US3077299A

US3077299A - clark

Info

Publication number: US3077299A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1963-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1980-02-12

Description

Feb. 12, 1963 R. c. CLARK 3,077,299

PREMIUM STAMP-DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed June 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 n W 4M, 2??? .I T "m BOOQQQ n.U. H mfifl wm 3 8800006, I Fl m I we III r I FIIHIIHII -L BY H6. 2 fi m WFM ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1963 R. c. CLARK 3,077,299

PREMIUM STAMP-DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed June 25, 1958- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Rose-2T C. CLARK A TTORNEYS R. C. CLARK Feb. 12, 1963 PREMIUM STAMP-DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed June 25. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet, 3

- INVENTOR. Roaser C. CLARK ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1963 R. C. CLARK 3,077,299

PREMIUM STAMP-DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed June 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I/

' INVENTOR. ROBERT C. CLARK ATTORNEYS.

R. C. CLARK PREMIUM STAMP-DiSPENSING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed June 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I J ll INVENTOR. C. CLARK Passe-r ATTORNEVS.

ransnem STAMREF FEP FQR Robert Q. illarls, Lan ng, IV (192 heniugton Ave, s

Filed dune 25, 1953, Ser. No. ve s-sea 1 (Cl. 235 l) This invention relates to a mechanism for dispensing premium stamps and particularly to such a mechanism which operates in conjunction with a cash register.

In recent years it has become common practice for re tailors and tradesmen to give premium stamps to the customer in proportion to the amount of the sale, the stamps being redeemable for mechandise. The stamps are commonly dispensed by the clerk or cashier by tearing the proper amount d a sheet containing a large number of stamps. Such a procedure requires a great deal of time and thought on the part of the clerk or cashier, resulting in a reduced efiiciency.

It has heretofore been suggested that a separate stampdispensing machine be provided which is actuated separately by the cashier or clerk to dispense the required number of stamps. Such machines have two important disadvantages. First, they require mental thought on the part of the clerk or cashier in order to establish the number of stamps to be dispensed. In addition, they require a separate manual manipulation of the mechanism which may be on the order of a cash register. Thus, even a stamp-dispensing mechanism of this type involves a separate operation on the part of the cashier.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mechanism which will automatically provide the required number of stamps when the total of purchases is registered on the cash register or other tabuiating machine which is used to total the purchases.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an apparatus which can be easily attached to cash registers without any substantial change thereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a cash register having mechanism embodying the invention attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 with the end cover open, the cash register being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1, the cash register being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in REG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6.

PEG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 8---.% in PEG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Ill-lit in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken line 1llll in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the stamp-dispensing mechanism removed from the cash register.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 13-13 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan View of a strip of stamps as used in the stamp-dispensing mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, the stamp-dispensing along the mechanism Zli is attached to a cash register 21 which is of the type which totals the purchases and registers the total so that it is visible to the customer in an indicator box 22 on the register. Stampdispensing mechanism 29 is operable incident to the indication of the total in the box 22 to dispense the required number of stamps.

Referring to FIG. 12, the stamp-dispensing mechanism 2t comprises a housing having a first section 29:: disposed at the side of the cash register and a second section 26b disposed to the rear of the cash register. As shown in PEG. 3, three

rolls

23a, 23b, 23c of premium stamps are rotatably mounted in the housing section Ztia of the stamp-dispensing mechanism. The rolls 23 are of predetermined width. By way of example the roll 23a has a width of one stamp and the

rolls

23b, 23c are five stamps wide.

As shown in EEG. 13, each roll of stamps is rotatably mounted between intermediate wall 24 and end Wall 25 of the section 2% by a structure which includes a fixed spindle 26 and a movable spindle 27 mounted on an arm 23. which is pivoted to end wall 25.

As shown in FIG. 13, stamp roll 23 is rotatably held on the spindles 2d, 27. Cover 29 is hinged to the rear edge of the housing 21 so that it can be swung open as shown in PEG. 3 to provide access to the rolls 23. To remove and replace the roll, lever 23 is swung outwardly and upwardly with cover 29 open. Cover 29 is held in closed position by a rotatable latch 36} which engages a tab '31 on the housing (FIG. 3).

