US2433647A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3o, 1947.

E. C. CARTER CASH REGISTER Filed Oct. 11, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 K DCC- 30, 1947 E. c. CARTER 2,433,647

CASH REGISTER Filed Oct. ll, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B ELMER QCARTER y, n/

, His Gttorncg Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED sTATss PATENT: orf-Fics.

CASH REGISTER f-' Elmer C. Carter,v West rli/iiltornqhio,assignerto J The National Cash Register..Gompanyl)ayton,. Ohiora corporation of Maryland Application -Octoberil, 1944; Serial No; 558,246 if indicating mechanisms forcashrregisters and/or accounting machines. f

Another object is the provision of novel-means for illuminating theindicating ymechanisms for cash registers and/or accounting machines.

Still another object is to provide automatically -1 controlled means for illuminating the' indicating mechanisms of cash registers and/or accountingv machines after said indicating -mechanismsvhave been set up, and `toretain said indicating mech-i anisms illuminated for a predetermined period after machine operation has been completed.

Still another object is toprovide translucent indicatorsfor cashv registers and/or accounting machines and further to provide automatically controlled meansV tofilluminatethe indicators, said illuminating means being rendered eiective after the indicators have been set up and remaining effective for a predetermined period after machine operation has been completed.

A further object of the presentinvention is to provide a cashregister and/or accounting machine, Capable of one-cycle operations and twocycle operations, withy translucentindicators and with means .to illuminate the indicators, said illuminating means being rendered effective near the end of one-cycle Aoperations and remaining operation has been completed, and further to provide means, elective in two-cycle operations, to vary the operation of the illuminating means tocause the indicators to be illuminatedv near the end of said two-cycle operations and to ren4 main illuminated for a .certain interval after machine operation has beencompleted.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certainnovel features of con.m

struction and combinations of parts, the essential 1 elements ofA Whichare set lforth inappended.

claims and preferred. forms or embodiments of which are hereinafterdescribed withreference toA the drawingswhich accompany andiform a part of this specication.

In the drawings,

Fig.y 1 is a rightside elevation' of thelmachine with the right-handv end 4o1 `the cabinet removedy.v

showing in particular ther indicator-illuminating effective fora certain interval'after machine ,35

15 mechanism i and `themsecondary switch and-. assoy ciated Vmechanism for controlling said illuminata ing mechanism.

Fig; 2 is `a detailfview, partially,broken away,-

of vthe total control lever and va part of ,the 5 mechanism associated therewithv for controlling k theamovementfoi the zerothrowout shaftin twof cycleoperations.

Fig; 3 is a backelevation showing in general@ the .indicating mechanism andthe primary. and

secondary switch. mechanismsA for controllingl the indicator-illuminating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a leftf'han'd elevation showing `in ,detail-.fa

the bellows mechanism Yrionretaining the primary switcheffective after rmachine operation ihasbeen.y i.,

completed.

Fig; 15 is va detail,4 partially,:sectioned,rof thegL secondary switchmechanism. .i

Fig; 6 isa detail View of a modiii'edformcf f thexmechanismzfor. controlling thetsecondary. switch in totalk andsub-total recording operations.

Fig, '7 is a time chart showing in graphic jform the timing of the important mechanism for controlling .the illuminating means.

Fig. \8 isa detail back` View of -the secondary switch `and the illuminating tube' controlled thereby.V f

DESCRIPTION f The'present'invention is directed to means `for illuminating the-indicatingsmechanismsff of cash I registers and/or accountingA machines This -i1 luminatingvmeans-includes a gas-nlled cold cath ode-tube of the fluorescent type, The illuminat` ingt-ube is of the medium frequency type' and is energized by voltager fromthe secondary portion of'a transformer having an input of 110` volts g.

A C. into the primaryv portion; thereof.

' The machine chosen .to illustrate thek present invention is provided (with indicatorv targets formed of translucent plastic .material having the indicia outlined thereon through, the medium of yan opaque paint. The presentmachine is prof vided with front andvback indication, .andthe illuminating tube is located, midway between said. front and back indication, so that 1both areilluminated equally.

The lightingof the illuminating tube is Vcon,-

trolled by a secondary'switch located between said tube Aand the secondarygportion of the transformer, and bya primary switchlocated between; thepower input,=,or--source of electricalenergy, and theprimaryside of 1.the transformer.v .sani-5 two switches being necessary to eiect the desired control over the operation of the illuminating device.

The primary switch is rendered effective near the end of each machine operation and is provided with a delaying or retarding device which causes said switch to remain effective until a short time after machine operation has been completed to provide ample time for properly reading the illuminated indication.

The secondary switch is provided for controlling the initial lighting of the indicator illuminating tube, and, when the machine is at rest, this switch is closed. In adding operations, near the beginning of machine operation, the secondary switch is opened and remains open until after the indication has been set up under inuence of the various amount, transaction, and clerks keys, after which said switch is closed and remains thus at the end of machine operation, thus permitting the primary switch mechanism to control the length of time that the indicators remain illuminated, as explained above.

The secondary switch mechanism functions in the manner explained above in adding and subtracting operations (one-cycle operations). However, in total and sub-total recording operations, which require two cycles of operation of the machine instead of the one cycle required for adding and subtracting operations, it is necessary to alter the control of the secondary switch to prevent the lighting of the indication illuminating tube before the indication has been set up.

