US2941714A - Repeat mechanism for cash registers and accounting machines - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1960 F. R. WERNER Erlu. 2,

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING mcamas Filed Nov. 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER LOUIS, E. ZURBUCHEN THEIR ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 i F. R. WERNER ETAL 2,

fly REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I09 FIG. 2 o

I80 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER LOUIS E. ZURBUCHEN THEIR TTORNEY$ June 21, 1960 F. R,-WERNER ETAL 2,941,714

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed-Nov. 21. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER LOUIS 5., ZURBUCHEN ZZKM TH'EIR ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 F. R. WERNER ETAL 2,

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES led Nov. 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG, 8 I72 I68 263 432 P13 I72 I 333 332 1%: T Q |a0 l8 5 loo- I00 FIG 3 37' m 3 3 301i u FIG 9 302 30| 303 304 366 104 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5% .05 ("D Q) I I C C C INVENTORS @3333? 3:23am 2 9 I08 fi3 II3 THEI ATTORNEYS United States Patent O REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES Frank R. Werner, Dayton, and Louis E. Zurbuchen, West Carrollton, Ohio, assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 21, 1955, Ser. No. 548,165

11 Claims. (Cl. 235-'6) This invention relates to cash registers and accounting machines and more particularly to a repeat mechanism for such machines.

One object of this invention is to provide a compact and etiicient cash register of economical construction and small overall dimensions, having many of the appointments and features of larger and more costly machines.

Another object is the provision of a machine with means whereby an entry may be repeated without foreknowledge on the part of the operator that such entry is to be repeated.

Another object is to provide a novel repeat mechanism by means of which an amount-entered in the machine in an immediately preceding operation may be repeated without rendering the repeat mechanism effective before the original entry of the amount, thereby permitting the operator to repeat the amount as many times as required in succeeding machine operations.

Still another object is to provide a novel mechanism for rendering the repeat mechanism ineffective upon depression of an amount key.

A further object is to provide a novel mechanism for releasing the repeat mechanism upon depression of certain ones of the control keys.

Still a further object is to provide a novel mechanism to prevent release of the repeat mechanism when the immediately preceding operation has been a total-taking operation.

An additional object is to provide a repeat mechanism which does not require a separate and distinct control key for use in initiating machine operation.

With these and incidental objects in View, the inven tion includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, 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 right side elevation taken just to the right of one of the amount banks, showing said bank and the differential mechanism associated therewith for transmitting the data set up on the keys to the printing mechanism and to the indicating mechanism.

' Fig. 2 is a right side elevation taken just to the right of the row two transaction key bank, showing said bank and part of the coupling pinion operating and control mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the coupling pinion supporting means.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a portion of the disabling means for the repeat mechanism and also showing the mechanism for resetting the disabling means.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the control means actuated by the transaction keys for controlling the repeat mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of means actuated by the Paid Out transaction key for controlling the repeat mechanism.

s- 7 is a il i of the t l qntrol le nd ice means associated therewith for controlling the repeat mechanism.

' Fig. 8 is a side-spacing view of the shifting pinion line and the control cams associated therewith.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the keyboard of the machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the zero stop bar mechanism for the amount banks.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side-spacing view of the repeat disabling and resetting line.

The machine chosen to illustrate the present invention has many basic principles and features which are similar in many respects to those of a well-known type of cash register which is fully disclosed in the following U.S. patents: No.1,816,263, issued July 28, 1931; No. 1,929,652, issued October 10, 1933; No. 2,048,200, issued July 21, 1936; and No. 2,056,485, issued October 6, 1936, all to William H. Robertson.

Reference may be had to the above-listed patents for a history of the development of the pioneer machines of this type and for a complete disclosure of mechanism used in the present machine which is similar to the corresponding mechanism of the pioneer of basic machines, and which for that reason will be described only in general terms in the present application.

Likewise, the machine embodying the present invention is practically identical in its appearance and in many of its structural details to the machine disclosed in the copending applications for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 341,633, filed March 11, 1953, now Patent No. 2,880,930, by Frank R. Werner, Kenneth C. Flint, and Walter C. Sterzer; and Serial No. 412,464, filed February 25, 1954, by Frank R. Werner and Kenneth C. Flint, to which applications reference may be had for a full disclosure of similar mechanism illustrated in the present application, and which will be described only in general terms unless it is pertinent to the present invention.

Mechanism pertinent to the present invention will be fully described in the ensuing pages.

MACHINE IN GENERAL The mechanism of the machine is supported by right and left side frames and 101 (Figs. 1, 8, and 11) and by corresponding auxiliary frames, not shown, secured to the upper ends of said right and left frames, which latter are in turn secured at their lower ends to a machine base plate 102 (Fig. 1). The base plate '102 rests in and is secured to a shallow pan (not shown) in turn secured to the top surface of a drawer cabinet (not shown), which has therein a cash drawer (not shown), which opens automatically at the end of certain machine operations, and which may be opened manually by authorized persons having a key to the right hand closure of the machine case or cabinet (not shown). The cabinet encloses the mechanism of the machine, is constructed of suitable material, such as sheet metal, and is secured to the machine base plate 102 near its perimeter by suitable screws, which engage threaded holes in said machine base plate 102. The side frames 100 and 101 are maintained in proper side-spaced relationship to each other by the base plate 102, by a back plate 119 secured between said side frames, and by various cross bars, plates, rods, and shafts. struction of the machine framework are not shown here, but are fully disclosed in the previously mentioned applications Serial No. 341,633, now Patent No. 2,880,930, and Serial No. 412,464.

The cabinet has a large opening in the front thereof to provide proper clearance for the keyboard and special counter mechanism-s. The keyboard of the present machine comprises five rows or denominational orders of The details of con amount keys 103 (Fig. 9), a row of number one transaction or control keys .104 to 108 inclusive, a row of number two transaction or control keys 10-9' to 113 inclusive, a row of Clerks keys 114, and a release key 115, for releasing any depressed keys prior to operation. of the machine. The keyboard of the machine also includes a total control lever 116, often referred to as a Unit Lock Lever, which is movable to various positions to control the various functions of the machine, said positions 1ncluding Adding or Register positions, Locked Reglstcr position, and number one and number two Reading Resetting positions. The total control lever 116 (F gs. and 9) has incorporated therein a lock 117, which 1s provided with two keys, one of which permits said lever to be locked in either Register or Locked Register position, so that said lever may not be moved out of these positions by unauthorized persons not in possession of said key.

The total control lever 116 is normally locked against movement into either number one or number two reset position, and a special reset key is provided for the lock 117, for unlocking the lever so that it may be moved to either of the Reset positions. It is therefore impossible for persons not in possession of a reset key to move the total control lever to either of its Reset positions to clear the amount from any of the totalizers which are controlled by said lever 116.

Each of the rows of amount keys 103 has associated therewith a corresponding amount differential mechanism, which causes the amount set up on said key to be entered in the selected totalizer, and in turn positions the corresponding front and back indicators 118 (Fig. 1), only the front indicators being shown here. Likewise, the control keys 104 to 113 inclusive have associated therewith 'corresponding transaction differential mechanisms for positioning corresponding front and back transaction indicators (not shown) according to the depressed control key, for the purpose of visibly indicating the type of transaction being performed. The front and back indicators are visible through corresponding openings in the case.

In addition to positioning the indicators, the amount differential mechanisms and the transaction differential mechanisms position corresponding type wheels for printing values corresponding to the depressed amount keys and for printing symbols corresponding to the effective control keys upon a detail audit strip (not shown) and upon an issuing receipt (not shown). The Clerks keys 114 are also provided with a differential mechanism for positioning corresponding type wheels for printing identifying letters on the receipt and detail strip. The detail and receipt printing mechanisms are not shown herein, but are fully disclosed in the previously mentioned application Serial No. 341,633, now Patent No. 2,880,930.