When the total of purchases is registered on cash regis ter Zl, a predetermined length of stamps is fed from each of the rolls 23, as required by a mechanism which includes a drive roll 32 fixed on a shaft 33 which is rotatably mounted between fixed end wall 25 and intermediate rail of housing 21 (HG. 11). Drive rolls 32. are provided with circumferentially spaced teeth 34- w-hich engage the conventional perforations 35 between successive stamps Sin a strip (FIG. 14} so that when each drive roll 32 is rotated a strip of stamps is fed from each supply roll.

A friction roll as is provided adjacent the periphery of each drive roll The strip of stamps from the supply roll is passed and threaded between the friction roll 36 and drive roll 32-. A horizontal guide plate 37 is provided to guide the strips of stamps outwardly of housing 2% through dispensing

openings

38a, 38b and 330, respectively (FIGS. 1, 8 and 12). in addition, a knife 39 is provided to sever each previously fed strip of stamps and permit them to fall into an open tray ill (FIGS. 8 and 12). As shown in FiG. 11, a hand crank 3311 may be inserted in the end of shaft 33 in order to provide an easy means for rotating shaft 33 and feed roll 32 in threading a strip of stamps or in clearing the end of a strip of stamps.

Rectangular chutes ii are provided to guide the severed strips in their movement downwardly through openings toward the tray (HQ. 8). in addition, guide blocks are provided above the plates 37 to insure that the strips of stamps will move in a flat plane into proper alignment with the knives.

Referring to FEG. 1, the intermittent rotation of drive rolls 31?; is obtained through one-way clutches 43. For example, as shown in P16. 11, one-way clutch 43 on shaft provides an intermittent drive to drive roll 32.

Clutches 43 are, in turn, driven by linkages to the cash register as presently described. Each clutch 4-3 is driven an amount such that the required number of stamps are fed from the rolls 23 when purchases are tabulated on the cash register. The arrangement is such that a number of stamps is fed from each roll corresponding to the numerical value of each digit in the amount tabulated by the register. For example, if a stamp is to be dispensed for each ten cents of purchases, a strip of stamps, one stamp in width, is fed from roll 23a of such a length that the number of stamps corresponds in number to the digit in the tenths of dollars in the amount tabulated by the register; a strip of stamps, five stamps wide, is fed from roll 23]) of such a length that the number of stamps is ten times the numerical value of the digit in dollars in the amount tabulated; and a strip of stamps, five stamps wide, is fed from roll 230 of such a length that the number of stamps is one hundred times the numerical value of the digit in tens of dollars in the amount tabulated. Thus, for example, if the amount tabulated by the cash register were $14.53, the clutches 43 would be driven so that five stamps would be fed from roll 23a; forty stamps would be fed from roll 2%, that is, a strip five stamps wide and eight stamps long; and one hundred stamps would be fed from roll 23c, that is, a strip five stamps Wide and twenty stamps long.

In one conventional type of cash register 21 there are provided a plurality of groups of indicator plates, each group of plates bearing numbers from '0 to 9; the indicator plates in one group corresponding to cents unit digits, the indicator plates in another group corresponding to cents in tens digits, the indicator plates in another group corresponding to dollars in unit digits, and the indicator plates in still another group corresponding to dollars in tens digits. When the total of sales is tabulated and computed by the cash register, the proper indicator plates are elevated from each group by the register mechanism into indicator box 22 to indicate the total.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated one conventional cash register mechanism constructed such that when the total of purchases is computed by the cash register, indicator positioning bars 44 in the cash register are shifted axially, that is fore and aft of the cash register, by a conventional mechanism not forming a part of this invention, to move each group of indicator plates'an amount corresponding to the numerical value of the digit with which each group is associated in the amount computed and thereby bring predetermined indicator plates into position so that they can be raised into indicator box 22 by an indicator operating bar 45 which is moved upwardly (FIG. 6). proportional to the number that is to be shown in indicator box 22. For example, if in a particular digit the number is to be Zero there will be no movementof the corresponding bar 44, whereas if the number is to be a 9 there will be substantial movement of the bar 44.

The movement of bars 44 is transmitted to the drive rolls 32 so that the drive rolls are rotated in proportion to the movement of their respective bars to feed the required number of premium stamps.

