US3186636A

US3186636A - Receipt printing and validating device

Info

Publication number: US3186636A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1965-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-01

Description

June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,636

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,635

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 N INVENTORS 0M 6'. 2 m

June 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,636

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 12, 1962 INVHVI'ORS: 044%! 11% j; 3

June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,635

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,635

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE l4 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 12, 1962 wbw .MVI I June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,636

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,635

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 12, 1962 INVENTORs:

174M W WF June 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,185,636

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 12, 1962 June 1, 1965 Filed March 12, 1962 R. C. HOFFMAN ETAL RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 June 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 BR. v

June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,636

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE 14 Sheet -Sheet 12 Filed March 12, 1962 JNVENTORS: H I I June 1, 19 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE l4 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed March 12, 1962 June 1, 1965 R. c. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,186,636

RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Y NNsRGE MGR 1.01.! 36%: he he wwmm United States Patent 3,186,636 RECEIPT PRINTING AND VALIDATING DEVICE Robert C. Hoffman, Park Ridge, Raymond M. Faber, Chicago, and Robert H. Schnalrenherg, Park Ridge, 111., assignors to Victor Comptorneter Corporation, Chicago, llL, a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 12., 1962, Ser. No. 179,921 6 Claims. (Cl. 235-3) TABLE OF CONTENTS Column I. General Organization 3 1. Adding and total taking functions 4 2. Numeral key operation for item and distribution accumulators 4 3. Type wheels in side printer 5 II. Distribution Accumulators 5 1. Distribution accumulator selection 6 2. Aligning the distribution accumulators in selected position 7 3. Shifting distribution accumulators into engagement with amount entering gears 7 III. Side Printer and Controls '8 l. Validate lever operation 8 2. Rendering side printer inoperative l0 3. Printing item, subtotal, and total amounts l0 4. Printing the heading on tape l2 5. Validate lever release -14 IV. Cash Register Drawer Release 14 V. Tape and Charge Receipt Advance Operation 1-6 1. Tape advance during add cycle on cash transaction 1S 2. Tape advance during total cycle on cash transaction 8 3. Charge receipt advance 18 VI. Consecutive Numbering Device 19 This invention relates generally to sales registering and recording devices of the type commonly referred to as cash registers.

Although referred to as cash registers, it will be appreciated that in recent years these machines have been redesigned and reoriented to handle various commercial transactions, such as the extension of credit to customers, and the words cash register are not to be interpreted in any narrow sense as indicating that only cash transactions may be registered and recorded thereby.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved control mechanism for a cash register capable of issuing a cash receipt, of itemizing and totaling a transaction on a multiple copy charge slip, and of validating a bill, invoice, or similar instrument.

As a cash transaction is entered in the improved register, each item is added into an item accumulator and printed on a cash receipt tape. The tape is single spaced so the next item to be added can be listed on the tape directly below the previous one. en the transaction is totaled, the amount is printed on the next printing line and the receipt is jump spaced to the tear-oif point. Also, the heading for the next receipt is printed. This heading may include the store name, date, and receipt number. A receipt numbering device is also advasced one unit soeach receipt is identified by its own number. During the entering of a cash transaction, there are two primary item accumulator operations, adding and totaling. A subtotal operation is also provided for the purpose of computing a sales tax where necessary.

For a charge transaction, a multiple copy charge slip is inserted in the printing unit. The top copy receives its impression through an inked ribbon. Succeeding copies are prepared by the use of carbon paper or other pressure sensitive means. Each item is added into the item ac- 3,l8h,fi3ti Patented June 1, 1965 cumulator and printed on the charge slip. The charge slip is single spaced so that the next item to be added can be listed on the slip directly below the previous one. During this operation, no movement of the cash receipt tape takes place and nothing is printed on the receipt tape. Finally, the total of the charge transaction is printed on the charge slip. The slip is released but not jump spaced. Since the charge slips are preprinted forms, containing a heading and identifying number, no heading is printed and the numbering device is not advanced. During a charge transaction, there are also two primary item accumulator operations, adding and totaling. Also, a subtotal operation is provided.

The item accumulator has two conditions or positions, i.e., (1) an in mesh position in which the add pinions (and subtract pinions if used) are in mesh with add sectors for entering item amounts into the accumulator and for removing total amounts therefrom, and (2) an out of mesh position in which the add pinions are rotated away from the add sectors.

Printing of item and total amounts on both cash and charge transactions, single and jump spacing of the cash receipt tape, single spacing of the charge slip, printing of the tape heading on the cash receipt, advancing of a cash receipt numbering device, and opening of the cash drawer, all occur at about midcycle or during the second half or the return stroke of the machine. From about midcycle to the end of the machine cycle, the item accumulator is in mesh during add and subtotal operations, and out of mesh during a total operation. This binary condition of the item accumulator has been found to be particularly useful for the control of the above mentioned functions.

By providing a two position control shaft, the two positions of which correspond to the in mesh and out of mesh positions of the item accumulator, a very simple control over cash register functions is provided.

