the plane of a cam arm 125,

fast to the above-mentioned adjusting control shaft 100.

As the totalizing lever 122 is adjusted clockwise to set the machine for a total or a sub-total operation, the stud 124 of the depending arm 123 of the total lever, strikes the cam arm 125 and rocks the adjusting control shaftlOO in counter-clockwise direction. The shaft 100, through the previously described fingers 105 and adjusting arms 10?, withdraws the stops out of effective position relatively to any depressed keys in the path of travel of the actuators.

The mechanism heretofore provided, which enables the total lever to rock the Zero stop pawls 37 out of the path of travel of the actuators, is also eliminated by this invention.

Interlocks (not shown), but fully disclosed in the previously mentioned applications, are provided to prevent the manipulation of both the repeat key 62 and the total lever 122, during a single operation, and also to prevent the depression of the repeat key when the total lever is out of the add position.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the in vention 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.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pluralit of banks of settable keys; and actuators, differentially post tioned under control of the keys; of means carried by the actuators to cooperate with the keys when set; and means to render the first-mentioned means ineffective to en able the actuators to advance irrespective of a key in its set position.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of rows of settable keys; zero stop pawls controlled by the keys in their respective rows; and a differential associated with each row of keys; of a means carried by each of said differentials to cooperate with any of the keys, wien set, and the zero stop pawl in its corresponding row; and a plurality of manipulative devices to render the first-mentioned means ineffect1ve, relatively to the set keys and to the zero stop pawls.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with depressible keys; a zero stop pawl; and an actuator adapted to be differentially positioned under control of the depressed keys; of a stop mounted on the actuator, and adapted to be variously adusted relatively to the actuator, to determine its cooperation with the zero stop pawl and the depressed keys.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; a zero stop pawl; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; of a stop mounted on the actuator, and adapted to be variously adjusted relatively to the actuator; and a shifting member adapted to engage the stop, to shift the latter into and out of cooperative relation with the zero stop pawl, and the keys when in set positions.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control ously adjustable relatively to the actuator, to cooperate with any depressed key; and an adjusting member releasably engaging the stop to variably position the latter relatively to the actuator.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; of a stop flexibly held on and variously adjustable relatively to the actuator, to cooperate with any depressed key; and an adjusting member releasably engaging the stop to variably position the latter relatively to the actuator.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; of a stop slidably mounted on the actuator to have a plurality of positions relatively thereto, and adapted, in one of its positions, to cooperate with a set-key; and means to shift the stop into and out of its effective position relatively to the set key.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; of a flexibly held projection mounted on the actuator, and variously adjustable relatively to the actuator, the pro jection adapted to cooperate with a set key when adjusted to a certain position on the actuator.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator .95. of the keys; of a stop mounted on and varidifferentially positioned under control of the depressed keys; and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection, supported by the actuator, to coopcrate with a set key, and adapted to travel with the actuator; and means intermediate the manipulative device and the flexible projection, to withdraw the latter from cooperative relation with the set ke IO. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; and a plurality of manipulative devices; of a shiftable member carried by the actuator to cooperate with a set key; and means controlled by either manipulative device to adjust the shiftable member to one of its positions.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; and a plurality of manipulative devices; of a member carried by the actuator to cooperate with a set key, and shiftable into and out of effective position relatively thereto; means operable by either manipulative device to adjust the shiftable member to one of its positions; and means to restore the member to the other of its positions upon the return of the operated manipulative device to its normal position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection supported by the actuator to cooperate with a set key; a rock shaft; means intermediate the rock shaft and the flexible projection to withdraw the latter from cooperative relation with a set key; and means operable by the manipulative device to actuate the rock shaft.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys; and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection mounted on the actuator, and having an effective and an ineffective position relatively to a set key; a rock shaft; means operable by the manipulative device to actuate the rock shaft; a member to rock the flexible projection to its effective or ineffective position; and means carried by the rock shaft to rock the member.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of a set key; and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection mounted on the actuator and having an effective and an ineffective position relatively to a set key; a rock shaft to control the flexible projection; an arm secured to the rock shaft and having a cam surface; and a protruding element on the manipulative device to cooperate with the cam surface to turn the rock shaft.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of a set key; and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection mounted on the actuator and having an effective and an ineffective positon relatvely to a set key; a rock shaft to control the flexble projection; and means controlled by the manipulative device to actuate the rock shaft to shift the flexible projection into its effective and ineffective positions.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with manipulative devices; and a traveling actuator differentially arrested by the manipulative devices, when set; of a shiftable stop carried by the actuator to normally co-act with the manipulative devices when set; and means with which the stop releasably engages to shift the stop to effective or ineffective position.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with manipulative devices; and a traveling actuator differentially arrested by the manipulative devices, when set; of a stop carried by the actuator to normally co-act with the manipulative devices, and shiftable to effective or ineffective position relatively to the manipulative devices in a direction at an angle to that in which the actuator travels; and means to shift the stop to either of its positions.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settable keys; a zero stop pawl; and an actuator adapted to be differentially positioned under control of the keys; of a stop mounted on the actuator and adapted to be flexibly held in position to cooperate with the zero stop pawl or the keys, and also adapted to be flexibly held in a position out of cooperation with the zero stop pawl or the keys.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of manipulative means; an oscillating member having a constant position at one limit of its travel and variable positions at the other limit of its travel; a device on the member and adapted to control the extent of oscillation thereof as determined by the manipulative means; and means to shift the device relative to the member when the latter is in its constant position only, to render the device ineffective relative to the manipulative means when the latter is in controlling position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON.

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