The present machine is arranged for itemizing transactions, in which the different items of a complete item transaction are set up individually on the amount keys and, in a series of onecycle adding operations, are indicated by the indicators, recorded by the printing means, and entered in the item totalizer. After all the items have been entered in this manner, the item transaction is completed by moving the total control lever downwardly one step to Item total position to condition the machine for a two-cycle item total operation, in which the total of all the items is indicated by the indicators, recorded by the printing means, and simultaneously cleared from the item totalizer. At the end of the item total operation, the total control lever is automatically returned to its central or adding position.

In one form of total control mechanism for the indicator illuminating means, manual movement of the total control lever` to the item total position, through the usual zero throw-out mechanism, opens the secondary switch for the i1- luminating means, and said switch remains thus until near the end of the two-cycle item total operation, whereupon automatic returning of the total control lever to adding position closes the secondary switch so that the indicators will be illuminated to reveal the total amount of the various items constituting the item total transaction.

In the above modification, item total operations are the only total operations in which the indicators are illuminated.

A variation of the construction outlined above causes the indicators to be illuminated in any sub-total or total recording operation, also often referred to as reading or resetting operations.

In this latter construction, movement of the tot-al control lever out of adding position to any total or sub-total recording position eiectuates mechanism which operates, through the Zero throwout mechanism and in conjunction with the mechanism which normally opens the switch in one-cycle operations, to cause the secondary switch to be opened near the end of the first cycle of a total or sub-total recording operation and to remain open until after the amount of the total or sub-total has been set up on the indicators. Near the end of the second cycle of operation, the secondary switch is rendered effective or closed to cause said total or sub-total to be illuminated.

The machine embodying the present invention has a plurality of denominational rows of amount keys 3i) (Fig. 1), mounted in corresponding key frames 3|, in turn removably mounted in the machine proper by means of upper and lower rods, only the upper rod being shown here, supported by right and left main frames 32 and 33. The main frames 32 and 33 (Fig. 1) are secured at their lower ends by screws 34 to upwardly extending lugs on a machine base 35, which, together with various cross frames, bars, and rods, rigidly secure said frames 32 and 33 in proper spaced relationship to each other. A case or cabinet 36 encloses the mechanism of the machine, and said cabinet is also secured to the base 35. Each of the amount banks has a corresponding differential mechanism for transmitting the values of the depressed amount keys to the corresponding indicators, type wheels, and totalizer wheels. Each of the amount differential mechanisms includes a link 31, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a corresponding segment 38 free on an indicator shaft 4| journaled in the frames 32 and 33.

The segment 38 (Figs. 1 and 3) has an upward extension with teeth which mesh with corresponding rack teeth in the lower edge of an in- 'dicator slide 39 mounted to shift horizontally by means of parallel slots therein in cooperation with two parallel bars 4D secured between right and left frames 42 and 43 of the indicator framework, said frames being in turn secured, respectively, to the right frame 32 and the left frame 33. Spacing members secured on the bars 40 have alined slots therein which engage the upper walls of the parallel slots in the slide 39 to properly side-space said slide and to prevent lateral displacement thereof. The slide 33 (Figs. 1 and 3) has secured thereto a front indicator cage 44 and a similar back indicator cage 45, each of said cages having a plurality of equally spaced vertical guide slots formed therein which slidably support front indicators 46 and back indicators 41. The indicators 46 and 41 may be formed of any suitable translucent plastic material which will permit the passage of sufficient light rays to properly illuminate the indicia on said indicators. When the indicators 46 and 41 are in their downward or unexposed position, undercut portions of the lower edges thereof rest on corresponding ledges 48 and 48 formed on the slide 39.

When none of the amount keys 3U (Fig. 1) is depressed in a machine operation, the zero stop mechanism, in cooperation with the diierential mechanism and through the link 31, positions the segment 38 and the slide 39, as shown here, so that the front and back indicators 46 and 41 corresponding to zero position are in operative alinement with the usual indicator lifting mechanism and are also in alinement with slots formed by front and back shields 50 and 5|. secured to the right and left indicator frames 42 and 43.

Functioning of the indicator lifting mechanism causes it to engage extending lugs on the upper ends of the selected indicators and lift them upwrdiy inta tiiesiots and'intfaiinment with sight 'apertures'in the shields 50 and 5|. The shieldsl 'andl andthe'upperpo-rtion of thev indicatormechanism Yare' enclosed in a suitable cover 52 securedl tothe cabinet 36; said indicator cover supporting front and back transparent win-k dows 53 and 511 directly opposite the sight open; ings in the shields i! and 5I, through which the slide 39 to be positioned diiierentially accordingY to which of the keyshas been depressed. This positioning of the slide 39 moves the corresponding iront and back indicators 46 and lil into alinenient with the slots formed by the front and back shields 55 and 5I and into operative relationship with the indicator lifting mechanism, which lifts said indicators into viewing position. An aliner (not shown) cooperates with te-eth formed on a rearward extension of the segment 33 to aline said segment and the slide 39 in set positions while the selected indicators 46 and li'i are being lifted to and lowered from viewing position. Likewise an aliner 55 (Fig. 1) cooperates with teeth formed on a bar extending between the cages dit and 45 to assist the segment 38 in alining the slide 39 in set position.

Each row of amount keys has associated therewith a front and back indicating mechanism similar to that explained in'connection with the denomination shown in Fig. l, and there are also a row of Clerks keysand a row of transaction keys (not sho-wn), which have associated therewith corresponding front and back indicators similar to the indicators 4S and el.

The somewhat brief description of the indieating mechanism given above is believed sufficient ior the purpose ofthis specification; however, if a more detailed description of the indicating mechanism is desired, reference may be had to the United States Patent No. 1,163,748, issued December 14, 1915, to Frederick L. Fuller, in which the indicating mechanism is fully disclosed.