During a charge transaction, the use of a manually operable two position charge-cash or validate lever in conjunction with the two position control shaft provides all the control necessary, including the automatic return of the validate lever to the cash position during the total operation of a charge transaction.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a cash register an improved, simplified, two position control device which serves selectively to control a number of machine operations.

Another object is to provide a cash register with extreme flexibility of operation in differently handling the cash and credit receipt entries by means of a simplified common control. This object is achieved in the preferred embodiment by controlling a multiplicity of operations, such as the printing of item and total amounts on both cash and charge transactions, single and multiple advancing of the cash receipt tape roll upon which the items are entered, single spacing of a charge slip, printing of the tape heading on the cash receipt tape roll, advancing of a cash receipt numbering device, and opening of the cash drawer by the normal cyclic positioning of the item accumulator frame. A two position charge-cash control or validate lever is utilized in conjunction with the position of the item accumulator frame to provide the necessary control distinctions on charge and cash transactions.

Another object is the provision in a cash register of a common means for printing both cash and credit receipt tickets with a minimum number of operations and maximum flexibility.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved receipt advancing and printing mechanisms for a cash register.

It is another object to provide improved means for selecting various distribution accumulators by the selective operation of corresponding function control keys.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved platen drive means for a cash register.

- Another object is to provide an improved control means for a consecutive numbering device.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cash register incorpo rating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3, illustrating certain of the numeral keys and the distribution accumulator and side printer drive mechanisms controlled by the keys;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the front or distribution accumulators;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the front or distribution accumulators;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational views of the distribution key mechanisms in a nonactuated position and in one actuated position, respectively;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary elevational views along the lines 7-7 and 8-8 of FIG. 3, illustrating the front accumulator position control means;

FiG. 9 is an elevational view of the side printer and the validate lever mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the validate lever control mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the amount printing mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational View illustrating the heading printing mechanism;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are, respectively, a fragmentary side and an end elevational view illustrating the cash drawer control mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary left side elevational view of the cash and charge receipt advancing mechanism in its initial position prior to the beginning of a cycle of machine operation for a cash transaction;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevational View of a portion of the receipt advancing mechanism in the position it assumes when the item accumulator is shifted to the in mesh position during the initial part of the return stroke of an add operation for a cash transaction;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary right side eleavtional view of the receipt advancing mechanism in the position it assumes at the end of the forward stroke of a total operation with the validate lever in the charge position;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the receipt advancing mechanism in the position it assumes when the item accumulator is shifted to the out of mesh position during the initial part of the return stroke of a total operation for a cash transaction;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are end and side elevational views of that portion of the receipt advancing mechanism actuated by the item accumulator control shaft;

FIG. 21 is a perspective View of the consecutive numbering device and its actuating mechanism; and

FIG. 22 is a graph showing the timing of certain machine operations in relation to a complete stroke of the main shaft.

1. GENERAL ORGANXZATION Unless otherwise explained, the words front, rear, right, and lef will be used in their normal sense to refer to the cash register as it is seen in PEG. 1. The improved cash register it? includes appropriate sets of depressible numeral keys 42 for each denominational order of the amount to be registered for each item of the various transactions, a visual indicator 4.4, an item register tape 4-6 visible through an opening 48 in the case 49, a total-subtotal select lever St), and a motor start bar 52. A cash-charge control or validate lever 54% is provided together with a set 56 of keys for controlling or selecting certain types of machine operations for transactions such as credit balance, amounts received on account, tax,

4 amount paid out, account forward, amount tendered, and the like, and also for identifying the clerks from whom various items to be entered have been received, such as groceries, produce, meat, and the like.

A side printer mechanism 53 is provided for preparing both cash and charge receipts for customers, and a cash drawer 60 is provided in the lower portion of the cash register. The cash register 40 includes the usual item accumulator (not shown) which is the working accumulator for obtaining the total cost of items purchased for each cash and charge transaction. The cash register also includes distribution accumulators designated Cash, Charge, Tax, and Received on Account for accumulating the daily totals of the amounts of each of these transactions. Each of these accumulators is provided with a respective key in the set as.

The cash register dtl is illustrated herein as applied to a calculating machine mechanism of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,550,581, issued April 24, 1951, to Thomas O. Mehan, suitably modified to be conveniently operated as a cash register, and said patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if it were set forth in its entirety.

1. Adding and total taking functions Briefly, the calculating machine of the patent includes a pivotal accumulator frame carrying a group of adding pinions and a group of subtracting pinions which, during adding, subtracting, subtotal, and total operations, are movable with the frame into mesh with segmental gears selectively actuated by key controlled racks to accumulate the total of a complete transaction.

The machine is equipped with the usual operating mechanism including a main shaft, is either electric motor driven or hand operated, and is provided with the usual interlocks, controls, and control keys common to this type of machine, as illustrated and described in greater detail in United States Patent No. 2,411,050, issued November 12, 1946, to Thomas O. Mehan. Frequently, a secondary main shaft connected for rotation with the primary main shaft, controls many of the machine functions, and the words main shaft as used in the specification and claims may be either the primary or secondary main shaft, depending upon the particular machine construction.