The machine is normally operated by the usual type of electric motor, not shown but fully disclosed in the application Serial No. 341,633, now Patent No. 2,880,930, referred to before. However, in emergencies, the machine may be operated manually by means of a hand crank, not shown, which is inserted through an opening provided therefor in the cabinet. A rockable shutter (not shown) normally closes the opening for thehand crank.

The present machine is provided with two lines of interspersed totalizers, and in the present adaptation the number one line, whichiscontrolled by the keys 104 to 108 inclusive (Fig. 9), has four sets of interspersed totalizers thereon, and the number two totalizer line, which is controlled by the keys- 109 to 113,inclusive, has five sets of interspersed totalizers thereon, said totalizer lines being shiftable laterally under control of their corresponding control keysto aline the selected totalizer thereon with the amount differential mechanism for ac tuation thereby. Likewise the control keys, in conjunction with the total control lever 116, control the engaging and disengaging movement of the selected totalizer and the differential mechanism for entering amounts in said selected totalizers and for the taking of totals therefrom. Each totalizer line is provided with a tens transfer mechanism for transferring ten digits from lower to higher denominations.

In addition to their other functions, the number one control keys 104 to 108 inclusive and the number two control keys 109 to 113 inclusive are what are termed in this art as motorized keys, in that any-one of these keys, when depressed, initiates operation of the machine. Therefore it is impossible that the keys of rows one and two be used in conjunction with each other, and proper interlocking mechanism is provided between the two rows of control keys to insure that, when a key in one row is depressed, no key in the other row may be either simultaneously depressed or depressed afterward, until the machine operation has been completed.

In the ensuing pages, mechanism pertinent to the present invention will be described in detail. For afull disclosure of other mechanism of the machine, reference may be had to the patentsanrl' to the applications listed at the beginning of this specification.

I DETAILED DESCRIPTION 7 Amount keys and difierential mechanisms therefor As explained previously in connection with Fig. 9, the present machine is provided with five rows of amount keys 103, and each row of amount keys is provided with a corresponding differential mechanism for transferring the value of the depressed key to the indicating and printing mechanism and for setting the wheels of the selected totalizer in accordance with the value of said depressed amount key. Inasmuch as these amount banks are similar in construction, it is believed, that a description of the amount bank illustrated in Fig. 1, which is representative of all the amount banks, will be sufficient.

The amount keys 103 (Figs. 1 and 9) are slidably supported in corresponding slots in a key frame 'removably attached to the machine by means of rounded notches therein which engage cross rods 126 and 12 7 supported by the main frames, said rod 126 having a flat surface thereon which permits the key frame 125 to be removed from the machinewhen said rodis turned counterclockwise substantially ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1. This turning of the rod 126 moves the tint portion thereof into positiontoprovide clearance of the inner edge of the. notch insaidframe, thus permitting said frame 125 to be rocked forwardly or counter-clockwise out of engagement with said rod, and then to be lifted off of the lower rod 127. Each key'1'03; is urged upwardly to undepressed position by a corresponding compressible spring 128, which encircles: the lower end of the stem of said key. Each of the amount keys 103 carries a stud 129, which coacts with a corresponding hook on a locking detent 130, mounted for swinging movement on inner ends of parallel links 131 and 132, in turn pivoted on studs 133 and 134, secured. in the frame 125'. A spring 135 urges the locking detent inward- 1y or to the right (Fig. 1) to normally maintain the angular camming noses on the hooks of saiddetent in yieldingengagement with their corresponding studs 129 in the keys 103.

Depression of any one of the amount keys 103 causes the stud 129 therein, in cooperation with the angular nose on the corresponding hook, to shift the locking detent 130 downwardly or counter-clockwise (Fig. 1), which movement rocks the link 132 clockwise to move a lower surfaceon a downward extension 136 thereof into the path of an car, 137 on an arm 138 secured on a key lock and release shaft 139 to block releasing movement of said arm and said shaft 139 in, a, clockwise direction when an amount key 103 is partially depressed. Full depression of an amount key moves a flat upper surface on the stud 129 beyond the shoulder of its corresponding hook to free the detent 130 to the action of the spring 135, which immediately returns said detent upwardly or clockwise to latch the shoulder over the flat surface to retain the key in depressed position against the action of the spring 128 and restore the link 132 counter-clockwise to move the extension 136 out of the path of the ear 137. Clockwise movement of the shaft 139 and the arm 138, upon subsequent release of the machine for operation, causes the ear 137 to move into the path of an arcuate surface on the extension 136 (-Fig. l) to obstruct downward or counter-clockwise movement of the locking detent 130, and thus lock the depressed amount key 103 in depressed position and simultaneously lock the undepressed amount keys against depression during machine operation. Counter-clockwise restoring movement of the shaft 139 and the arm 138, near the end of machine operation, causes the outer surface of said arm 138 to engage a stud 140 in the link 132 and rock said link clockwise to shift the detent- 130 downwardly, against the action of the spring 135, to disengage the shoulder on the hook of said detent from the flat surface of the stud 129 of the depressed amount key 103 to free said key to .the action of its spring 128, which immediately restores said key upwardly to undepressed position. If desiredfthe depressed amountjkey 103 may be released, prior to machine operation, by the manual operation ofthe releasce key 115 (Fig. 9). The construction and operation of said release key- 115 is not described herein but is fully disclosed in the previously mentioned application Serial No. 341,633, to which reference may be had for a full description thereof.

The lower ends of thestemsof the amountkeys 103 (Fig. 1) are arranged to cooperate with a projection 145 of a corresponding primary differential member146, free ona shaft 147 journaled in the main frames of the machine. Associated with the primary differential member 146 is a secondary differential member 148, also free on the shaft 147. The primary and secondary differential members are actuated by a universal rod or bail 149 supported between two similar arms 150 secured on the shaft 147, said rod passing through and coacting with a slot 151 in the primary member 146, and with a corresponding slot 152 in the secondary member 148. The rod 149 oscillates first clockwise and then back to normal position (Fig. 1) to actuate the differential mechanism during each cycle of machine operation. I i

The secondary differential member 148 (Fig. 1) has, in its periphery, teeth which mesh with teeth in a gear 153 free on a shaft 154 supported by the main frames 100 and 101. The gear 153 meshes with teeth in the periphery of a segmental gear 155, having internal teeth which bear on the periphery of a disc 156 supported by a shaft 157 in turn supported by the main frames 100 and 101. The internal teeth of the segment 155 (Fig. l) mesh with and drive a pinion 158,"said pinionin turn driving a corresponding square shaft 159 supported by discs similar to the disc 156. .Other pinionson the shaft 159 mesh with and drive segments similar to the segment 155 (Fig. 1), said segments in turn driving corresponding type wheels for printing records on the issuingreceipt material and upon the audit or detail strip. 'The transmission gearing, comprising the internal-external segments 155, the pinions 158, the shaft 159, and corresponding segments driven by said shaft, constitutes the Kreider type of transmission mechanism, which is well known in the art.

Teeth 160 in the upper periphery of segment 155 mesh with a corresponding pinion 161 integral with the corresponding frontindicator 118 free on a shaft 162 supported by auxiliary frame members not shown). The front indicator 118 is visiblethrough an aperture in the front of the cabinet. (not shown), while a companion back indicator (not shown), which is visible through an 6 aperture in the back of said cabinet, is positioned in unison with the front indicator by means of the pinions 158 on the shaft 159 and corresponding segments, similar to the segment 155, in the well known and usual manner.