An insulating bar 58 (Figs. r1, 3, 5, and 8), molded ci some suitabie insulating material, is secured to similar bent-over upper portions of the indicator frames i2 and its and has two similar downward extensions having secured thereton respectively, clips 59 and E@ arranged to snap over the inwardly-bent ends of a fluorescent light tube Si of the cold cathode type, said tube iii being located midway between the front and back indicators A6 and 4l and extending the full length of the space occupied by the indicators, so as to properly illuminate said indicators. The illuminating tube 6l has two electrodes, from which extend lead wires 62 and S3. lead wire 62 connects directly with one pole of the secondary portion of a transformer 64 (Fig. 3), mounted on a bracket G5 secured to the left indicator frame fit. The'lead wire 63 is connected to a ired contact 56 of a secondary switch, said contact being secured in the bar 58. rThe fixed contact E6 is engageable by a moving contact fast on the `free end of a yieldable blade t1, the other end of which is secured to the bar 533. The blade Sl' is connected by an extension of the lead wire 63 to the Vother pole of the secondary portion of the transformer 6e, to complete the electrical circuit to the illuminating tube el; The Ablade 6l has cooperating therewith` The connected by a link i2 (Figs. 1 and 3) to thev upper end' of a switch' operating lever i3 pivotallysupported at its lower end by a stud it in a bar l5 secured to the right frame 32. A spring 16,

tensioned between a stud 'il inthe frame 32 and the lever it,y urges said lever clockwise to' normally rmaintain aV node "it thereon in yieldingy co-ntact'witii the' periphery of a plate Carnia secured on a main shaft Siijournale'd in the main. iframes 32 and' The main shaft'drives' the." mechanism of the machine and, in adding andi' subtractirig operations, makes one revolutionin` a clockwise direction and in sub-total and total: recording or reading and resetting operations.- -makes' two such revolutions.

The primaryV portion' of thevv transformer 6111?' (Fig' 3) is' connected by a lead wire 8i directly` to rthe* one side of the'electrical energy supply' source, and byanother lead wire i12 to a yield-` abie blade t3 `of a primary switch, yone endof; said'blade being secured on a block iid formed or insulating material-and'in turn secured on a bracket fast tothe iet frame 33 (Figs. 3f' The blade 83' carriesfa contact pointl with a `fixed 'contact point i367 secured in 'the block Sill, said iiXed Contact being connected byleadwire ii'i to the other sideand fi) which cooperates of the supply source of electrical energy,

l The switch blade 3,3 is en'gageable' by block of insulating material secured on a switch operating arm ed pivoted on a stud '9B in the bracket a5. The arm has a v(JammingV surface 9 l, which cooperates with a stud 92 secured in the upper end of a switch operating bar 93 mounted to shift vertically by means of alined slots in thebracket 35 and in the horizontal' portion lof a" bracket tizi secured to the left frame 33. The bar S35i (Fig. e) has secured thereto a step plate 95, an upper horizontal portion of which has secured thereto a round flanged member 95, to which is connected the upper end oi a collapsible bellows el composed of suitable plastic material such as natural or synthetic rubber. the bellows Si is vconnected to a lower roundv rianged member e8 secured to the horizontal portion of the bracket 94.

A spring il@ (Figs. 3 and-4), tensioned between*- the upper portion of the plate 95 and thebracket Se, urges said plate 95 and the bar S3 upwardly to normally maintain the bellows 9i in an extended condition, as shown here, such movement of saidparts being limited by a pin its in said bar S3 in cooperation with the lower surface ofv the horizontal portion of the bracket gli. A lower" horizontal extension of the step plate 95 under-- lies and cooperates with the lower end of ra link iii l, pivotally connected between a crank |62, free` on the indicator shaft di, and a cam lever m3,.V

turnably supported by a stud Ice in the left frame 33. The cam lever it carries a roller H15, which extends into a camming groove itt in a cam Iii? secured on a short shaft Hi8 journaled betweenV the left frame 33 and the printer framework, said shaft it being driven one clockwise revolution,-A

as viewed in Fig. 4, in adding and subtracting operations, and two such revolutions in sub-total and total recording operations.

rThe mechanism shown in Fig'. 4 and described above, including the lever 103 and the cam HV1,

is a part of the regular Clerks differential mecha? The lower end of.

nlsm which is fully disclosed in Fig. 8 and the description in connection therewith in the United States Patent No. 2,238,517, which issued April 15, 1941, to Arthur R. Colley et al., to which reference may be had for a more detailed description of said mechanism.

Functioning of the illuminating mechanism in one-cycle operations In one-cycle operations-that is, adding and subtracting operations-in which .the main shaft 80 (Fig. 1) and the shaft |08 (Fig. 4) make one clockwise revolution, initial movement of said shaft 8B causes the cam 19 to function according to the time given in space l of the time chart (Fig. 7), to rock the cam lever 13 counter-clockwise, which movement, through the link 12, rocks the arm 1I and the shaft S9 clockwise, as shown in Fig. 1, and counter-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 5. Counter-clockwise movement of the arm 1I and the shaft 69 (Fig. 5) carries the finger 68 in unison therewith to release the yieldable blade 61 of the secondary switch to open said switch, to break the circuit between the secondary portion of the transformer 64 and the illuminating tube 6I.

After the secondary switch has been opened, as explained above, the cam groove |06 in the cam |01 (Fig. 4), operating according to the time given in space 3 of the chart (Fig. 7), rocks the lever |83 counter-clockwise, causing the down- Ward end of the link lOl, in cooperation with the lower step of the plate 95, to carry said plate and the bar 93 downwardly against the action of the spring 99, to collapse or deflate the bellows 91.