The item accumulator of the cash register dill is preferably the same as the accumulator mechanism of Patent No. 2,550,581, and the above mentioned two position control shaft, which is utilized greatly to simply the machine controls, is connected to an accumulator mechanism as will be described in detail hereinafter. The ac cumulator frame has two extreme pivotal positions, and the control shaft therefore has two extreme angular positions.

2. Numeral key operation for item and distribution accumulators The numeral keys 42 (FIG. 2) are mounted in the usual key support plates 7%, and the lower ends '72 of the stems 74 of the keys for each denominational order act as stops to limit the movement of Vernier type actuators '76 which are coupled by crossover plates 77 and pins 78 to racks 8%. These racks control the positioning of the adding and subtracting pinions of the working accumulator.

The actuators 76 are provided with racks 82 which control the entry of items into the distribution accumulators. Each actuator '76 is associated with one denominational order of numeral keys 4?, and therefore each rack 32 will enter a corresponding denominational order of the items in each of the distribution accumulators.

Each rack 82 meshes with a segmental gear 86 which is fixed to a hub 9t) rotatable upon a shaft 52. The hub has an adding sector 83 freely pivoted thereon, this sector being normally urged counterclockwise relative to the segmental gear 86 by a tension spring 57, one end of which is secured to the adding sector and the other end of which is secured to a projecting arm on a disc $9 which is likewise fixed to the associated hub hit.

The adding sector 83 is normally held from counterclockwise (FTG. 2) movement under the influence of its associated spring 87 by the engagement of a hook shaped end 93 of a transfer pawl h with a lug 95 projecting sidewardly from the sector 88, the transfer pawl he being pivoted upon a fixed shaft 96 and having a forwardly projecting arm 7 engaged by a transfer latch 98. The latch 93 and the transfer pawl d4 are both biased toward each other by a tension spring 99 connected between t'' em.

Each of the adding sectors 8% is provided with a segmental gear ltid which is adapted to mesh with accumulator adding pinions 1M of each .distribution accumulator. The adding pinions are rotatably mounted on a shaft 165. Each of the pinions ltr'll is provided with the usual transfer cam (not shown) fixed thereto, these cams being adapted to cooperate with and engage cam projection 1% formed on the transfer pawl $4 as its pinion 191 rotates from 9 position to 0 position.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the accumulator mechanism of FIG. 2 is duplicated for each denominational order of numeral keys. The two rack positions at the right (FIG. 3) are not utilized in the preferred embodiment since, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the two positions for numeral keys at the right are not utilized.

There are four distribution accumulators provided in the front end of the machine, and therefore each rack 82 and its associated segmental gear 8d and add sector 83 must be utilized selectively to register items in the proper distribution accumulator. Accordingly, there is a group of four add pinions fill associated with each add sector, each one of the add pinions being provided for a respective distribution accumulator. The distribution accumulatorsare carried on a swinging frame (FIGS. 3 and 4) and the intermediate accumulator frame plates 193 are secured to a pivotal shaft 184 for movement of the adding pinions 1M into mesh with the segmental gears 1%. The shaft 1% is received in journals 1th: and 193 for both pivotal and reciprocaole movement.

3. Type wheels in side printer As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the racks 8% also control the positioning of respective type wheels 11% in the side printer 58. The racks include toothed portions 112 (FIG. 2) which mesh with pinions 114 rotatably mounted on a shaft 116. Gears 118 of larger diameter than inion 114'are secured to hub portions of the pinions 114 for rotation with the pinions. The gears 11% in turn mesh with gears 1269 which are welded to adjacent ends of respective ones of a plurality of concentric tubes 122 carried by a rod 123 for rotation relative to each other. The opposite ends of the tubes 122 include slots 124 which receive inwardly extending lugs 125 on the type wheels 11ft. Thus, each of the racks 8h selectively positions a corresponding type wheel 116i by way of its gear portion 112, pinion 114, gears 118 and 12d, and tube 122.

II. DISTRIBUTION ACCUMULATORS Reference is now directed to FlGS. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 in which are illustrated a reciprocable accumulator selection slide 152 and an accumulator extension 154 which I is parallel to and spaced from the slide 152. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the extension 154 is secured to and supported by a channel 155 by a screw 157 and a stud 159 and C-clip 161. The channel 155 snugly receives in mating slots the accumulator frame plates 1% to shift the accumulator assembly, including the add pinions 191, laterally with the extension 154 as will be described below for selective positioning of desired pinions in mesh with their corresponding segmental gears 19%.

At one extreme end the extension 154 has a U-shaped slot 156 which receives a stud 15% carried by a pivot arm 164). The arm 16% is carried by a sleeve 153 freely pivotal on a shaft assembly 162 which is carried by upper and

lower brackets

164 and 166, which brackets are suitably secured to an end frame plate 153. The arm res is pivotally secured to an extension 17%? on the selection slide 152 by means of an eccentric adjustment shoulder screw 172 and a nut 1'74. Thus, when the arm 16f) pivots about its axis, the accumulator selection slide 152 and the accumulator extension 154 will be moved in opposite directions.