After the primary differential member 146 (Fig. 1) has been positioned under influence of the depressed amount key 103, and after the secondary member 148 has been restored to zero position, as will be explained presently, the two members are clutched together by a clutch pinion free on a rod 171 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8) supported by three parallel arms 172 mounted on a shaft 173, supported by the machine framework which clutch pinion remains engaged at the end of machine operation. As shown in Fig. 8, two of the arms 172 are fixedly secured to a sleeve 169 free on the shaft 173, while the third arm 172 is free on a reduced portion of a sleeve 168, which in turn is free on the shaft 173. The central arm 172 (Fig. 3) has pivotally connected thereto the upper ends of two arms 174 and 175. The upper surface of a notch 176 in the arm 174 and the lower surface of a notch 177 in the arm are positioned to cooperate with corresponding surfaces on a stud 178 mounted in a cam-following lever 179 (Fig. 2) free on a shaft 180 and carrying rollers 181 and 182, which cooper-ate with the peripheries of companion plate cams 183 and 184, secured on a main cam shaft 185. Asecond stud 186 is fixed in the cam-following lever 179 and cooperates with a notch 187 in the arm 174 to guide the movement of said arm. The arm 175 is normally retained in the'po'sition inwhich it is shown in Fig. 3, with the lower surface of notch 177 in coacting relation with the lower surface of stud 178, by a spring 188 secured to said arm and to the machine framework.

Depression of one of the amount keys 103 (Fig. 1) moves the lower end of its stem into the path of the projection 145 of the primary differential number 146, after which the machine may be released for operation by de pression of one of the control keys 104 to 113 inclusive (Fig. 9). cams 183 and 184 cause the lever 179 and the arm 175 to rock the arms 172, the sleeve 169, and the rod 171 clockwise to disengage the teeth of the clutch pinions 170 from the corresponding teeth of the primary and secondary differential members 146 and 148. I Coincidentally with the disengagement of the pinions 170 from the differential members, the teeth of each of said pinions are engaged with an aligning tooth 189 ('Fig. l) on an arm 190 secured on. a shaft 191 supported by the machine framework, to maintain the teeth of said pinions in alignment with the corresponding teeth of the differential members to eliminate any danger of the teeth clashing or stumbling on each other upon engaging movement of said pinions with said differential members. Immediately after the clutch pinions'170 have been disengaged, the rod 149 (Fig. 1) starts its initial movement in a clockwise'directiom A comparatively strong spring 192 (Fig. 1) tensioned between'the primary differential member 146 and a stationary rod supported in the machine framework, urges said primary member clockwise to maintain the'rear end of'the slot 151 therein in yielding engagement with the rod 149, and consequently said primary member is led clockwise by the rod 149 until the projection 145 strikes the end'of the depressed amount key 103 to position the primary member in accordance with the value of said key. The rod 149 continues its clockwise movement, during the course of which it engages the forward end of the slot 152 in the secondary differential member 148 and carries said member and the mechanism connected thereto, including the corresponding indicator 118 and type wheels, from their preset position to a normal or home position.

After the primary differential member has been positioned by the depressed amount key 103, and after the At the beginning of machine operation, the I 7 secondary differential member and the mechanism connected thereto have been restored to normal or home position, as explained above, the clutch pinion 170 (Fig. 1) is re-engaged with the teeth in said primary and said secondary members to couple said members together for unitary movement. Counter-clockwise return move ment of the rod 149 ('Fig. 1) causes said rod to engage the rear end of the slot 151 in the primary differential member 146 and carry said member and, thrugh the clutch pinion 170, the secondary differential member 148 counter-clockwise in unison therewith to return said primary member to normal or zero position, as shown in Fig. 1, and to position the secondary member 148 and the mechanism connected thereto in accordance with the value of the depressed amount key 103.

, When the machine is operated with no amount key 103 depressed in the amount bank being described, a zero stop bar 193 (Fig. 1) is automatically moved into the path of the projection 145 at the beginning of machine operation and retains the primary differential member 146 in zero position, and said primary member in turn positions the secondary differential member 148 and the corresponding indicator and type wheels in zero position. Depression of an amount key 103 causes the zero stop bar 193 to be latched in ineffective position, so that it will not be moved into the path of the projection 145.

The inner end of the zero stop bar 193 (Figs. 1 and is guided in a slot in the frame 125, while its outer end is slotted to embarce the stud 134 in the frame 125. A spring 194 urges the bar 193 inwardly to normally maintain a stud 195 (Fig 10), carried thereby, in yielding contact with an upward extension of ajzero stop bar control arm 196, free on the shaft 191, and having a slot 197, which engages a stud 198 (Figs. 1 and 10) in the arm 138. Clockwise releasing movement of the arm 138 causes the stud 198 to move down into a clearance portion of the slot 197 to free the arm 196 and the zero stop bar 193 to the action of the spring 194, which immediately shifts said bar inwardly to the dot-and-dash line position, shown in Fig. 1, into the pathof the projection 145, to retain the primary differential member 146 in zero position when no amount key 103 is depressed.

Depression of an amount key 103 (Fig. 1) causes the stud 1-29 therein, in cooperation with a corresponding camming lug on a control plate 199, rockably supported byv anuPPer link (not shown) and a lower linkjr0, piv oted. on the-studs133 and 134, respectively, to shift; said plate 199 downward or counter-clockwise against the, action of a spring 201. Downward movement of the plate 199 shifts the link 200 also downward or clockwise to latch a curved slot 202 in a hook-shaped rearward extension thereof, over a stud 203 (Figs. 1 and 10) in the zero stop bar: 193. toretain said bar in itsineffective position. Counter-clockwise restoring movement'of'the arm 138, through the, stud 198, coactingwiththe ,slot 197, causes the ar m 196 to restore the zero stopbar 193 outwardly against the action of the spring194 to normal position, as shownhere, in full lines.

In totalizing, operations, often referred to herein as reading, and resetting operations, and inrepeat-- operations, mechanism is provided forretaining all the zero stop bars, 193, in their outward, or ineffective, position, so that the primary differential members 146 are free to. be positioned under influence of the corresponding Wheels of the selected totalizer as said wheels are reversely. rotated to zero position by said primary differential members.

Totalizers As has been previouslymentioned, the present machine isprovided with two lines. of interspersed totalizers, including four sets of-totalizer-wheels 215 (Fig. 1), mountedon: a numberoneline 216, and five sets of totalizer wheels 217 mounted; on anurnber-two line. 218. Teeth on the wheels 2'15 and 217, cooperate with similar teeth in the periphery of the corresponding primary differential members 146. The construction and operation. of the mechanism for shifting, engaging, and disengaging these totalizers is not described in the present application, but is fully disclosed in the previously mentioned applicationv Serial No. 412,464, to which reference may be had for a detailed description thereof.

Aliners for differential and indicator mechanisms Aliner mechanisms are provided for the primary differential members 146, for the corresponding segments 15 5, and for the corresponding indicators 118, to aline said parts in set positions after they have been positioned under influence of the corresponding keys in adding operations, or under influence of the corresponding totalizer wheels in totalizing operations.