Downward movement of the bar 93 (Figs. 3 and 4), in addition to collapsing the bellows 91, likewise causes the stud 92 in said bar, in cooperation with the camming surface 9|, to rock the switch operating arm 89 clockwise, causing the insulating block 88, in cooperation with the blade 83 of the primary switch, to close said switch, to complete the circuit from the primary portion of the transformer 64 tothe source oi electrical energy. Downward movement of the bar 93, in addition to closing the primary switch, likewise withdraws the stud 92 from the lower surface of a latching pawl |69 to release said pawl to the action of a spring H0, tensioned between the r pawl |88 and the arm 89, whereupon said spring urges said pawl counter-clockwise to latch a tooth formed thereon over the upper end of an upwardly extending tail l l l formed on said arm 89. This latches the switch arm 89 in clockwise position to insure that the primary switch remains closed.

Continued rotation of the cam 91 (Figs. 3 and 4 and space 3, Fig. 7) returns the link 10| upwardly to withdraw the lower end thereof from the lower step of the plate 85. However, the bellows 91 has an adjustable check valve in its upper end which is adjusted so as to cause said bellows to innate and extend slowly under influence of the spring 99, after said link l 8i has been restored upwardly to normal position. Near the end of machine operation, the high portion of the periphery of the cam 19 (Fig. 1 and space l, Fig. '1) moves beyond the node 18, permitting the spring 'I6 to return the lever '13 clockwise, which, through the link 12, the arm 1l, the shaft S9, and the finger 68, closes the secondary switch to complete the circuit to the illuminating tube 6l to cause said tube to properly illuminate the translucent front and back indicators 46 and 41 after they have been set, as explained before.

The gradual restoring or extending action yof the bellows 91 (Figs. 3 and 4) permits the primary switch to remain closed for a predetermined interval of time, usually about 30 seconds, after machine operation has been completed. As the bellows 91 near the terminus of its restoring movement, the stud 92 engages the bottom surface of the pawl |99 to disengage the tooth of said pawl from the upper end of the tail l Il to release the switch arm 89 to the action of the spring H0, which immediately rocks said arm counterclockwise. Counter-clockwise movement of the switch arm 89 opens the primary switch to break the circuit to the illuminating tube 6| to terminate the illumination of the indicators.

In case a subsequent machine operation is begun before the primary switch has been opened by the expanding movement of the bellows 91, as explained above, initial movement of the cam 19 (Fig. l), in cooperation with the lever 13, opens the secondary switch in the manner explained previously, to break the circuit to the illuminating tube 6i at the very beginning of said subsequent operation.

Functioning of the illuminating mechanism in item total operations In Item total recording operations, it is desirable that the total amount of a group of items constituting a single purchase be illuminated near the end of such operation, and such control of the illuminating mechanism is effected by theh usual and well-known total control lever, which is normally in Add position but which in Item total operations is moved in resetting direction to the first position below Add positioni. e., to Item total position. Manual movement of the total control lever from Add position to Item total position through the well-known mechanism which is fully disclosed in the Bernie M. Shipley United States Patent No. 1,865,147, issued June 28, 1932, rocks the usual zero throwout shaft a slight distance, which, through connecting mechanism, shown in Fig. 1 and to be described presently, opens the secondary switch to interrupt the flow of current to the illuminating tube G! All sub-total and total recording operations, including Item total operations, consist of two cycles of movement or two complete revolutions of the main shaft 88, and in such operations the secondary switch is retained open until near the end of the second cycle of operation, so that functioning of the primary switch mechanism (Fig. 4), as explained above, during the rst cycle of such operations will not energize the indicator illuminating tube 6I. Near the end of the second cycle of Item total operations, the total control lever is automatically restored from Item total position to normal or Add position. This automatic restoring of the total control lever permits the mechanism shown in Fig. l to close the secondary switch in the manner explained previously, so that the illuminating tube will be energized and illuminate the indication of the item total.

As previously stated, the present machine is provided with a total control lever lid (Fig, 2), which functions in the well-known manner to control the types of operations performed by the machine. Normally the total control lever l I4 is in central or Add position but may be manually moved either upwardly, to any one of several reading or sub-total recording positions, or downwardly, to any one of several resetting or total recording positions. The rst downward position of the total control lever is the Item total position,

cansan-17 in which the v:item :.totalizer; is-.f'selected rand r lcon- '..ditionedor a'totalfrecor-ding vor resettingoperation to clear therefrom vthe.' amountof the Vtotal items and to set the indicators and the printing mechanism accordingly.

The total control lever Illia-has' arcam slot |fi5 1 engaged by. a 'stud `|16 lin the `lower endof a lever V| l1 pivotedgoni 'ai-:stationary stud si||8. Also Vpivoted at its lowerend' on the studV l; l 8' is arr Aarm IIS, urgedV counter-clockwise bya4 spring 120,1110

vtensioned between said arm and the lever Al l1, and I acting to normallyr maintain a stop stud l2 lcar- 4tried loynsaid' arm H9, in contact-with a-stopsur- 'face von `an upward .extension `of .said'ilcver |11.

:The arm ||9 and the lever H1ltogether1form-ai 15 yieldab-le camming slot |22, which 'engages a stud |23 in an arm l|24 secured on' a zero throwout l shaft rotatably mounted in theframeworlroi the machine.

vAlso securedA on .,thershaft |25 is av crank 12355.20

.,(Fig. 1) 4pivctally connected lby elink |21 toa fleveriiZS-ree on a'stationary stud-129." rEhe lever e .12S-is pivotally connected atits lower cndfto the `forward end of apitman |30: shiftably'supported e bya slot 13| Ythereinyin; cooperationrwith a studg25 132i secured: in the' main fframe'li. AAslargeiiheaded screw threadedly 'engages a hole'finv the stud |32 J anduacts ltoretaintfthe "-pitman vVlil against lateral displacement.