A drive link 176 is moved toward the front of the machine by the main shaft cam, not shown, at a predetermined time interval during the forward stroke of the machine. A spring 178 secured to the link and to a stud on the end frame plate 168 biases the link toward the rear of the machine. The drive link is operatively connected to the shaft assembly 162 by a crank 182 which is fixed to the shaft assembly 1&2 and which is connected to the drive link by a stud 134. A second pivot arm 136 is secured to the shaft assembly 162 and is therefore rotated with the shaft assembly when the drive link 176 is moved in the direction of the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4 by means including the main shaft during the forward stroke of each cycle of machine operation.

The link 176 rotates the bellcrank 182, the shaft assembly 162, and the pivot arm 1% in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 4) about the axis of the shaft assembly when the link is moved in the direction of the arrows; and a strong spring 188, secured to the stud 159 on the accumulator extension 154 and received through an aperture 192 on the arm 1%, shifts the extension toward the right (FIG. 4). A stud 194 on the arm 186 engages a shoulder 1% on the extension 154 when the drive link 176 is returned to its normal position by the spring 173 to return the arm 186 to the normal position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Adjustable screws 1% and 2% and cooperating

nuts

262 and 294 are engaged by the ends of the shaft 1434 to limit the lateral travel of the accumulator assembly. The position of the screw 2% determines the at rest return position of the swinging frame 156 and the screw 19? determines the maximum travel of the swinging frame.

When the arm 13% is rotated counterclockwise by the drive link 1'75, as described above, to move the accumulator extension 154 toward the right (FIG. 4), the pin 158 and the cooperating slot 15b cause the arm to rotate counterclockwise to move the accumulator selection slide 152 toward the left. The drive connection between the drive link 176 and the accumulator extension 154 is resilient since it includes the spring 188. This resilient drive connection permits the accumulator selection slide 152 to be stopped in a position determined by a rotatable U-shaped flag 208 and shoulders 209 and 219 on the slide as will now appear.

1. Distribution accumulator selection In a typical embodiment, the fourt distribution accumulators are provided for the entry of each item entered into the cash register for cash sale, charge, tax, and received on account. The entry of items for each of these functions is accompanied by the depression of

respective keys

212, 214, 216, and 218 of FIGS. 5 and 6. These keys cooperate with a Vernier slide 220 selectively to position the fiag 2&8 in any one of four positions with respect to an upstanding lip 222 on the accumulator selection slide 152.

The slide 22% carries a pin 224- which is engageable with a shoulder 226 at the upper end of the flag 2&8, and a bias spring 228 urges the flag counterclockwise against the pin. Depression of the key 218 will not affect the position of the slide, and the lip 222 of the accumulator selection slide 152 will engage the flag 2% in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this position, the slide 152 prevents movement of the extension 154 when the drive link 176 is moved forwardly during the forward stroke of the machine. This position is utilized for entry of information into one of the distribution accumulators.

success '3 The slide 22%) includes

upstanding wedge members

232, 234, and 236, which cooperate with projections 23%, 2%, and 242 on the

keys

212, 214, and 216 to move the slide 226 to succeeding positions toward the left with respect to FIG. upon depression of the

respective keys

212, 214, and 216.

The flag 2% includes stepped shoulders 24 i and 2456 which are positioned in alignment with the upstanding lip 222 when the keys 212 and 21 5 respectively are depressed. When the shoulder 244 is in alignment with the lip 222, the accumulator selection slide will ride thereunder until the shoulder 2W engages the flag and this positions the swinging frame 154 for the entry of information into the distribution accumulator corresponding to the key 212. Similarly, when the shoulder 2 th is in alignment with the upstanding lip 222, the selector slide 152 will move until the shoulder 21h engages the flag, which positions the swinging frame for the entry of information into the distribution accumulator corresponding to the key 214. When the key 216 is depressed, the flag 2% is rotated out of the path of the upstanding lip 2-22 and the swinging frame is permitted to move until the shaft Edd (FIG. 4-) engages the screw 11%, which positions the swinging frame for the entry of information into the distribution accumulator corresponding to the key 216.

2. Aligning the distribution accumulators in selected position An aligner 2% (FIGS. 7 and 8) is utilized for more precise positioning of the distribution accumulator adding pinions 1M with the adding sectors Edit. The aligner 259 has a lower knife edge 252 which is cooperable with slots 254 (FIG. 5) in the accumulator extension 154 for precise positioning of the adding pinions in each of the four positions of the accumulator extension. The timing of the movement of the aligner during the machine cycle is controlled by way of a second drive link 255, which is actuated by a main shaft cam (not shown) shortly after the link 176 positions the swinging frame f).