The differential leading rod or bail 149 (Fig. 1) extends through close-fitting holes in the spacing plates (not shown) positioned between each set of primary and secondary differential members 146 and 148, and free on the shaft 147, and as a result carries said plates back and forth in unison therewith. Also supported by corresponding alined holes in said spacing plates and by the left arm 150 is a rod 221, which moves in unison with said rod 149 and said spacing plates. When the rod 221 nears the terminus of its movement in an initial or clockwise direction, it engages an arcuate surface 222 on a retaining pawl 223 for each amount primary differential member 146, free on the shaft 154, and rocks said pawl clockwise against the action of springs 224,,to engage a tooth 225 on each of said pawls with a corresponding tooth space in the primary differential members 146. The above-described engagement of the teeth of the pawls 223 with the primary differential members 146 is tohold said members against the action oftheir springs 192 in totalizing operations, in which said segments are positioned under influence of the corresponding wheels of the selected totalizer (Fig. 1),,to overcome the possibility of said primary. differential members moving slightly out of position when the corresponding totalizer wheels are disengaged therefrom, just prior, to operation of the aliner mechanism for the segments 155. Counterclockwise return movement of the rod 221 withdraws it from the surfaces 222 to'free the pawls 223, tofthe action of the spring 224, which restores said pawls counter clockwise until a stop finger 226 on each of said pawls is moved into yielding contact with a shaft, 227 sup portedby the machineframework, to disengage the teeth 225 from the, teeth of the primary differential members 146.

The transmission segment for theamount differential mechanism shown; in Fig.- 1,. and used here as representative of all the amount differentials, has aliner teeth 228 arranged to be engaged by analiner bar 229, supported on three similar arms 230, secured on a shaft 231 journaled inthe machine framework. Also secured on the shaft231 is. a crank 232, pivotally connected by a link 233 to one army of a bell crank 234, free on a rod 235, supported by the machine framework. The other arm of the bell crank234 is pivotally connected by a, linkr236 to a downward arm of a lever 237, free on the shaft 180, carrying rollers 238 and 239', which coact, respectively, with the peripheries of companion plate cams 240 and 241 secured on the main. camshaft 1235.

Operation of the cams 24.0 and 241 engages the aliner bar 229 with the teeth 228 of the segment 155 after said segment has been positioned'under influence of the differential mechanism and prior to operation of'the printing mechanism, to insurethat said parts are-held in set positions. Afterthe printing mechanism has operated, and after the selected set of totalizer Wheels has been disengaged from the primary differential members 146,-the aliner bar; 229-is disengagedfromthe teeth 228; saidbar being assisted in such disengagement by a spring 242, tensioned between the link 233 and a stud in the back plate 119, which spring yieldingly maintains said bar in disengaged position at the end of machine operation.

The pinion 161 for the indicator 118 for the amount differential mechanism shown in Fig. 1, and described here as representative of all of the amount differentials, is normally engaged by the tooth of an indicator alining pawl 243,,secured on a shaft 244, said shaft being urged counter-clockwise by a spring 245, tensioned between a stationary stud (not shown) mounted in the machine framework and an arm 246, secured on said shaft 244. Also secured on the shaft 244 is a crank 247, pivotally connected by a link 248 to a rearward arm of a bell crank 249 (Fig. 1) free on the rod 235. Movement of the bell crank 249 is operatively controlled by a plate cam (not shown) secured on the main cam shaft 185. As is fully disclosed in the previously mentioned application Serial No. 341,633, said plate cam first causes the aliner pawl 243 to be rocked clockwise against the action of the spring 245, out of engagement with the pinion 161, at the beginning of machine operation, so that the indicator 118 will be free to be positioned under influence of the differential mechanism in the manner explained previously. After the indicator 118 has been properly positioned, said cam permits the spring 245 (Fig. 1) to reengage the tooth of the pawl 243 with the pinions 161, to aline and retain the indicator 118 in set position during the remainder of the cycle of machine operation Repeat mechanism .The repeat mechanism provided in this machine is characterized by the fact that the operator need not know at the time of making the original entry that the amount is to be repeated. A previous item amount may be repeated at any time after the operation is completed, so long as no other keys have been depressed in any of the amount banks. No preliminary setting of any kind is necessary to accomplish this in the present invention. This type of repeat mechanism is particularly useful in a self-service store checkout system, since in checking out a customers purchases, the machine operator may successively check out a number of items of the same price, such as cartons of milk, for example, merely by depressing the appropriate transaction key a number of times corresponding to the number of such items. This will greatly facilitate speedy and accurate machine operation, and thus benefit both the store and the customer. Of course, it is apparent that the repeat mechanism is useful in a great many other lines of business, and it is not desired to limit it to this particular system.

' As statedpreviously, the coupling pinions 170 (Figs. 1 and 3) are moved in and out of mesh with the primary and secondary differential members 146 and 148 by the companion cams 183 and 184 (Fig. 2). Means is provided for disconnecting the members supporting the pinions 170from the cam-following lever 179, in order that the coupling pinions 170 will remain engaged with the differential members 146 and 148 at the beginning of the cycle of machine operation. In such event, the primary differential members 146 will move with and be positioned by the secondary differential members 148 as the latter are moved at the beginning of the cycle of machine operation by the rod 149, in the manner previously described. A stud 261 (Fig. 2) mounted in one end of an arm 262, free on the shaft 173, is positioned to engage a notch 260 in the arm 175. Fixedly connected to the arm 262, and mountedon the shaft 173, is an arm 263, having at the end thereof a notch 264 for receiving a stud 265 mounted in a lever 266 free on the shaft .157. A second stud 267 on the lever 266 is positioned to coact with a surface 268 of a cutout portion in a detent 269, rockably mounted between the number one and number two rows of transaction keys by a lever 316 pivoted between said detent and a stud 317 and by a slot in said detent which engages a stud (not shown), said studs being secured in the machine framework. As may-be seen in Fig. 2, the detent 269 is provided with a plurality of upstanding fingers 270, each having cam surfaces 271 and 272 thereon, for coacting with studs 273 mounted in the stems of the Meat, Produce, Grocery, Tax Item and Special transaction keys 109, 110, 106, 111 and 112, respectively.

When any one of the above-mentioned transaction keys is depressed without an amount key 103 also having been depressed, the stud 273 in the stem of such key will coact with the same surface 271 of the corresponding finger 270 on the detent'269 to shift said detent counterclockwise, or downward, as viewed in Fig. 2. ,The surface 268 on said detent will engage the stud 267 on the lever 266 and shift said lever counter-clockwise about shaft 147, which in turn will impart a clockwise move ment about the shaft 173 to the arms 263 and 262, thus pivoting the arm 175 sufficiently in a clockwise direction to move the lower surface of the notch 177 thereon (Figs. 2 and 3) out of operative relation with the stud 178 on the lever 179, and thus rendering the companion cams 183 and 184 ineffective to disengage the coupling pinion from the differential members 146 and 148. When the arm is shifted in a clockwise direction, as above described, a stud 274 thereon is moved into engagement with the curved upper edge of a retaining member 275 (Fig. 2) secured to the machine framework. Engagement of the stud 274 with the member 275 retains the arms 172 against movement, thus preventing accidental disengagement of the pinions 170 from the differential members 146 and 148, due to the force of gravity or r other means, such as vibration of the machine.

It will be recalled that the secondary differential member 148 (Fig. 1) is left standing, at the end of the cycle of operation of the machine, in the position to which it was adjusted under control of the depressed amount key 103, and that the primary differential member 146 is always restored to its home position. During repeat operations, the secondary differential member 148 and a stop surface 276 thereon, which is adapted to coact with the periphery of the gear 153, are used for controlling the positioning of the primary differential member 146. During repeat operations, none of the keys 103 is depressed, and therefore the primary differential member 146 will move up until stopped by some other means than the keys. This means consists of the stop surface 276 (Fig 1) on the secondary differential member 148, which moves into abutting relationship with rthe'gear 153 and thus stops the secondary differential member 148 in its zero position. In a' repeat operation, the arm 175 is disconnected from the cam-following lever 179, and therefore, when the machine starts to' operate, the coupling pinions 170 will not be disengaged from the differential members 146 and 148, and the stud 274, cooperating with the retaining member 275, will hold the pinion in positive engagement with said differential members. Thus when the rod 149 (Fig. 1) receives its forward movement to restore the secondary differential members 148 to their zero positions, the primary differential members 146 will be moved a like distance, thereby setting up in said members the amount previously standing on the members 148. During the'return movement ofthe rod 149, the coupling pinions 170 will still remain engaged with the primary and secondary differential members; therefore the members 146 will be-returned to their home positions, and the members 148 will be returned to the positions in which they were standing at the beginning of the repeat operation. a 1

During the repeat operation, the selected totalizer is engaged with and disengaged from the primary differential members 146 at the same time as during an ordinary adding operation, and therefore the amount previously standing on the secondary differential members 148 will be again added into the totalizer pinions. Simultaneously, the indicators and the type carriers will be adjusted in the same manner as before described for an ordinary adding operation.

By referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the disconnection of the arm 175 from the stud 178 will only prevent disengagement of the coupling pinions 170 for the five amount banks and for the two overflow banks. The clutch pinions 170 (Fig. 8) for the Clerk bank and the number one and number two transaction banks are mounted free on arms 331, 332, and 333, respectively, all of which arms are fixedly secured to the shaft 173. The arm 331 has pivotally connected thereto the upper end of a link 334, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a cam lever 335 free on the shaft 180 and carrying rollers 336 and 337, which cooperate with the peripheries of companion plate cams 338 and 339, secured on the main cam shaft 185. At the beginning of each cycle of machine operation, the cams 338 and 339 cause disengagement of the Clerk bank and transaction banks pinions 170 from their corresponding primary and secondary differential members, reengagement taking place after proper positioning of said differential members. The two transaction banks and the Clerk bank will be controlled by depressed keys during repeat operations in the same manner as during regular adding operations.

As previously described, during a repeat operation the primary differential member 146 for each amount bank is moved under control of the secondary differential mem her 148. For this reason it is necessary to retain the zero stop bars 193 out of their effective positions during repeat operations. As above described, when an amount key 103 is depressed, its associated zero stop bar 193 is thereby retained in an ineffective position. However, during repeat operations, none of the amount keys are depressed, and therefore another means is provided for retaining said zero stop bars in their ineffective positions.

It will be recalled that when no amount key 103 is depressed, depression of any one of the transaction keys 109, 110, 106, 111 and 112 (Figs. 2 and 9), which are capable of initiating a repeat operation, will shift the detent 269 (Fig. 2) downward, thus rocking the lever 266 in a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft 147. An end portion 285 (Figs. 2 and 5) of the lever 266 is arranged to coact with a surface 286 on an arm 284 pivotally mounted by a stud 287 on a detent 288 free on the shaft 147, said arm having an extension 289 positioned to coact with a stud 290 secured in an arm 291 free on the shaft 139. The arm 291 is connected to a companion arm (not shown), also pivoted on the shaft 139, by rods 292. Counter-clockwise rocking of the lever 266, the arm 284, the arm 291, and its companion arm, moves the rearward rod 292 into the path of a shoulder 293 (Fig. 10) on the the anns 196 for each amount bank. This obstructs clockwise movement of the arms 196, and thereby retains the zero stop bars 193 in ineffective position, so that the primary differential members 146 are free to be positioned under control of the secondary dilferential members 148, as said members 148 are being reversely rotated to zero in repeat operations. Similarly, the zero stop bars are locked in ineffective position during totalizing operations by mechanism which is fully disclosed in the previously mentioned application Serial No. 341,633.

Also free on the shaft 139, and secured to the rods 292, are a series of arms 294 (Fig. 10) one for each amount bank, the upper ends of which arms are arranged to cooperate with downward extensions 295 on the corresponding control plates 199, there being a control plate 199 for each amount bank, as explained previously in connection with the amount bank shown in Fig. 1. The spring 296 (Fig. 5) urges the arms 291 and 294 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 139.

Depression of the appropriate transaction keys rocks the arms 291 and 294 counter-clockwise about the shaft 139 in the manner previously explained and thereby moves the upper ends of said arms 294 into the paths of the corresponding extensions 295, to lock the amount keys 103 against depression, when no amount-key 103 has previously been depressed. Likewise, depression of an amount key 103- shifts the corresponding controlplate 199 (Figs. 1 and 10) down to move the extension 295 into the path of the upper end of the'corresponding arm 294, to obstruct counter-clockwise movement of said armand the arm 291.

It will thus be seen that when the appropriate transaction key has been depressed to initiate a repeat operation, the control plates 199 in the amount" banks are locked against movement, and therefore no key can be depressed in these banks after said transaction key has been depressed. It will also be seen that when an amount key 103 has been depressed, the consequent movement of extension 295 on detent 199 will prevent counter-clockwise rotation about shaft 139 of arms 291 and 294 and will consequently prevent counter-clockwise rotation of the arm 284 about its stud 287 and, through the stud 344, will also prevent counter-clockwise rotation of the detent 288 about the shaft 147. It will be seen from Fig. 5 that blocking of counter-clockwise rotation of the detent 288,

as previously described, will prevent depression of the Cash Total, Tax Total, and Sub-Total transaction keys whenever an amount key 103 has been depressed.

Repeat mechanism disabling means Means are provided for disabling the repeat mechanism by depression of any amount key 103, so that anymachine operation in which an amount key is depressed is thus prevented from being a repeat operation.

It will be recalled that depression of an amount key 103 (Fig. 1 causes the stud 129 on the stem thereof to coact with the detent 130 to shift said detent in a counterclockwise or downward direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, which in turn causes the link 131 to be rocked in a clockwise direction about the stud 133. An extension 300 (Figs. 1 and 4) of the link 131 is arranged to coact with a rod 301 secured between two links 302 (Figs. 1 and 11) and 303 (Figs. 4 and 11), each of which is pivotally mounted by a stud 304 on a plate 305, one of said plates in turn being mounted on the shaft 157 in a fixed position adjacent the segment for the number one row of amount keys and the other of said plates 305 being mounted on the shaft 157 in a fixed position adjacent the segment 155 for the number five row of amount keys, both plates being secured in fixed relationship to the machine framework. Clockwise shifting of the link 131 acts, through the extension 300, to rock the links 302 and 303 and the rod 301 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, against the force of a spring 306 (Figs. 4 and 11), which is connected to said rod and to a member 307 secured to a sleeve 308, free on a shaft 309, mounted in the machine framework.

The link 303 (Fig. 4) is provided with an extension 310 having a surface 311 positionable in the path of movement of an car 312 on an arm 313 (Figs. 4 and 11), secured on the sleeve 308. A second arm 314 (Figs. 2 and 11), also secured to the sleeve 308, is connected to the transaction detent 269 by means of a link 315, to which it is detachably secured by a clip 318, and a lever 316, pivoted on a stud 317, secured in the machine framework. The arms 313 and 314, as well as the sleeve 308, are urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, by the spring 306.

When an amount key 103 is depressed, the links 302 and 303 and the rod 301 are rocked together in a counterclockwise direction, as previously described, and the sur-' face 311 of the link 303 is thereby moved out of the path of movement of the car 312 of the arm 313, thus freeing the arms 313 and 314 and the sleeve 30.8 for clockwise rotation under the influence of the spring 306. This movement is transmitted through the link-315 (Fig. 2) and the lever 316 to shift the transaction detent 269 in 13 a clockwise or upward direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, thus positioning the cam surfaces 272 of the detent 269 in the path of movement of the studs 273 of the transaction keys 109, 110, 106, 111 and 112.

' With the detent 269 in such a position, depression of one of said transaction keys will shift said detent in a clockwise rather than in a counter-clockwise direction, and will thus be ineffective to shift the lever 266 to move the lower surface of the notch 177 on the arm 175 out of the path of movement of the stud 178. The companion cams 183 and 184 will, therefore, remain effective to disengage the clutch pinions 170 from the corresponding sets of primary and secondary differential members 146 and 148, respectively, at the beginning of each cycle of machine operation, and a repeat operation will not take place.