.Moving Vthe total contrcllever |-|Llf(Figs. 1 and30 1J2) from Add positionto Item totalposition causes the slot H5, in cooperation with the'stud ||5,-to rock the fiever' |11 vand lthe `rarm ||9 counterf clockwise. "Counter-'clockwise movement ofthe e lever Il'iand 'the arm- H9 causes l"the slotI "|22, in-l35 clockwise to `shift the pitmaniforwardly as40' y slight distance -to eiect the proper control of the machine for two-cycle operations yinv the manner '1 fully, disclosed in theShipley and 'the Colley patents'referred to previously.

Forward movement' ci*thepitman'vv |30 (Fig. l) 'T145 causes a stud |33, `carried 'therebygto engagead rock, the lever" 13 counter-clockwise; whichl moveg ment,'througn thelinlr 'l2' kand the-arm 1|, opens ithe secondary switch: to'prevent the4r iiow` of 'current tc me indicator: illuminating time suceur-e0 fed to said pitman |l near the end of the first ',Lthe total :control lever Mi is automatically' `restored from., Item .total position to'AddVL position neai1 .the end of rtheltem" total operatiomas will be .:explainedpresently.

The mechanism iorrestoring the; total contr/01555` l`lever i iii from-Iternftotal position to iAdd position near the :end of an'ltem total 'operation is fully V(disclosed .-in the United Si States Patent 'No 1,736,067, issued' November v19, .11929J to'Samuel Brand, and for this reason; it is believed that `theposition to Add position comprigesiapitman ggg (Fig. l) `which is Voperatively" connected Vto' the .lever said pitman havin-gtaxeammingfslot 4cooperating witlra stud iesinahook itocontrol the 4movement Aci said hookinto yoperative relaticnshipwith stud |31 ini an nperatinglever 70 Near the end of .anltern'-totaloperation; the mechanism reierredtto. inA general alcove functions in thev manner disclosedin the Brand to restorethe totalccntrol-:lever He from Item. @mit l.position ito Add position, which movement, 1 through Vthe slot ||5 (Fig. 2) restores the lever ||1 and the arm ||9 clockwise to normal position,

thereby causing the slot |22 to restore the arm l|24 and the shaft v|25 counter-clockwise to normal position, as shown here. Counter-clockwise restoring movement of the shaft |25 (Fig. l), through the crank |26, the link |21, and the lever |28, restores the pitman |30 rearwardly to normal position, as shown here. Rearward restoring .movement of the pitman |30 withdraws the stud f |33 from the'lever 13 to permit the spring l1li to restore said lever clockwise to normal position v* immediately after the high portion of the peripheryof the 'cam 19 moves beyond the node 18, so as not to interfere with such restoring movement clockwise of -said lever 13. Clockwise' restoring movement ofthe lever 13, through the link 12 and the arm 1|, closes the secondary switch, and, inasmuch asV the mechanism shown in FigsfS and 4 and explained earlier herein has previously closed the primary switch, the indicator illuminating tube 6| is energized and illuminates the indication of the Item total, which is the result desired.

It is to be understood that the entire indication, both iront and back and including the .amountlof the Item total, the Clerks identiication letter, and the symbol or name of the type'of `transaction being performed, is illuminated by the'tube 6 I.

Functioning of the illuminating mechanism in sub-total and total operations -While it'is not often desirable to illuminate the .indication of ordinary sub-totals and/or grand totals,y still a' variation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided for illuminating such sub-totals and grand totals, said mechanism Ybeving shown in Fig. 6.

The mechanism for controlling the illumination of the indication vof sub-totals and grand l`totals comprises a stud Uil (Fig. 6), similar in every respect' to the stud |33 and spaced on the pitman |30 so that manual movement of the total control lever ||4 (Fig. 2) and consequent forward movement of said pitman |30 will not rock the f lever 13 in the manner explained above but will move the'stiid |4| within operating range of said lever, so that the mechanical movement impartcycle of'sulo-to-tal or total operations will maintain said lever 13 and connected mechanismV in `the position into which they are adjusted by the cam 19, in the manner' explained above, to main- 'tain the secondary switch open until near the lend of the second cycle of operation. Secured on the main shaft (Fig. l) is a gear M2, which 'meshes with a larger gear |43 free on the stud |32. The gear |43 has a counter-boring which ireely supports a cycle control cam |44 havinga ycamslot |45, which cooperates with a roller |46 'mounted on the pitman |30.

4"When the total control lever |4 (Figs. l'and v'2) is in Add position, as shown here, the pitrnan |30 is retained in its rearward position, in which "position the roller |46 engages a notch adjacent to thecam slot |45 to lock the cam |44 against rotation in adding operations. Manual movement of the total control lever IIA out of lAdd position to any of its sub-total or total positions, through the mechanism Shown in Fig. 2 and explained above, rocks the shaft |25 clockwise, which movement, through the crank |26, the link 'P |21,- and thealeverl |28, shifts the pitman |30 forwardly a sufficient distance to disengage the roller |46 from the notch and to move said roller into alinement with the cam slot |45. Forward movement of the pitman |30 likewise carries a connecting slide |41, mounted freely in a, slot in the face of the cam |44, forwardly in unison therewith to move a connecting projection on said slide into a notch in the gear |43 to connect said cam |44 to said gear for unitary rotative movement.