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the drive link 255 is connected to a stud 257 on a crank arm 256 which has a hub 259 securedrto a pivotal shaft 258 which extends through the distribution accumulator assembly. A second crank arm 25% having a hub 259a is secured to the other end of the shaft 258. The upper end of each crank arm has a U-shaped slot 2%. The shaft 258 also carries the aligner 2% for pivotal movement into and out of the slots 25d in the accumulator extension. An actuator stud 262 is received in a U-shaped slot 263 in the aligner 255i) and is secured to a crank arm 26% which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 92. A second crank arm 264a is secured to the left end of the shaft 92 (FIG. 4-) and carries a stud (not shown) corresponding to stud 262 which is received through a slot in the crank arm 25M corresponding to slot 2669 in crank arm 256. When the crank arm is rotated clockwise with respect to FIG. 7 by the drive link 2555, the crank arm rotates the shaft 258 clockwise. The aligner 25d and the crank arm 2536a are rotated clockwise (FIG. 8) with the shaft 258 to rotate the crank arms 264 and 264a counterclockwise (FIG. 8) on the st aft 92.

3. Shifting distribution accumulators into engagement with amount entering gears The adding pinion shaft MP5 is received within slots in the crank arms and 264a, and when the arms are rotated counterclockwise as described above, the adding pinion shaft is moved in an are generally upwardly and toward the left with respect to FIG. 8, until the selectively aligned adding pinion set of one distribution accumulator (FIG. 2) is moved into mesh with the segmental gears 1% on the adding sectors 88. It will be noted that the aligner 25h moves into the slots in the accumulator extension prior to the meshing engagement of the adding pinions with the adding segmental gears.

lllI. SIDE PRINTER AND CGNTROLS The side printer and its various control mechanisms will now be described in detail. With respect to FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be seen that the side printer 58 includes upper and lower housings 28%? and 232. between which is an open generally horizontal slot through which cash receipt tape 286 from a roll 2% is received. An inked ribbon 283, movement of which is controlled by the usual supply and rewind mechanism 285, is provided.

At the forward end of the slot 2&4, the cash receipt tape is received between a tape advance roller 2% and a freely rotatable pressure roller 2?- The tape supply roll is rotatable on a shaft 289, and a light tension mechanism 2% takes up slack in the tape.

in the event that a charge transaction is being made, a charge receipt (not shown) is placed in the slot above the tape sac and between the tape advance roiler 2% and an upper freely rotatable pressure roller 2%. The tape advance roller is operable in either direction under the control of a tape advancing mechanism which will be described later. The upper and lower pressure rollers 29% and 2% are carried on a pivotal member 2% which is actuated to either of two angular positions under the control of the validate lever 54 to bring one of the two pressure rollers into tight frictional engagement with the cash or charge receipt and the tape advance roller 2959.

l. Validate lever operation In the cash position of the validate lever 54, as shown in FIG. 9, the roller 2% is in engagement with the roller 25 9. When the arm 54 is moved toward the rear to the charge position of FIG. 10, it pivots about the axis of its supporting stud in a clockwise direction. The member is also freely pivotal on the stud .298, and a spring 3% connected between a lower hooklike projection Edi on the member 2% and a stud 3th; on the lower end of the lever 54, rotates the member 2% in a clockwise direction to bring the upper pressure roller 2% downwardly against the tape advance rolier 2%. A pair of slots 3% in the member 2% receive screws therethrough which act as guides and limit stops for the movement of the member.

A manually operable lever 3MB is provided for releasing the validate lever 54. The lever 3ft) is secured to a rocker arm 3313i pivoted on a shaft 313. When the validate lever is moved from the cash position of HG. 9 to the charge position shown in FIG. 10, the lever 54 moves a slide 3112 toward the left (FIG. 10) by means of a stud 514 secured to the lever and a lost motion slot 316 in the slide through which the stud is received. The slide rotates a crank arm 31%, secured to a shaft 3% in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 10). The other end of the shaft 32% carries a latch 321 having an L-shaped recess 32?. engageable with a roller 323 carried by the arm 311. A spring 324 secured to the arm 311 urges the roller 323 against the latch 323i. Counterclockwise rotation of the latch 3231 upon movement of the validate lever 54 to the charge position permits counterclockwise movement of the arm 311 by the spring 324-, the roller moving downwardly into the recess 32?. to maintain the latch in the charge position as shown in FIG. 10.

Manual movement of the lever 31%: upwardly rotates the arm 3E1 clockwise to release the latch 321 so that the validate lever is returned to the cash position, as will appear below. As wiil be described later, the shaft also conditions the tape advance mechanism for proper operation thereof for a charge transaction, and the latch mechanism will be released automatically subsequent to a total operation on a charge transaction to return the validate lever 5% to the cash position.

The return of the validate lever from the charge to the cash position is begun by the spring Silt During the first portion of the counterclockwise rotation of lever 54, roller 3 3d carried by the validate lever rolls on a dwell portion 335 of a rocker arm During this time rocker arm does not move and roll carried thereby is not in contact with arm 2%. After the lever 54 has rotated counterclockwise, a small amount, roller 344 starts down cam surface 338. This permits spring 342 to rock arm 34%) clockwise and assist the spring Btlti. As the arm 34% rotates, roller 3% contacts and rotates arm 2% in a counterclockwise direction to its forward or cash position. When in the cash position, the roller 34a clears the arm and the roll 3% contacts the arm 2%. When in the charge position, the roll 346 clears arm 2% and roller is in contact with the rocker arm 34%.