The drive means for drive rolls 32 are shown in F168. 2 and 5, and include concentric tubular shafts and, 46b rotatably mounted on a shaft 46c journalled between spaced walls 24 and 47' and extending through wall 45 the rear of the stamp-dispensing mechanism and substantially within the housing 2th). Gears 4% are fixed to the shafts 46. Gear racl's are pivoted to the rear ends of the indicator positioning bars 4d and extend through openings in the front walls of housing 2% (HQ. 12). Racks 59 may be moved downwardly into mesh with gears $9 or upwardly out of mesh with gears 49.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, sprockets 51 are fixed to the ends of the shafts 46. Drive chains 52 are trained over the sprockets 51 and gears 53 of the clutches 43. Idler sprockets 54 are provided on some of chains 52;.

Racks 59 are normally maintained out of mesh with their respective gears 49 by a mechanism which comprises levers 55 fixed on a shaft 56 pivoted in housing 20b (FIG. 2). Shaft 56 has fixed thereto a short arm 57 (FIG. 5) connected by a rigid link 58 to an actuating lever 59 pivoted on wall 24 as at 6%. Lever 59 has a manually operable handle 61 projecting through an opening at in housing Ztla. Stops 63, 6d are provided on wall 24 The movement of each bar 44 is therefore 4 to limit the movement of lever 59. The free ends of levers 55 are provided with rollers 65 which ride in slots 66 in the respective racks 5 0 as shown in H6. 5.

When it is desired to transmit the movement of the indicator positioning bars 44 to drive rolls 32 and feed the stamps, lever 59 is moved downwardly from the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in full lines. This causes the racks 51'] to mesh with gears 49. Thus, when the indicator positioning bars 44 are moved axially they will rotate gears 45 and, in turn, their respective shafts 4K and drive clutches 43 through the sprockets 5i, gears and chains 52 and rotate the drive rolls 32 to feed the stamps. Any movement of the indicator positioning bars i t in the opposite direction does not affect the drive rolls since clutches 433 are of the one-way type. V

Mechanism is provided for returning lever 59 to its original position (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5) after each totaling operation thereby moving racks 50 out of engagement with gears 49. This mechanism includesa spring-loaded latch 67 pivoted to the wall d8 of the stamp mechanism and adapted to engage a projection 68 on lever when lever 59 is rotated to bring the racks 5ft into engagement with the gears 49' (FIG. 6). Lever 59 is normally urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 by a cable as trained over pulleys 7t} and connected at one end to lever 59 and its other end to a tension spring 71 fixed to the housing of the mechanism. When lever 59 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, projection 68 on lever 59 is brought into engagement with latch 67 and locks lever 59 in the position shown in full lines wherein'racks 50 are in mesh with gears 49.

indicator operating bar d5 within cash register 21 (FIGS. 5 and 6) moves upwardly when the register is operated to present the indicator plates into view in indicator box 22. A small lever 72 is pivotally mounted on bar 45 and projects outwardly through the side wall of the cash register so that when the bar 45 moves upwardly the end of small lever 72 engages a tab 73 on latch 67 to pivot the latch in a clockwise direction thereby releasing projection 68 and permitting lever 59 to move in a clockwise direction under the action of cable 69 and spring 71 thereby moving racks 50 upwardly out of engagement with gears 49. The inner end of small lever 72 abuts a portion of indicator operating bar 45 so that it is limited in permissible clockwise movement (FIG. 6) but may be pivoted counterclockwise without engaging tab 73 when the operating bar is moved downwardly.

In order to prevent rotation shafts 46 while out of engagement with racks 50, a plurality of pawls 74 are fixed to a rockable shaft 75 which, in turn, is connected to arm 57 by a crank 76 and link 77 (FIG. 5). When racks 50 are moved out of engagement with their respective gears 4?, pawls 74 are moved into engagement with gears 49 to prevent rotation of the .gears.

