US321163A - weinman - Google Patents

Description

-(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. J. WEINMAN.

CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

Patented June 30,1885.

N PETERS Phola-Lilhcgraphur. Walhlnglum D. C.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. G.- J. WEINMAN.

CASE REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFIOEAE CHRISTIAN J. VVEINMAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO THERESA S. MOORMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

QPEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,163, dated June 30,1885.

Application filed March 20, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN J. WEIN- MAN, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash Registers and Indicators; and -I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

Thisinvention relates to that class of cash registers and indicators wherein a series of keys are employed, each representing a par- 1 ticular number or value, and so combined and arranged with respect to a registering mechanis1n,a visual signal mechanism,and an alarm mechanism that when any one of the keys is actuated it will simultaneously exhibit a tablet bearing figures indicating the assigned value of the particular key, sound the alarm, and operate the registering mechanism.

My invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements 2 of mechanism for effecting these operations,

all of which will be found fully described in the specification, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front perspective, Fig. 2 a top plan, and Fig. 3 a side view, with one side of the casing removed, of a device illustrating one embodi ment of my invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the keys and tablet-operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is adetailillustrating the devices for locking the shaft upon which the supply spools are mounted. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line a; x of Fi 3, showing the arrangement of the friction disks.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate like parts.

The main frame A, of suitable shape and dimensions, to be contained within an inclosing case or cabinet in the usual manner, is u provided with cross-pieces a (1, having bearings to receive aseries of bars or spindles, A, upon the outer ends of which are fastened or formed the thumb-pieces or pushbuttons A The bodies of the spindles A are preferably made angular in cross-section to prevent rotation in the bearings, through which latter said (No model.)

spindles are free to reciprocate. Each bar or spindle, as it is forced inward by pressure applied to the thumb-piece A actuates a registering device, 0, rings the bell D, and exhibits its tablet or target D", in the manner and by mechanism such as about to be described.

Upon each bar or spindle A, preferably near the forward end, is mounted a pawl, a held up against a stop, a and in operating position by a spring or a weighted extension, a,whereby the pawl is caused to engage and operate the registering mechanism when the bar A is moved in one direction, and to yield and pass said mechanism when moved in the opposite direction.

The preferred form of registering mechanism, with which the pawls a are arranged to co-operate, consists of a series of flanged pulleys, 0, one for each bar A, mounted loosely upon a transverse shaft, 0*, each of said-pulleys having attached or formed integral with one side a toothed or ratchet wheel, 0. To the rear of the shaft O is a second shaft, 0, upon which is mounted a second set or series of flanged pulleys, 0'. Upon each pulley c is wound a tape or band, 0*, of flexible material, the outer end whereof, after being passed over a guide bar or roller, 0, is applied to the pulley O. the bars or spindles A is forced back by pressure applied to the knob or thumbpiece A its pawl a. will engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel 0", and turn the latter and its attached pulley a given distance, drawing a corresponding portion of the tape or band 0* from the pulley c" and winding it upon the pulley 0. Upon the surface of the bands are stamped or printed a series of figures or numerals denoting either the number of times each particular spindle has been actuated, or the sum total of the values as represented by each bar or spindle. As the pulley O is given a determinate movement at each reciprocation of its actuating-bar, and as the diameter of the said pulley increases with the accumulation of tape wound thereon, the amount of tape drawn at 'each movement of the pulley will be gradually increased; and to provide for the proper registering of the numbers, their distance apart is graduated so that the higher numbers or those nearer the end, as it is wound As thus arranged each time one of upon the pulleys 0 shall be as much farther apart than the first series of figures as the diameter of the pulley O is increased by the quantity of tape wound thereon.

In order to prevent the pulleys C from being turned back unintentionally, a series of gravitating pawls, c, are hung loosely upon a shaft, 0, with their points in contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheels 0 Each pawl c is furnished with a pin or lug,c and the shaft 0 with transverse pins 0 whereby all the pawls can be elevated and held out of engagement with the ratchet-wheels G by giving the shaft 0 a partial turn backward, a thumbpiece, :r, being provided for that purpose.