Return of the validate lever 54 to its cash position returns the slide 312, the crank arm 318, the shaft 321' and the latch 321 to their cash positions, the roller 323 being urged by the spring 324 against the uppermost surface of the latch 32 1 to the left of recess 322.

At the end of each charge transaction, the validate lever is automatically returned to the cash position. This is achieved by a mechanism operable during the return stroke of a total cycle on a charge transaction. This mechanism includes a lever 35% (FIG. 10) pivotally carried by a Stud 3532 on the rocker arm 311. When the validate lever is moved to the charge position as described above, the counterclockwise rotation of the rocker arm 3H moves the lever 35G toward the right, which positions its projection or lug ass in the path of a roller C55 carried by a crank arm 357 secured to the main shaft 555 The lower end of the lever 35% carries a stud 353 pivotally connected to a slide As will appear later during the detailed description of FIG. 12, the slide 35 4 is moved to a position forward of that shown in FIG. 10 when the item accumulator is in its in mesh position, and is returned to the position of FIG. 10 when the item accumulator is in its out of mesh position.

. With reference to 51G. 22, it will be seen that during the major portion of the return stroke of add and subtract operations, the item accumulator is in the in mesh position, and that during the major portion of the return stroke of a total operation the item accumulator is in the out of mesh position. It will be seen, during the description of PEG. 12, that the slide354 is maintained in the position of FIG. 10 when the item accumulator is in the out of mesh position and is moved to a position forwardly of the position shown in FIG. l when the item accumulator is in the in mesh position. This forward movement of the slide 354 rotates the lever 35%? about the axis of the stud until its projection 356 moves out of the path of the roller 355, whereby the validate lever mechanism is not released during the add, subtract, and subtotal operations.

As seen in FIG. 22, the item accumulator is in the out of mesh position during the forward stroke of add and subtract cycles and that'the projection 356 on the lever is in the path of the roller 355. During the forward stroke of the machine the main shaft 35? rotates the crank arm 357 and the roller 355 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 15)) and midway during the forward stroke the roller 355 engages the projection 3'56 to rotate the lever in a clockwise direction about the stud 3152. As will be described with respect to FIG. 12, the slide 354 has a biased lost motion connection permitting this clockwise rotation of the lever 35% and as soon as the roller 35% passes the projection 356, this bias connection permits the return of the lever 35% to the position shown in FIG. ill. This rotation of the lever 35% during the forward stroke has no effect on its associated mechanism.

During the midportion of the return stroke of a total operation during a charge transaction, he roller 3S5 engages the projection 356 from the underside, tending to rotate the lever 35% in a counterclockwise direction. However, the lever 35% is in engagement with a stud 3&1 mounted on the side printer frame, whereby counterclockwise rotation is prevented. As a result, the arm 311 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 313, the lever 35% sliding forwardly over the stud Sell, and the roller 323 is disengaged from the latch shoulder 322 to permit the proximately 98 :50.

1Q eturn of the validate lever 54 and its associated mechanism to the cash position as described above.

During a total cycle of a cash transaction, it will be appreciated that the arm 311 is in its cash position, and the lever 35% is forwardly of the position in FIG. 10 out of the path of the roller 355.

2. Rendering side printer inoperative Means are also provided for rendering the side printer inoperative. This means includes a pivotal arm 36% (FIG. 12) carried on a rotatable shaft 362 and having a manually operable knob 364. A crank arm 36% is secured to the rotatable shaft 362 and is connected to a rocker arm 368 (FIGS. 9 and 10) by means of a slide 370. T he knob 364 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 in the position in which it renders the side printer operative. When the knob is raised, it pivots the arm 36% counterclockwise, moving the slide 379 toward the right to rotate the rocker arm ass counterclockwise. When the rocker arm is rotated counterclockwise, a slot 3'72 in the hori- Zontal arm portion thereof receives a stud 374 on the member 2% and rotates the member 2% to a central position in which the pressure rollers 2%. and are both spaced from the tape advance roller 2%, whereby 3. Printing item, subtotal, and total amounts FIG. 11 shows the improved means for printing the item amounts and the subtotal and total amounts on the cash receipts and credit tickets. One of the numeral Wheels 11% and its associated type sector 402 and an aligner 4M are shown disposed above a platen the. The aligner 494 does not form a part of this invention and it need merely be stated that it is actuated by the main shaft in a well known manner from the position shown into engagement with gear sectors as? of the wheels at the proper time during the machine cycle.

The platen is mounted for vertical reciprocable movement between slots sea in upper and lower plates 468 and 419 of a frame 4-12, and a light spring 4-14 urges the platen downwardly. The axis of the shaft 123 which supports the wheels lit), the platen 4%, and the bar 416 ofthe aligner are in vertical alignment, whereby the aligner bar in its position engaging the wheels 110 acts as a backstop when the platen is directed against the lower surface of the wheels to print item and total amounts.