As shown in FIG. 9, knives 39 are pivoted adjacent one end to wall 48 for vertical movement and are connected at their opposite ends to cable '69. When the knives are pivoted downwardly by cable 69, their cutting edges cooperate with the forward edges of plates 57 to sever the strips of stamps advanced by drive rolls Movement of the handle 61 downwardly causes the link 58 to pivot crank 57 and move racks 50 into mesh with gears 49 through the levers 55. When the operator thereafter depresses bar 81 the cash register operates to indicate the sub-total of purchases in indicator box 22. During this operation of the cash register, indicator operating bar 45 is moved downwardly and the indicator positioning bars 44 are moved axially to bring the indicator plates to a zero or neutral position. During the downward movement of the indicator operating bar actuation or tab 73 is prevented because of the counterclockwise pivoting of the lever 72 (FIG. 6). During the axial movement of the indicator positioning bars there is no movement transmitted to feed stamps because of the one-way action of clutches 43. As the cash register continues to operate, indicator positioning bars 44 are moved axially a predetermined amount to bring the proper indicator plates into position so that they can be elevated into the indicator box. This proportional movement of indicator positioning bars 4d is transmitted through shafts 46, sprockets 51, chains 52 and gears 53 to clutches 43 which drive rolls 32 and thereby feed a predetermined number of stamps from each of the stamp rolls 23. It will, of course, be understood that the size of the gears, sprockets and feed rolls is such that for a predetermined movement of the indicator positioning bars 44, the proper length of strip of stamps is fed from the stamp rolls 23.

During the operation of the cash register after the indicator positioning bars 44 have been moved axially a predetermined amount, indicator operating bar 45 is moved upwardly to position the proper indicator plates in the indicator box 22. This final movement of the indicator operating bar 45 upwardly causes small lever 72 on operating bar 45 to strike latch 67 and disengage lever 59, permitting spring 71 to move cable 69 and return lever 59 to its original position. During this movement cable 69 also pivots knives 39 downwardly cutting of? the strips of stamps which have been fed. The severed strips fall into tray 40 so that the cashier can pick them up and give them to the customer without any further operation on his part.

When lever 59 is returned to its original position, racks 50 are pivoted upwardly out of contact with gears 49 and pawls 74 are moved into engagement with gears 49 through links 77 and cranks 76 to lock gears 49 against further rotation.

The cash register is now in condition for a further operation such as the tabulation and computation of purchases for which stamps are not given or the addition of sales tax and the like to the sub-total.

Instead of utilizing rolls of stamps containing a single layer or strip, the roll may comprise a multiple layer or d strip, thus reducing the length of strip that must be fed from each roll.

In addition, instead of using rolls, a continuous strip of stamps folded back and forth in a suitable container may be provided in place of each supply roll.

It can thus be seen that I have provided a stampdispensing mechanism which is operable in conjunction with a cash register so that at a desired time the required number of stamps are not only fed but also severed and provided to the customer. At the end of each feeding operation the mechanism is disengaged automatically from the drive or" the cash register so that the cash register may be operated in normal fashion without any further thought on the part of the operator as to whether or not the stamp-dispensing mechanism is present.

E claim:

In a cash register of the type wherein the total of purchases is tabulated and brought to the view of an observer by movement of a plurality of indicator plates bearing digits vertically upward into an indicator area, said indicator plates being selected from a plurality of indicator plates by predetermined movement of the indicator positioning members in a generally horizontal direction, the combination comprising a housing mounted on said register, means for rotatably mounting a plurality of stamp roils in said housing, a feed mechanism for each said roll for feeding a strip of stamps from said roll, drive means for each said feed mechanism responsive to the movement of said indicator positioning members for driving said feed mechanism of said roll to feed a strip of stamps proportional in length to the digit on the corresponding indicator plate, each said latter means including a rack pivoted to a respective indicator positioning member, a gear, means for moving said rack into and out of engagement with said gear, means interconnecting said gear to said feed mechanism, and single manually operated means for actuating said rack engaging and disengaging means to move said racks into and out of engagement with their respective gears, said single manually operated means comprising a shaft, a lever for each rack fixed to said shaft, a slot in each said rack, the end of each said lever being slidably mounted in the slot in its respective rack, a handle pivoted in said housing, and means forming an operative connection between said handle and said shaft for rotating said shaft and pivoting said levers to move said racks into and out of engagement with their respective gears.

Great Britain Dec. 1, 1943 792,514

Great Britain Mar. 26, 1958