Means are provided for disabling the repeat mechanism by depression of any of the total-taking transaction keys 105, 107 and 108, and by depression of the Paid-Out key 104.

As shown in Fig. 5, the detent 288 is provided with fingers 345, having cam surfaces 346 thereon and adapted to coact with the studs 273, mounted in the stems of the transaction keys 105, 107 and 108. The detent 288 is also provided at its upper end with a notch 347 positioned to coact with a stud 348 secured to one arm of a lever 349, which is pivotally mounted on a stud 350, secured or downward, as viewed in Fig. 5, which in turn rocks the lever 349 in a clockwise direction by engagement of the edge of the notch 347 with the stud 348. Clockwise rotation of the lever 349 causes a surface 353 thereon to engage the rod 301, and to rock said rod and the links 302 and 303 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, to disable. the repeat mechanism in the manner previously described.

, A stud 344 (Fig. 5) is secured on the detent 288 and coacts with a corresponding surface on the arm 284 to shift said arm counter-clockwise with the detent 288' when one of the keys 105, 107 or 108 is depressed. This causes the'extension 289. to coact with the stud 290 to retain the Zero stop bars 193 in ineffective position, as has been previously described.

' As shown in Fig. 6, a separate detent 354, having a finger 355 with a cam surface 356 thereon, and also having a notch 357, is provided for the Paid-Out key 104.

The separate detent 354 is required for the Paid-Out key 104, since this key, unlike the Sub-Total, Tax Total, and Cash Total keys, is used in a machine operation in which one or more amount keys 103 are also depressed. Depression of the Paid-Out key 104 causes the stud 273, mounted in the stem thereof, to coact with the cam surface 356 to shift the detent 354 counter-clockwise or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, which in turn rocks the lever 349 in a clockwise direction by engagement of the edge of the notch 357 with the stud 348, to disable the repeat mechanism in the manner previously described.

Means are provided for disabling the repeat mechanism by shifting of the total control lever 116 out of Register position.

' As is shown in Fig. 7, the total control lever 116 is mounted free on the shaft 147 and is provided with a notch 358 therein for reception of a stud 359 secured to an arm 360 pinned to a shaft 361 journaled in'the machine framework; Also pinned to the shaft 361, to

rock therewith, are a second arm 362 (Fig. 2) and a third arm 363 (Fig. 7), provided at its end with a control surface 364 having a low portion 365 therein. A sensing lever 366 having a stud 367 mounted therein for coaction with said control surface is pivotally mounted by a stud 368 on a plate 369 similar to the plates 305, and mounted on the shaft 157 in a fixed position adjacent to the segments 370 and 371 (Fig. 11) for the number one and number two rows of transaction keys respectively. The lever 366 is provided with a slot 372 within which the rod 301 is free to rock so as to preclude interference between said rod and said sensing lever, and at one end said lever is formed with a finger 382 positioned to coact with a stud 383 secured in the disabling lever 349.

Due to the normal engagement of the finger 382 with the stud 383 on the lever 349, the stud 367 on the sensing lever 366 is normally urged by the spring 351 into engagement with the control surface 364. When the control lever 1.16 is in :Register position, the arm 363 is so positioned that the low portion 365 of the control surface 364 is in coacting relation to the stud 367, and the sensing lever 366 is in the position shown in Fig. 7, in which it does not affect the position of the disabling lever 349. However, when the total control lever 116 is shifted in either direction out of Register position, a high portion of the control surface 364' is moved into coacting relation to the stud 367. This causes the sensing lever 366 to be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, which in turn rocks the lever 349 in a clockwise direction by engagement of the finger 382 with the stud 383 to disable the repeat mechanism in the manner previously described.

Intermediate its ends, the arm 362 (Fig. 2) is provided with a projection 373 having a stud 374 secured thereto. The stud 374 is engageable with a curved extension of a link 375, which is free on a stud 376 secured to the machine framework, and which is pivotally connected to a detent'377, supported at its other end by a link 378, and

pivotally connected thereto, said link being free on a stud 379, secured in the machine framework. The dc tent 377 is normally urged in a clockwise direction, as 'viewed in Fig. 2, by a spring 380, secured thereto, and

connected at its other end to the machine framework. Adjacent the lower end of said detent is a notch 381, positioned to be engageable with a stud 382, secured to the zero stop bar 277' for the Number One transaction bank.

Moving the total control lever 116 (Figs. 7 and 9) to either Read Two or Reset Two position rocks the shaft 361 and the arm 362 (Fig. 2) counter-clockwise, causing the stud 374, in cooperation with the curved extension of the link 375 to shift the detent 377 downward or counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, to engage the notch 381 with the stud 382 on the zero stop bar 277. This positively retains the zero stop bar 277 of row one in ineffective position during a row two Reading or Resetting operation, thus permitting the row one differential members (not shown) to position other mechanism (not shown) so as to render inoperative a locking means (not shown) 'which would otherwise lock the total control lever 116 in Read Two or Reset Two position for succeeding machine'operations. Also depressing any row 1 key shifts the detent 377 down to retain the row 1 zero stop bar 277 in ineffective position.

Reset mechanism for the disabling means Mechanism is provided for resetting the repeat dis.- abling means at the. end of each cycle of machine opera tion.

It will be remembered that the sleeve 308 (Figs. 4 and 11), on which the repeat disabling arms 313 and 314 are secured, is mounted free on the shaft 309. Also mounted free on said shaft between the side frames and 101 are a spacing sleeve 390 to the right of the sleeve 308 and a sleeve 391 to the left of the sleeve 308, as viewed in Fig. 11. Secured to the sleeve 39] i an a m 3?? ha in a surf (Figs- 4 and 11) thereon, adapted to coact with a stud 394 mounted in an arm 395, securedto the sleeve 308.

Pivotally connected at one end to the arm 392 is a flexible link 396 (Fig. 4) connected at its other end to a crank 397 pivotally mounted on a shaft 398 secured in the machine framework and normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 399 connected to said crank and to the machine framework. The link 396 comprises two members 400 and 401 connected together by means of a headed stud 402 mounted in the member 400, and coacting with a slot in the member 401, and a headed stud 403 mounted in the member 401 and coacting with a slot in the member 400. The stud 402 and 403 are connected to each other by a spring 404, which tends to keep the link 396 at its maximum length.

The crank 397 is pivotally connected by a link 405 to an arm 406, pivotally mounted on a stud 407 fast in the machine framework. The arm 406 has a surface 408, positioned to coact with the shaft 180 to limit downward movement of said arm, and also has a cam surface 409 thereon, adapted to coact with a stud 410 mounted on a drive gear 411 for the main cam shaft 185, said gear being connected tosaid shaft by a hub 412 on said gear, which is pinned to the shaft 185.

The gear 411 drives the main cam shaft 185 through a complete clockwise revolution, as viewed in Fig. 4,

each cycle of machine operation, and near the end of each cycle the stud 410 contacts the cam surface 409 on the arm 406 and rocks said arm clockwise about its pivot 407. This motion is transmitted through the link 405, the crank 397, and the link 396 to the arm 392, and causes said arm to rock counter-clockwise about the shaft 309.