As previously explained, the main shaft 85 and the gear |42 (Fig. 1) make one clockwise rotation in adding and subtracting operations and two such rotations in sub-total and total or reading and resetting operations, said gear 42 in turn driving the large gear |43 one-half rotation in adding operations and a complete rotation in reading and resetting operations. In reading and resetting operations, the cam |44 moves in unison with the gear |43, and the cam slot M in said cam, in cooperation with the roller 46, shifts the pitman |39 forwardly an additional distance and back according to the time given in space 2 of the time chart, Fig. 7. This additional forward movement of the pitman |30 (Fig. 6) causes the stud IM to engage the upper end of the lever 13 after the high portion of the periphery of the cam 'i9 (Fig. l) has moved beyond the node 'I8 to retain the secondary switch open dui'- ing the two cycles of a reading or resetting oper` ation to prevent energizing of the illuminating tube 6| at the end of the first cycle of such operations (compare spaces and 2, Fig. 7). Near the middle of the second cycle of a reading or resetting operation, the cam slot |45 (Figs. l, 2, and 6), in cooperation with the roller |48, returns the pitman 38 rearwardly to move the stud |4| away from the upper end of the lever 73 to surrender control of said lever to the cam 19. The cam 19 functions in the manner explained earlier herein to close the secondary switch near the end of the second cycle of operation and, after the indicators have been properly adjusted, to energize the illuminating tube 6| to cause the indication of the sub-total or total to be illuminated.

Mode of operation It is believed that a full understanding of the operation of the machine will have been obtained from a perusal of the preceding specication. However, a brief outline of the functioning of the illuminating mechanism may be helpful and will now be given.

In adding and subtracting operations, the cam 19 and connecting mechanism, shown in Fig. l, open the secondary switch for the illuminating tube 6| at the beginning of such operations and retain said switch open until near the end of ma chine operation to prevent said illuminating tube 6| from being energized while the indication is being set up. Before the secondary switch is closed near the end of an adding or subtracting operation, the primary switch, shown best in Fig. 3, is closed by the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, said mechanism at the same time collapsing the bellows 97, which iniiates slowly at a predeterminedlrate and opens the primary switch at a predetermined time after the machine operation has been completed.

In Item total operations, movement of the total control lever H4 (Figs. 1 and 2) to Item total position opens the secondary switch in the manner explained above, and said switch remains open while the indicators are being adjusted. Near the end of Item total operations, autQmatiG returning of the total control lever ||4 from Item total position to Add position closes the secondary switch to cause the indication of the item total to be illuminated.

A modification of the item total mechanism, which is effective in all types of sub-total or reading and total or resetting operations, is shown in Fig. 6 and consists principally of relocating the stud |33 so that manual movement of the total control lever I4 does not open the secondary switch, but said secondary switch is opened at the beginning of said reading or resetting operation by the cam 19 (Fig. 1) exactly the same as in adding operations. The stud |4| then becomes effective to hold the switch open during the interval between the end of the first cycle and the beginning of the second cycle, when said switch would normally be closed by the action of the cam 19. In the second cycle, control of the secondary switch is surrendered to the cam '19, which closes said switch in the usual manner.

Summarizing brieiiy, the present invention discloses unique means for illuminating the indication of cash registers and/or accounting machines, said illuminating means remaining effective a short period after machine operation has been completed, so as to provide ample time for reading the indication and so as to attract the purchasers attention to the indication.

While the forms of mechanism shown and described herein are admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the inven tion to the forms or embodiments disclosed herein, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, having settable translucent indicators and electrical means to illuminate the indicators, the combination of a rst switch to open and close the eleotrical circuit to the illuminating means; a second switch to open and close the electrical circuit to the illuminating means; means to close and open the second switch; a delayed action device cooperating with and actuated by the closing and opening means and effective to delay the opening movement of said closing and opening means to cause it to open the second switch at a predetermined time; and means to control the first switch to open the circuit to the illuminating means while the indicators are being set and to close the circuit after said indicators have been set, to properly illuminate said indicators.

2. In a machine of the class described, having translucent indicators settable to indicate data, the combination'of an electric light to illuminate the indicators; a iirst switch normally closed to control the ow of electrical current to the light; a second switch normally open to control the flow of electrical current to the light; means to close and open the second switch; delayed action means to control the opening movement of the opening and closing means to cause the second switch to open after a predetermined interval has elapsed; and means to open the rst switch prior to the setting of the indicators and to close said switch after the indicators have been set to prevent illumination of said indicators while they are being set.

3. In a machine of the character described having a plurality of translucent indicators for displaying data resulting from a machine operation, and means to set the indicators in accordance 13 x\-. With-.thefdataeto. befdisplayed;` theecombination of` ,electrical-means to illuminatelthe indicators; n a aiirst switch v-normallyrclosedto control-thefow of electrical current tothe illuminating means; a second switch-normallycpento control the iiow ofi-f electrical .curr-ent. to 1 the illuminating means; VIneansto close andopenthe second switch; means, -controlled bythe openingY and closing means, lto latch the second switch in closed posi- 1tion; a delayed action device cooperating with :andrendered effective bythe-closing and opening means and functioning to 4cause -saidy openingand closing'rimeansto unlatch thelatching means, aftersaid second switchy has been closed for a predeterminedtime; and means to open `vl4open,tocontrol the flow ofvelectrical current toV i. theilluminating means;y means operable during a machine.operation-to-close Vthe switch; means controlled by the closing means to latch the switch in closed position; a delayed action device cooperating with `and rendered effective by the closing means` andoperating to cause said closing 'means to unlatch the .latching means to allow the-switch to open after apredetermined length of time following the operation of the machine "so that the indicators can be maintained illumi-w nated'for said predetermined. length of time after the machine has operated; and additional -control means for the illuminating means to in- "terrupt currentvthereto while the indicators-are being-set, whereby the indicators will not be illuminated during their setting even though a I subsequentoperation of the machine occurs during said predetermined length of time. 5. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of settable translucent indicators for displaying -data relating tov machineoperations, the combination'of electrical means to illuminate the translucent indicators; control means for the illuminatingmeans to prevent current from being supplied to the illuminating means while the indiv catorsare being set; a switch also operable to control the flow of current to the illuminating means, said switch-normally open; means to close the switch; meansoperable during an operation of `themachine to actuate the'closing` means?.