Mounted upon the shaft 0, and in contact with the pulleys c", are a series of frictiondisks,c,of leather, rubber, or other equivalent material, which operate as friction-brakes to restrain the movements of the pulleys c and hold the tapes taut. The shaft 0 is also furnished at one end with a plate or collar, 0 and a pawl or detent, c, is arranged to ente the notch c-,in said plate, to hold the shaft 0 stationary. The end of the shaft 0 is furnished with means for receiving a key or crank, K, whereby, when either of the pawls 0 or all of them, are raised out of engagement with the ratehet-wheels and the detent c is disengaged from the collar 0 the shaft 0 can be rotated and the tapes rewound upon the pulleys 0 It will be observed that as each pulley Ois independently mounted upon its shaft, and as the pulleys c are likewise independently mount-ed upon their shaft, and held thereto by a friction-brake, 0', when the shaft 0 is rotated to rewind the tapes, those pulleys c which are first filled, or whose winding-pulley 0* remains locked, will remain stationary and the others continue to revolve, all of which is accomplished through the medium of the frictional attachment of the pulleys c" to their shaft 0.

The visual signaling mechanism is preferably located in rear of the registering mechanism, and consists, essentially, of a series of vertical spindles, D, corresponding in numher with the bars or spindles A, and provided with tablets or targets D", upon which are marked the numbers or characters repre sented by their respective actuating bar or spindle, whereby as each spindle A is forced back it will not only actuate the registering mechanism, as before described, but will also exhibit the value thus registered.

The particular mechanism shown for effecting the operation may be constructed and ap plied as follows: Each target-carrying spindle D is sustained in bearings slightly to one side and opposite the end of its actuating-bar A. An arm or lug, 65, secured to the spindle D, projects and rests,when the edge of the tablet or target D is presented toward the front of the machine, in line with the end of the bar or spindle A so that as the latter is forced backward or toward the rear of the machine it will,

by pressing against the arm (1, cause a partial rotation of the spindle D and bring the face of the tabletin view. A spring, (1, surround ing the spindle Dand attached at one end to the cross-piece A and at the other to a collar, (2, secured to the spindle, operates to hold the lug (Z in contact with the end of the bar A, and as the bar is withdrawn the spring has a tendency to rotate the spindle D backward and remove the tablet from view. It is desirable, however, that after the bar A has been actuated to register a given sum its tar get or tablet should remain in view until the next register is made, and to effect this ob ect each spindle D is provided with a collar or detent, (l to engage a catch or projection, rt, 011 a rocking bar, (1. This rocking bar (it is provided with a depending portion, d, which is pivoted at d to the frame A in rear of the sev eral spindles, D, and is held forward against a suitable stop, (1, out of contact with the spindles, but in the path of their detents d, by a spring, (Z To the rockingbar d is also attached an arm, (Z carrying the bell-hammerlr. It is intended that each bar A, when pressed back, shall, through suitable mechanisrmmove the rocking bar (1 backward or away from the spindles, and, as soon as the registeringmeehanism has been actuated and the tablet rotated into position to expose its face, shall release said bar and allow it to be swung forward or toward the spindles by the spring d thereby causing the catch or projection 11 to engage the detent d (the latter having been brought into position by the rotation of the spindle) and hold the spindle with its tablet exposed, and at the same time causing the hammer to strike the bell and give the signal. Therocking bar retains the spindle last rotated in the position in which it was placed by its actuating-bar until the same or another bar is operated, when the rocking bar is again pressed back, releasing the spindle and allowing its spring to rotate, and thereby return it to its first position.

The mechanism which, because of its simplicity and correct action, I prefer to employ for transmitting the requisite motions from the sliding bars A to the lockii'igbard consists, essentially, of a cross-bar, E, suspended on links 6', pivoted at e, and carrying a link or bar, 0, sliding in guides G, and provided with a gravitating or spring-actuated pawl, 0, whose point makes contact with an adjustable projection or plate, (1 attached to the bar (1.

Each bar or spindle A is provided with a pin or projection, 6 which makes contact with and bears against the cross-bar E, and a spring or springs, 12", are arranged to hold the said cross-bar pressed toward the front of the machine and the bars or spindles A retracted. \Vhen any one of th bars A is pressed inward, the crossbar E is caused to move with it, and the pawl 0', bearing against the projection C forces the bar (1 backward until the latter, being supported upon pivots below the pawl, rises above and out of contact with the point of the pawl, thereby permitting the said bar (1 to swing back its hammer IlO 7c to strike the bell and lock the target in position before the bar A is retracted or the spindle carrying the said target released. It will be noticed that with this arrangement of devices the locking of the tablet-spindle and ringing ofthe bell are simultaneously eii ccted, and cannot occur until the registering mech anism has been properly actuated.

In order to economize space and render the machine as a whole more compact, the contiguous vertical spindles are made of different lengths, so that the tablets or targets borne thereby maybe held at different levels, and hence will not interfere or catch one with the other as they are rotated.

By the employment of sliding or reciprocating actuating-bars and rotating or oscillating tablets, as contradistinguished from vibrating actuating keylevers and vertically-reciprocating tablets, I am enabled not only to simplify the general structure, and thereby improve the working capacity of the machine, but also to materially reduce its size.