It will be recalled that during a non-repeat operation of the machine, the link 303 is rocked counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, about its pivot 304, and that the ear 312 on the arm 313 is thereby released from its engagement with the surface 311, permitting the arm 313, the sleeve 308 and the arm 395 to rock clockwise about the shaft 309, under the influence of the spring 306, and thereby positioning the stud 394 in the arm 395 adjacent the surface 393 on the arm 392. The counter-clockwise rocking movement imparted to the arm 392 by the stud 410, acting through the arm 406, the link 405, the crank 397, and the link 396, is transmitted to the arm 395 by coaction of the surface 393 with the stud 394, since the spring 404 is stronger than the spring 306. Counterclockwise rocking of the arm 395, the sleeve 308, and the arm 313 will restore these parts to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the spring 306 will thereupon rock the link 303 clockwise to engage the surface 311 with the car 312 to retain said arms 313, 314 and 395, and the sleeve 308 in said position. i

During a repeat operation of the machine, the arms 313, 314, and 395 will be retained by the engagement of the surface 311 with the ear 312 in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 4, and the counter-clockwise rocking of the arm 392 will be merely an idle movement. The link 396 between the arm 392 and the crank 397 is made of flexible construction in order to prevent possible jamming of the'machine.

By inspection of Fig. 2 it will be seen that if, in a non-repeat operation, the machine operator were, through carelessness or inadvertence, tohold down one of the transaction keys 106, 109, 110, 111, or 112 through the end of the cycle of machine operation, the detent 269 would be shifted to and held in a position to the right, or clockwise, of the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. This movement of said detent would act through lever 316 and the link 315 to shift the arms 313, 314, and 395, and the sleeve 308, in a clockwise direction to their non-repeat position, and to hold them there. With the arm 395 and the stud 394 held'in such a position, the arm 392 would be blocked from rocking counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, as the stud 410 on the gear 411 rocked the arm 406 upward or clockwise. To prevent straining or breaking of parts of the machine in such a contingency, the flexible link 396 is provided, so that the motion imparted to the crank 397 by the link 405 can safely be taken up by the contracting of the members 400 and 401 relative to each other, against the force of the spring 404, if necessary, and damage to the machine can thus be prevented.

Mechanism for preventing repeat of a total Mechanism is provided for latching the repeat disabling means in effective position to prevent a repeat operation immediately following a total-taking or Paid Out operation.

A latch 420 (Fig. 5) is pivotally mounted on the machine framework in such position that a hook portion 421 on one end of said latch is engageable with one end portion of the repeat disabling lever 349. The end of the hook portion 421 forms a surface 422, which is urged against the end surface of the lever 349 when the lever 349 is in its ineffective position, as shown in Fig. 5, by a spring 423 secured to said latch and to the machine framework. A surface 424 on the latch 420 is arranged to cooperate with a stud 425 secured in the upper end of a lever 426, pivotally mounted on a stud 427 secured in the detent 288;. The extent of movement of the lever 426 is limited by a slot 428 in said lever, in cooperation with a stud 429 secured in the detent 288.' At its lower end, the lever 426 has mounted therein a stud 430, cooperating with a notch 431 in the end of an extension 432 (Figs. 2, 5, and 8) of the clutch pinion arm 333.

It will be recalled that, during a Sub-Total, Tax Tota Cash Total or Paid Out operation, the movement of the detent 288 or 354 rocks the lever 349 clockwise to disable the repeat mechanism. Such rocking movement shifts the lower end of the lever 349 out of engagement with the surface 422 on the latch 420,'thus freeing the latch 420 to rock counter-clockwise about its pivot to position the hook portion 421 of said latch so as to block counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 349 out of repeat-disabling position.

Since the lever 349 is retained in the above position during the remainder of the cycle of machine operation, the link 303 (Fig. 4) is held in its repeat-disabling position and cannot rock clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, when the arm 313 is rocked counter-clockwise about the shaft 309, from its disabled position to the position shown in Fig. 4, by coaction of the surface 393 of the arm 392 with the stud 394. Therefore, since the arm 313 is not retained in the position shown in Fig. 4 by engagement of its car 312 with the surface 311 on the link 303, the arms 313, 314 and 395, and the sleeve 308 are returned in a clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 306. The arm 314 then shifts the detent 269 (Fig. 2) back to its non-repeat position, in which the cam surfaces 272 are in the path of movement of the studs 273 of the transaction keys.

The lever 349 is held in its non-repeat position by the latch 420 until a time in the next following cycle of machine operation, after the cams 183 and 184 (Fig. 2) have imparted a counter-clockwise movement to the arm 179 for disengaging the clutch pinions from their corresponding primary and secondary differential members 146 and 148. The extension 432 is then shifted in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, by the cams 338 and 339 (Fig. 8) acting through the lever 335, the link 334, the arm 331, the shaft 173, and the arm 333, causing the lever 426 (Fig. 5) to rock counter-clockwise about.

Said leverfor counter-clockwise rotation under the in 17 fluenceof the spring 351, to the position shown in Fig. 5. The lever 426 is subsequently rocked back in a clockwise direction by the cams 338 and 339, the stud 425 :moving idly in the cut-out portion of the latch 420 ad- 288 or by the notch 357 in the detent 354, and the latch 420 will therefore relock the lever 349 in effective repeatdisabling position as soon as the lever 426 makes its return movement in a clockwise direction to free the latch 420 to the action of the spring 423.

On the other hand, if said operation is not a total-taking or Paid Out operation, the detents 288 and 354 will be in the position shown in Figs. and 6, and the lever 349 will be free to move under the influence of the spring 351 into ineffective position, as shown in Fig. 5, with its lower end abutting the stud 352, upon its release by the latch 420. OPERATION A brief description of the operation and use of the machine of the present invention will now be given.

This machine is suitable for the same general business applications as a machine of the type described and illusits repeat feature, which, as has been stated, makes it possible for the operator torepeat an entry without knowing at the time the original entry is made that the next operation is to be a repeat operation.

During a multiple item transaction, if the machine operator notes from the indicators that the amount of the last preceding item is the same as the amount of the next item to be entered into the machine, all that the operator need do is to depress the appropriate transaction key for the next item, and the amount of the last preceding item will be automatically repeated and entered into the machine for said next item.

It is not necessary that this item be in the same category or class as the preceding item in order to effect a repeat operation. For example, let it be assumed that the preceding item was a package of meat priced at $1.50, which amount the operator entered into the machine by depressing amount keys in the amount of $1.50 and then depressing the Meat transaction key 109, which caused the meat item of $1.50 to be indicated and recorded, and caused the amount accumulated in the Meat totalizer and in the Item totalizer to be increased by $1.50. Then let it be assumed that the next item is a grocery item, also priced at $1.50. To enter the amount of this item into the machine, the operator merely depresses the Grocery" transaction key 106. This causes a grocery item of $1.50 to be indicated and recorded, and increases the amount accumulated inthe Grocery totalizer and in the Item totalizer by $1.50. The operator can continue to repeat this item amount for subsequent item entries, so long as the amount of the item is the same as that of the rare ceding item.

It will be recalled that depression of an amount key 103 disables the repeat mechanism from operation. Therefore during an item operation in which an amount key 103 is depressed, the repeat mechanism will not function, and the item amount which is recorded, indicated, and entered into the appropriate totalizers will be the amount corresponding to the currently depressed amount keys 103, rather than the amount corresponding to the amount of the last preceding item operation.

Depression of any of the total keys 105, 107, and

and therefore the amount indicated and recorded in these operations is the amount which has been accumulated in the appropriate totalizer, rather than the amount entered into the machine during its preceding operation. Similarly, depression of the Paid Out key 104 disables the repeat mechanism from operation, so that a repeat operation cannot be initiated by depression of the Paid Out key 104. As has been stated, a Paid Out operation differs from a total-taking operation in that an amount is entered into the machine by use of the appropriate amount keys .103, in conjunction with the use of the Paid Out key 104.

As will be recalled, moving the total control lever 116 out of Register position to any of its other positions also disables the repeat mechanism from operation.