A platen firing arm 420 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 313, and a heavy power spring 424, which is connected to the lower arm 426 of the firing arm and to the frame of the cash register urges the firing arm in a clockwise direction (FIG. 11). An upper irregularly shaped projection 428 on the firing arm is normally disposed below a horizontal projection 43% at the upper end of the platen and is received within a slot 431 in the vertical leg 432 of the platen. The spring 414 maintains the upper end of the slot 431 against the upper surface of the projection @218.

The firing of the platen 466 by its firing arm is controlled during each machine cycle by the main shaft 359. During the forward stroke of the machine, the main shaft 359 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11) ap- A crank arm 434 secured to the main shaft for pivotal movement therewith carries a roller 436 at the outer end thereof. A crank arm 438 mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 44% has a U-shaped slot 442 at the upper end thereof which receives the roller 436. A pair of spaced crank arms 444 are pinnedto the shaft 440 for rotation with the shaft arouses and the crank arm An elongated latch 44-6 is carried by a pin 143 received through apertures in the upper ends of the crank arms 444 and is shifted in a generally horizontal plane during rotation of the crank arms 444. The latch includes a shoulder 45% which is engageable with a roller 452 carried on the projection 42s of the platen firing arm. A spring 453 normally maintains the latch 446 against the roller 452.

A second crank arm having a hub portion loll is carried by the main shaft 359 and includes a slot 455 which receives a roller 457. The roller is mounted for movement with the main shaft, as will be described with respect to FIG. 12, and rotates the crank arm 454 about the main shaft axis. A spring 459 received on the main shaft between crank arms 554 and 357 (FIG. urges the arm 45? into tight frictional engagement with a crank arm 537 (FIG. 12) secured to the main shaft. The crank arm 454 carries a roller 4% which is engageable with a hooklike upper portion 453 of a platen pawl 4% immediately before the end of the forward stroke to raise the pawl 466}. The pawl has a vertical slot 463 for pivotal and reciprocable mounting on a shaft 468, and is biased in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11)

t and to its lowermost position by means of a spring 466.

A slide 462, which is movable vertically on spaced shafts 46S and 4-70, will be described in detail with respect to FIG. 12. A roller 472 carried by the pawl is engageable with the latch 4-46, in the event that the pawl is raised as described above, to rotate the latch counterclockwise (FIG. 11) to release the firing arm 42%.

As indicated earlier, the mechanism shown in FIG. 11 normally will be actuated during each machine cycle to drive the platen against the opposed surface of the type sector 492 to print on the receipt or ticket the amount, if any, which has been entered into the cash register. However, when it is desired to render the side printer mechanism inoperable, the manually operable knob SM is raised to rotate the pivoted arm 36%, and a stud 4'76 carried by the arm engages a projection 478 on the pawl 45% to rotate the pawl clockwise out of the path of the roller 4-56, whereby the latch 44 6 will not release the firing arm 42%). A spring biased detent 48d and a pin 482 on the arm ass retain the arm securely in either of its operating positions.

The normal operation of the amount printing mechanism will now be described in detail.

During the initial part of the forward stroke, the type wheels llltl and their type sectors 4152 will be rotated to positions determined by the actuation of the numeral keys 7 42 as described with respect to FIG. 3. The aligner 4% will be rotated counterclockwise into engagement with the gear sectors id? on the type wheels. Rotation of the main shaft 359 will shift the latch 446 toward the right (FIG. 11), with the right-most end of the latch moving over the roller 47?. and the latching shoulder 55i engaging the roller 452 to rotate the firing arm 4% counterclockwise against the force of the power spring 424. Shortly prior to the end of the forward stroke, the roller 4-56 will engage the hook portion 45% of the pawl doll and raise the pawl, whereby the roller 472 will engage the latch to rotate it counterclockwise against the force of the spring 453, releasing the firing arm 4329. The force of the power spring 42 will move the arm clockwise very rapidly until a projection @84 thereon strikes a suitable stop 485. The platen is moved upwardly at a high velocity by the arm 42% and will continue its upward movement under the force of its own momentum to strike the lower end of the type sector 462 with a substantial impact at a position diametrically opposite the aligner bar 2-16. It will be appreciated that the cash receipt or credit ticket upon which the amount is to be printed, and the inked ribbon, are interposed between the platen 4% and the lower portion of the type wheels lid for printing of the amount on the receipt or tape.

The spring 4 14 will return the platen to its normal position on the projection 428. During the return stroke, the main shaft restores the crank arms 434-, 4-5 3-38, and 44 1-, and the latch 446 to their initial positions. In this regard it will be noted that the roller 357 provides a positive drive for the crank arm 454 and its roller 456 to raise the pawl drift and that the frictional engagement between the crank arm 537 and the hub 451 returns the crank arm 4'54 to its initial position during the return stroke.