means controlled by the actuating means to latch VAthe closing means in closed position lto retain the switch closed; and a Y delayed action device cooperating with and set in motion by the actuat- ,ing means andcperating to cause the-actuating-- means to operate the latchingmeans to release the closing means Vvand allow the switch to open onlyv after a predetermined interval of time-has elapsed after anLoperation-of the machine' so that the illuminating means can illuminate' the indicators for the desired length of time after `the operation of the machine unless a subsequent operation of themachine takes place duringythis time andthe control means is .operable Ato inter- I rupt current-to the illuminating A.means while fthe indicators are being set.

6. In a machine ofthe class describedvhaving a plurality of settable translucent indicators for displaying data relating to machine operations, ,thecombination ofA electrical means-to illuminate l@the translucent indlcatorsifcontrol means for-.the -filluminating means to interrupt current thereto Awhile-the indicators are being set; a switchalso v-.operableto control the flow of current tothe illuminating means, said switch normally open;

meansto close the switch; means operable during an` operation-of the machine to actuate the closing-means; means engageable with the closing. means` toflatch it in closed position to retain the lswitch closed, said latching means controlled by the actuating means; and a delaying device,

'Y .including a spring-returned bellows connected to elapsed after the operation of Athe actuating means and functioning Vto cause it to unlatch-the latching means to release the switch only after a predetermined interval has the machine jywhereby the illuminating means can illuminate thesindicatorsfor theA desired length of time after operation .ofY the machine; said control means being effective to interrupt the current f tothe illuminatingmeans during said desired Vlength of time if a subsequent operation of the machine `and a setting Aof the indicators take .place during this time.

7. In a machine-'of the class described having ya,l plurality `of settable translucent indicators for displaying data relating-to machine operations,

the combination of electrical means to illuminate thetranslucent indicators; a springblade switch tocontrol the now of current to the illurninating means,- said switch normally open; an velement to close theswitch; a latch cooperating with the element'to latch it and the switch1 in f closed position; means operating in-'each -operation of vthe yinachinein an `initial direction and in a return direction and effective when opers ating in initialt direction to` move vthe element to switch-'closing position and to render the latch effective,l said means effective when operatingv in returnv directionto render the latch ineffective and lto return the elementtoV switch-opening Y position; a delaying device connected to the movingy means andl functioning to prolong the return vmovement thereof to delay the opening of the switch-and thereby cause the illuminating means to illuminate the indicators for a predetermined interval of time after the operation of the machine has been completed; and further control means for the illuminating means to interrupt current thereto' while the indicators Yare being set during an operation of the machine even though asubsequent operation of the machine occurs -during saidpredetermined interval of time andthe-switch has remained closed.

S.- In amachine of the class described having a plurality of` settableftranslucent indicators for f displaying Ydata relating' to machine operations, thecornbination ofelectrical illunfilnating` means f-to illuminate the translucent indicators; an operatingpircuit vfor said illuminating means; control-means in--saidfcircuit to open the circuit while the indicators are beingset; a spring blade switch-also in said circuit; normally open,.to

control-theflow' of current to the 'illuminating I means; an elementv to close the switch when the element is operated; a latch to secure the element in operated positionl and 'the' switch in closed fposition; means including afmernber shiitalole in `initialdirection tor operate -the element andv to allow-the latch to becorneeiiective to retain ,the

element Y`in* operated position,` and Ashiitable in return direction to cause the latch to be ren- -dered-ineiiectiveand allow the element to move from-operated vposition and the switch to open; 'zffmeansf-operable ina ,mach-ine :operation -toffshift the member in initial direction; yieldable means to shift said member in return direction; and means including a bellows connected to the member and collapsible upon initial movement thereof and slowly expandable upon return movement of said member to delay the return movement of the member to allow the switch to remain closed for a predetermined time to cause the illuminating means to illuminate the indicators for a predetermined time after the operation of the machine.

9. In a machine of the character described, having a plurality of settable translucent indicators for displaying data pertaining to various computations which are the result of machine operations, the combination of electrical illuminating means to illuminate the translucent indicators; an operating circuit for said illuminating means; control means in said circuit to open the circuit while the indicators are being set dur-v ing an operation of the machine; a resilient blade switch in said circuit, said switch being normally open, to control the flow of electrical current to the illuminating means; an element to close the switch; a latch to secure the element in closed position; means, including a member, to control the operation of the element and the latch; yieldable means to normally retain the member in position to render the element and the latch ineffective; means operable in a machine operation to move the member against the action of the yieldable means to operate the element to close the switch and to render the latch effective to secure the element in its operated position to maintain the switch closed; and a delayed action device cooperating with the member to prolong its return under influence of the yieldable means to allow the switch to be latched in its closed position for a predetermined period of time after a machine operation so that the illuminating means can illuminate the indicators for said predetermined period of time, said control means operating to interrupt said circuit while said switch remains closed, if a subsequent operation of the machine takes place during said predetermined time, th-ereby preventing the illumination of the indicators during their setting even though this occurs during said predetermined time,

10. In a machine of the character described having a plurality of translucent indicators for displaying data relating to computations and having means to adjust the indicators in accordance with the data to be displayed, the combination of electrical means to illuminate the translucent indicators; a first switch normally closed to control the flow of electrical current to the illuminating means; a second switch normally open to control the ilow of electrical current to the illuminating means; means to close the second switch; means to actuate the closing means; means controlled by the actuating means to latch the closing means in closed position to retain the second switch closed; a delayed action device cooperating with the actuating means to cause it to unlatch the latching means after a predetermined interval of time has elapsed; and means to open the rst switch prior to the adjusting of the indicators and to close said switch after said indicators have been adjusted, to insure that the indicators are not illuminated while being adjusted.