Further, depression of any of the keys 104, 105, '107 and 108, or movement of the total control lever 116 out of Register position causes the repeat disabling means to be latched, so that the next succeeding operation is pre vented from being a repeat operation. Therefore it will be seen that the machine has been so constructed as to permit the use of the repeat mechanism only for repeating previously entered item amounts in multiple-item transactions. 1

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably suited to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms, all coming within the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, having amount keys and a differential actuator positionable under control of said keys, the combination of a differentially 'positi'onable member; a normally effective coupling means to connect the actuator and the member; means to disengage the coupling means from the actuator and member as the actuator is being positioned, and again to engage said coupling means with the actuator and member so that said member may be positioned under control of said actuator as items are entered under control of the amount keys; means to control the coupling means so that it maintains its normal effectiveness between said member and actuator to control the setting of the actuator by said member to repeat the entry of the item entered under control of the amount keys; and means controlled by the amount keys for rendering the coupling control means ineffective to cause the coupling means to remain engaged with said member and said actuator to control the setting of the actuator by the member to repeat the entry of the item entered under control of the keys.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary differential member; a secondary differential member; manually operable means for controlling the extent of movement of the primary differential member; means for coupling said primary and secondary differen tial members; means for selectively engaging and disengaging said coupling means from said primary and secondary differential members; transaction keys for actuating the machine to perform various types of machine operations; a detent arranged in cooperative relation with said transaction keys; means normally engageaole by said detentto control the engaging and disengaging of said coupling means; and means controllable by said manually operable means to shift said detent to render it ineffective to'engage said means normally engageable by said detent.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary differential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys for controlling the extent of move ment of the primary differential member; means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members; means to disengage the coupling means from the differential members; means normally connecting the coupling shiftable inone direction by certain of said transaction keys, and when in a second position being shiftable in an opposite direction by said certain of said transaction keys; a lever connecting the detent and the connecting means, said lever being operable by the detent to shift said connecting means to .,disconnect the disengaging means from the coupling means upon depression of one of said transaction keys when said detent is in said first position; and manually operable disabling means for shift ing the detent from said first position to said second position.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary differential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys for controlling the extent of movement of the primary differential member; means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members for concert movement; means to disengage the coupling means from the differential members; coupling control means to render the disengaging means ineffective; a lever mounted in the machine; manually operable means for rocking the lever; a link shiftable by the lever and having a notched portion thereon; a shaft mounted in the machine; a first arm secured to the shaft and having an ear positioned to coact with the notched portion of the link; resilient means secured to the shaft and to the link and urging the ear into engagement with the notched portion; a second arm secured to the shaft; and means connecting the second arm to the coupling control means, whereby operation of the manually operable means will move the notched portion of the link out of engaging relation with the ear of the first arm, thus releasing said first arm, the shaft and said second arm to the action of the resilient means, and shifting the coupling control means to a posi tion in which it is incapable of rendering the disengaging means ineffective.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary differential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys for controlling the extent of movement of the primary differential member; means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members; means to disengage the coupling means from the differential members; coupling control means to render the disengaging means ineffective; a lever mounted in the machine; manually operable means for rocking the lever; a link shiftable by thetlever and having a notched portion thereon; a shaft mounted in the machine; a first arm secured to the shaft and having an ear positioned to coact with the notched portion of the link; resilient means secured to the shaft and to the link and urging the car into engagement with the notched portion of said link; a second arm secured to the shaft; means connecting the second arm to the coupling control means, whereby operation of the manually operable means will move the notched portion of the link out of engaging relation with the ear of the first arm, thus releasing said first arm, the shaft and said second arm to the action of the resilient means, and shifting the coupling control means to a position in which is is incapable of rendering the disengaging means ineffective; a third armlsecured to the shaft; a stud mounted in the third arm; a reset supporting means mounted in the machine; a resetting arm secured to the reset supporting means and having a surface thereon positioned to be engageable with the'stud in the third arm;

and means to drive the resetting arm in regularly excursioned movement for engagement of said surface with said stud to shift the shaft with its attached arms against the force of said resilient means to a position in which .the car on said first arm is engageable with the notched portion of said link.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary differential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys for controlling the extent of Imovement of the primary differential member; coupling means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members; means to disengage the coupling means from the differential members;control.means to render the disengaging means ineffective; shiftable means to control the control means; disabling means to render the shiftable means ineffective to control the control means; and reset means for resetting the disabling means and the .shiftable means to. a position in which said shiftable means is operable to control the control means.

7. In a machine of the class described, having a totalizer and means including amount keys and'a differential actuator, movable under control of said keys for entering an item in said totalizer, the combination of a differentially movable member adjustable under control of the actuator; coupling means to connect the actuator with the member; means to control the coupling means to enable the differentially movable member to control the actuator to effect a repeat entry of said item in the totalizer; transaction keys for initiating various types of transactions; means operable by certain of the transaction keys to disable the coupling control means; and means to latch the disabling means in effective position to prevent a repeat entry of the transaction initiated by said certain of said transaction keys.

8. In a machine of the class described, having a totalizer and means including amount keys and a differential actuator movable under control of said keys for entering an item in said totalizer, the combination of a differentially movable member adjustable under control of the actuator; coupling means to connect the actuator with the member; means to control the coupling means toenable the differentially movable member to control the actuator to effect a repeat entry of said item in the totalizer; transaction keys for initiating various types of transactions; means operable by certain of the transaction keys to disable the coupling control means; means to latch the disabling means in effective position to prevent a repeat entry of the transaction initiated by said certain of said transaction keys; and means operable during each cycle of machine operation to' release the latching means 'movable between two positions, said control means being capable of rendering the disengaging means ineffective when said detent is in one of said positions, and being incapable of rendering the disengaging means-ineffective when said detent is in the other of saidpositionsydis- 'abling means including a lever for moving the detent into the other of said positions; means for latching the lever in a position in which it retains the detent in said other position; and means operable during each cycle of machine'operation to release the latching means latched .during the preceding cycle of machine operation.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of. aprimary differential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys for controlling the'extent of movement of the primary differential member; zero stop means normally operative to retain the primary differential member in zero position in the event no amount key is depressed; means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members; means to disengage the coupling means from the differential members; means ,normally connecting the coupling means with the disengaging means; a plurality of transaction keys; a detent shiftable by the depression of certain of the transaction keys; a lever connecting the detent ,and' the connecting means; said lever being operable by said detent to shift,

said connecting means to disconnect the disengaging means from the coupling means; and an arm mounted in the machine and having a first surface thereon engageable with the lever and having a second surface thereon engageable with the zero stop means, whereby movement of said lever to shift the connecting means to disconnect the disengaging means from the coupling means also retains said zero stop means in ineffective position.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary ditferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys for controlling the extent of movement of the primary differential member; means for coupling the primary and secondary difierential members; means to disengage the coupling means from the differential members; coupling control means to render the disengaging means ineffective; disabling means operable to prevent the coupling control means from rendering the disengaging means ineffective; a manually operable lever having an add position and a plurality of total-taking positions and movable between said positions to condition the machine for various types of operations; an axial member journaled in the machine framework; a first arm secured to the axial member and operatively connected to the manually operable lever; a. second arm secured to the axial member and having a control surface thereon; and a sensing lever mounted in the machine framework and having means at one end for sensing the control surface and connected at its other end to the disabling means, whereby shifting of the manually operable lever to a total-taking position positions the control surface on the second arm so that the sensing lever will control the disabling means to prevent the coupling control means from rendering the disengaging means inefiective.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,746 Rinsche Dec. 15, 1914 1,929,652 Robertson Oct. 10, 1933 1,994,211 Crosman Mar. 12, 1935 2,399,170 Chase Apr. 30, 1946 2,570,456 Karr Oct. 9, 1951

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