4. Printing the heading on tape FIG. 12 illustrates the mechanism for printing the heading for the receipts on cash transactions. It will be recalled that this heading may appropriately contain the name of the store, the date of the transact on, and the number of the transaction. The name of the store may be appropriately recorded on the lower portion of a plate 5th), and the number of the transaction and the date may be set on the type sectors of type wheels 5%. The date is set by manual control knobs on the side of the upper housing 239 (FIG. 9), which do not form a part of this invention. The means for setting the number of the transaction will be described in detail with respect to FIG. 21.

A single platen 5% (FIGS. 11 and 12) is provided for printing all of the heading information on the plate Still and on the type sectors 5%, and this platen is received in slots 5% in the frame 412 in a manner generally similar to that of the platen see. The platen is urged downwardly by a light bias spring see (FIG. 11) and includes a slot 5t for receiving a firing arm 568. The arm Sit-3 is biased in a clockwise direction by a power spring 51h which is suitably anchored to the machine frame and to the lower projection 512 of the arm 5% by a stud 514. in the normal at rest condition of the machine, the power spring 51d maintains a lower horizontal lug 51d of the drive arm against the stop 35.

A latch 518 is pivotally connected to the firing arm 5% by a stud 52d, and a spring 522 connected between studs 524 .and 525 on the drive arm and latch normally maintains a hooklike shoulder 526 in latching engagement with the pin 4 423 carried by the crank arms 44 4.

A pawl 52% is pivotally carried on a stud 534 which is secured to the slide ass, and a roller 532 is carried by the stud. The upper end. of the pawl 523 includes a shoulder 534 which is engage-able during the return stroke of the crank arm 537 by a roller 536 carried thereby in the event that a new heading is to be printed on the cash receipt tape 2%, i.e., during the return stroke of the total operation on a cash transaction. The roller 457 which actua-tcs the crank arm 454 (FIG. 11) is secured to the crank arm 537 by means of a stud 539.

The pawl 52-8 includes a first projection 538 which is engageable by the pin are. In the event the manually operable arm 36th is rotated counterclockwise to render the slde print-er ineffective, the pawl is rotated clockwise out of engagement with the roller 536m render the heading print mechanism inoperable. A second projection 54d on the pawl carries a roller 542 which is en gageable by a rocker arm durng the return stroke of nontotal cycles of operation of the machine for rotating the pawl out of the path of the roller 5%.

The position of the rocker arm 5% is determined by the position of the item accumulator. The item accumulatcr includes a pair of spaced support arms, the right one of which is shown at 54 1. The support arms are pivotal about the axis of a pair of studs, one of which is shown at 543, these studs correspond ng to studs 23% and 285 shown in FIG. 9 of the Mehan patent No. 2,550,- 581. The support arms carry an item accumulator frame (not shown) which corresponds to the accumulator frame 9% of said patent. The support arms are shown in the out of mesh position of the accumulator frame in FIG. 12, and are movable counterclockwise to an in mesh position.

Claims

1. IN A CASH REGISTER ADAPTED TO PERFORM ADD AND TOTAL OPERATIONS FOR CASH AND CHANGE TRANSACTIONS AND HAVING A SIDE PRINTER FOR ISSUING CASH RECEIPTS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING ISSUING INDIVIDUAL CHANGE RECEIPTS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE CASH AND CHARGE RECEIPTS, A CONSECUTIVE NUMBERING DEVICE, FROM PRINT MEANS FOR PRINTING A HEADING ON THE CASH RECEIPTS AND FOR ACTUATING THE NUMBERING DEVICE, A CASH DRAWER LATCHING MECHANISM, AN ITEM ACCUMULATOR CONTROL SHAFT SELECTIVELY OPERATED IN ONE MANNER DURING EACH ADD OPERATION AND IN ANOTHER MANNER DURING EACH TOTAL OPERATION, A MANUALLY OPEREABLE VALIDATE LEVER HAVING CASH AND CHARGE POSITIONS, CONTROL MECHANISMS SELECTIVELY OPERATED BY THE CONTROL SHAFT AND THE VALIDATE LEVER RENDERING THE ADVANCING MEANS EFFECTIVE FOR EACH CASH TRANSACTION TO ADVANCE THE CASH RECEIPT TAPE A FIRST DESIRED AMOUNT AND A SECOND GREATER DESIRED AMOUNT DURING EACH ADD AND TOTAL OPERATION RESPECTIVELY AND FOR EACH CHARGE TRANSACTION TO ADVANCE A CHANGE RECEIPT A DESIRED AMOUNT DURING EACH ADD AND TOTAL OPERATION, CONTROL MECHANISMS SELECTIVELY OPERATED BY THE CONTROL SHAFT AND THE VALIDATE LEVER RENDERING THE FORM PRINT MEANS EFFECTIVE ONLY EACH TOTAL OPERATION OF A CASH TRANSACTION, AND MEANS SELECTIVELY OPERATED BY THE CONTRTOL SHAFT RENDERING THE LATCHING MECHANISM INEFFECTIVE ONLY DURING TOTAL OPERATIONS.