The registering mechanism, as applied to the signaling devices, is simple and convenient, readily manipulated, and inexpensive.

Any number of actuating-bars, tablets, and registers can be used, if desired.

I claim as my invention V 1. The combination, in a cash-register such as described, of an oscillating spindle carrying a tablet, and a reciprocating key-bar for actuating said spindle, substantially as described.

2. In a cash-register such as described, the combination, with the oscillating tablet-spindles and the registering mechanism, of a reciprocating key-bar carrying the devices for actuating the register and tablet, substantially as described.

3. In a cash-register such as described, and in combination with the actuating keybars, the oscillating spindles of unequal lengths, and the tablets mounted upon said spindles, whereby contiguous tablets are rotated in different planes to prevent contact, substantially as described.

4. In a machine such as described, and in combination with the actuating-bar, the oscillating tabletspindle and its arm, and the spring applied to the tablet-spindle and act ing in opposition to the thrust of the actuating-bar, substantially as described.

5. I11 combination with the oscillating spindle carrying the tablet and the bar for operating said spindle, the reciprocating lockingbar and the detent applied to the spindle, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the reciprocating actuating-bar,its pawl, and the registering mechanism with which the said pawl co-operates, the vertical spindle, its arm and tablet, the spring applied to said spindle, and the locking-bar for retaining the spindle with its tablet exposed, substantially as described.

7. In combination with the reciprocating actuating-bars and the oscillating tabletspindles, the reciprocating locking-bar applied to the several spindles, and intermediate operating mechanism, such as indicated, for communicating motion from each actuating-bar to the locking bar, substantially as described.

8. In a cash register and indicator such as described, and in combination with the 1011- gitudiually-reciproeating actuating-bar and oscillating tablet-spindles operated thereby, the pawl applied to the said bar, the ratchet wheel and winding-pulley,the supply-pulley, and the registering-tape, substantially as described.

9. In a cash register such asindicated, and in combination with a series of independent longitudinally-reciprocating actuating-bars, each provided with a pawl, the series of registering tapes or bands, their carrying-pulleys, and the independent winding-pulleys, each provided with a ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

10. In a cash-register such as described,and in combination with the actuating-bars there of, a series of winding-pulleys, the registering tapes or hands applied thereto, and the series of carryi ng-pulleys, each provided with a friction-brake, substantially as described.

11. In combination with the winding-pulleys and the registering tapes or bands applied thereto, the series of supplypulleys mounted upon a single rotatable shaft, the friction disks or brakes applied thereto, and a detent for holding said shaft stationary, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In combination with the aetuatingbars and their pawls, the series of winding-pulleys and their ratchet-wheels, the pawls applied to said ratchet-wheels,thecar rying-pulleys and their friction-brakes, and the tapes or hands extending from the carrying to the winding pulleys, substantially as described.

13. In combination with the winding puh leys, the ratchet-wheels and detaining-pawls,

the tapes or hands and the series of carryingpulleys mounted upon a shaft, the frictionbrakes applied to said pulleys, and the detent for holding the shaft stationary and permitting it to be rotated, when desired, to rewind the tapes upon the supply-pulleys, substantially as described.

14. In combination with the reciprocating bars, the bell, and oscillating tablet-spindles, the reciprocating locking-bar carrying thebellhammer and actuated at each reciprocation of the said bars, substantially as described.

15. In combination with the reciprocating bar and oscillating tablet-spindle, the lockingbar sustained upon pivots and engaging a detent on the said tablet-spindle,the reciprocating bar carrying a pawl engaging a portion of the said locki ngbar, substantially as described.

16. In a cash-register such as described, the combination,with the registering mechanism,

' ot' the series of pulleys, the ratehetwheel applied thereto, the signal-shaft having the series of pawls provided with pins mounted thereon, and the pins on the shaft for engaging the pins on the pawls to raise the latter out of contact with the ratchet-wheels when it is desired to turnback the registering n1echanism, substantially as described.

17. In combination with a series of actuating key-bars, a registering device for each key-bar, and a series of oscillating tabletspindles arranged in line, the tablets of contiguous spindles being located at diti'ercnt levels substantially as described.

18. In a registering apparatus of the character indicated, the combination of a series of independent actuating key-bars, and a series of tablet-spindles, turning bearings, and devices,substantially such as indicated, forconi ninnicating a partial rotation to each spindle to exhibit its tablet at each reciprocation of the corresponding key-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHRISTIAN J. \VEINMAN. \Vitnesses:

M. P. CALLAN, FRED F. CHURCH.

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