11. In a machine of the character described having a plurality of translucent indicators for displaying data relating to computations and having means to set the indicators in accordance with the data to be displayed, the combination of electrical means to illuminate the translucent indicators; a rst switch normally closed to control the ow of electrical current to the illuminating means; a second switch normally open to control the now of electrical current to the illuminating means; an element to close the second switch; a latch to secure the element in closed position; means, including a member, to control the operation of the element and the latch; yieldable means to normally retain the member in position to render the element and the latch ineffective; means to move the member against the action of the yieldable means to render the element at the latch effective to close the second switch and to secure it closed; a delayed action device cooperating with the member to delay its return under inuence of the yieldable means to cause the illuminating means to illuminate the indicators for a predetermined period of time; and means to open the iirst switch prior to the setting of the indicators and to close said switch after said indicators have been set to insure that the illuminating means does not function before the indicators are properly set.

12, In a machine of the class described capable of one-cycle operations and/or two-cycle op-` erations and having a plurality of translucent indicators to display data which is the result of said oneand two-cycle operations and having means to set the indicators in accordance with the data to be displayed, the combination of electrical means to illuminate the translucent indicators; a rst switch normally closed to control the iiow of current to the illuminating means; a second switch normally open to control the flow of current to the illuminating means; an element to close the second switch; a latch to secure the element in closed position; means including a member to control the operation of the element and the latch; means to actuate the member in an initial direction to render the element and the latch effective; yieldable means to actuate the members in a return direction to render the element and the latch ineffective; a delayed action device to prolong the return movement of the member to cause the illuminating means to illuminate the indicators for a predetermined interval of time; means effective in one-cycle operations to open the iirst switch at the beginning of said one-cycle operations and to close said switch near the end of said one-cycle operations to insure that the illuminating means does not function while the indicators are being set; and means eiective in two-cycle operations and operating in conjunction with the above opening and closing means for the iirst switch to retain said switch open during the interval between the first and second cycles when said switch would normally be closed.

13. In a machine of the class described capable of one-cycle and/or two-cycle operations and having a plurality of translucent indicators to display data resulting from said oneand/or twocycle operations and having means to set said indicators in accordance with the data to be displayed, the combination of a positionable control member to condition the machine for oneand/or two-cycle operations, said member normally in position to condition the machine for one-cycle operations; electrical means to illuminate the indicators; a rst switch normally closed to control the flow of current to the illuminating means; a second switch normally open to control the flow of current to the illuminating means; means, including an element, to close the second switch; a latch to secure the element and the switch in closed position; means operable in one direction to move the element to closed position and to simultaneously render the latch effective; yieldable means to return the moving means in another direction to render the element and the latch ineffective; a delayed action device to prolong the return of the moving means under influence of the yieldable means to cause the illuminating means to be effective for a predetermined interval of time; means eiective when the control member is moved to two-cycle position to open the rst switch; and automatic means to return the control mem-ber from twocycle position to one-cycle position to close the first switch after the indicators have been set so that said indicators will not be illuminated during the setting thereof.

14. In a machine of the class described capable of one-cycle and/or two-cycle operations and having a plurality of translucent indicators for f visibly displaying the data resulting from said one-cycle and/or two-cycle operations and having means to set said indicators in accordance with the data to be displayed, the combination of a positionable control member to condition the machine for one-cycle and/or two-cycle operations; an electric light to illuminate the translucent indicators; a first switch normally closed to control the flow of current to the electric light; a second switch normally open to control the iiow of current to the electric light; an element to close the second switch; a latch cooperating with the element to secure the switch in closed position; movable means to control the element and the latch; yieldable means to move the movable means in one direction to render the element and the latch ineffective; mechanical means to move the movable means in another 18 direction to render the element and the latch effective; a delaying device connected to the moving means and rendered effective upon movement thereof under influence of the mechanical means to slacken the movement of said moving means under inuence of the yieldable means to cause the electric light to illuminate the indicators over a prolonged period of time; means eiective when the control member is moved to two-cycle position to open the first switch; and means effective near the end of two-cycle operations to automatically return the control member from two-cycle position to one-cycle position to close the rst switch after the indicators have been set to insure that said indicators are not illuminated by the electric light while they are being set.

ELMER C. CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 997,532 Muzzy Dec. 6, 1910 1,037,917 Jacob Sept. 10, 1912 1,143,290 Lippincott June 15, 1915 1,869,752 J akosky et al Aug. 2, 1932 1,942,268 Zeno Jan. 2, 1934 1,907,131 Sundberg May 2, 1933 2,377,461 Swift June 5, 1945 2,015,698 'Tiffany Oct. 1, 1935 2,265,124 Andres Dec. 9, 1941 2,324,909 Collison July 20, 1943 2,190,842 Kuhn Feb. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,204 Denmark June 7, 1909

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