US3561674A - Totalizer shifting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A totalizer shifting mechanism for transferring a total from one totalizer element to another totalizer element on the same totalizer line during the same machine cycle including a control member containing a plurality of predetermined positioned control elements mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the control member, a mechanism for shifting the control member between two positions, and sensing means, controlling the positioning of the totalizer line, for sensing the control elements in both positions.

Description

United States Patent Inventor George ,I. Eberhardt Dayton, Ohio AppL No. 741,751

Filed July 1, 1968 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Assignee The National Cash Register Company Dayton, Ohio a corporation of Maryland TOTALIZER SHIFTING MECHANISM 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

u.s. Cl 235/60 235/6 Int. Cl G06C 29/00, 007 1/00 Field of Search 235/6OMT,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,616,623 11/1952 Goodbar et a1. 235/2X 2,911,141 11/1959 Jackson et a1. 235/6OX 3,092,313 6/1963 Eberhardt et a1. 235/60.3

Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal

AttorneysLouis A. Kline, Wilbert Hawk, Jr. and Richard W.

Lavin ABSTRACT: A totalizer shifting mechanism for transferring a total from one totalizer element to another totalizer element on the same totalizer line during the same machine cycle including a control member containing a plurality of predetermined positioned control elements mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the control member, a mechanism for shifting the control member between two positions, and sensing means, controlling the positioning of the totalizer line, for sensing the control elements in both positions.

'PATENTED FEB" 9 m:

SHEET 2. OF 5 INVENTOR GEORGE J. EBERHARDT fi v;

HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEB 9 mm sum a nr 5 FIG.6

RESET INVENTOR v GEORGE J EBERHARDT 47%.; BY W %/a HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEU FEB 9197i SHEET U U? 5 VFIG.7

.FIG.8

INVENTOR GEORGE ,J. m

EBERHARDT W4; %M, 4%

HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 9:971 356L674 SHEET 5 or 5 INVENTOR GEORGE J. EBERHARDT HIS ATTORNEYS TOTALIZER SHIFIING MECHANISM.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION AND PATENTS Programmable Totalizer Control Mechanism, US. Pat. application Ser. No. 618,598, filed Feb. 27, I967, by Louis E. Zurbuchen and Freeland R. Goldammer, now US. Pat. No. 3,431,401 issued Mar. 4, 1969.

Cycle Control Mechanism for Business Machines, US. Pat. No. 3,384,21 l, issued May 21, I968, on the application of Dale L. Placke and Kenneth C. Flint.

Totalizcr Engaging Mechanism, U.S. Pat. No. 2,443,652, issued Jun. 22, I948, on the application of Edward J. Carey and John B. Geer's.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a cash register or an accounting machine is being operated during a business transaction, certain types of totals are accumulated which are required to be retained for subsequent use. This use may take the form of taxable items which are segregated from the remainder of the items being processed so that the tax may be computed, thereafter to be transferred to the main itemizer so that a total of the transactions may be computed. When department totals are added at the end of a days operation, the total amounts are transferred to a group totalizer for use as accounting information.

Due to the structure of the totalizer mechanism utilized in prior machines, the transfer of totals required an additional machine operation, and the transfer occurredonly between different totalizer lines. Other machines were required to use resilient means to shift between two totalizer pinions, which limit the number of totalizers that may be utilized. Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a positively-operating totalizer-selecting mechanism which is capable of transferring totals between any of the totalizer pinions located on the same totalizer line during the same machine operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a totalizerselecting mechanism whose operation can be modified by manually-operated control members located on the keyboard.

With these and other, incidental, objects in view, the present invention 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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the keyboard used in the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detailed top view of a countershifting selecting plate showing the location of the control studs on the plate.

FIG. 3 is a detailed side view of the countershifting selecting plate, showing its control by a transaction key in the transaction bank.

FIG. 4 is a partial detailed exploded view of the countershifting mechanism, showing the actuating mechanism for the slide members.

FIG. 3 is a partial detail of an exploded view of the arrangement of the countershifting selecting plate n e nbers with the primary and auxiliary slide members.

5 plate, showing the congol'by the taxal I iter t ansa c;

tion key of the selecting platc bracket.

FIG. 8 is a detailed side view of the counterselecting cam and the counterselccting cam arm, showing the connecting structure of the arm to the selecting plate.

FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of the mechanism operated by the unit lock lever for shifting the selecting plate.

FIG. 10 is a partial detailed side view of the unit lock lever and its operation of the transmission line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention of the present disclosure is directed to a cash register or accounting machine of the type disclosed in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 618,598, filcd by Louis E. Zurbuchen and Freeland R. Goldammer on Feb. 27, I967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,40l and in US. Pat No. 3,384.21 1, issucd May 2!, 1968, on the application of Dale L. Placke and Kenneth C. Flint. The keyboard of the above-cited Zurbuchen et al. application is one in which the selection of totalizers, indicator mechanisms, and printer mechanisms is controlled by transaction keys mounted on the keyboard. Since the invention is limited to the selection and shifting of the totalizers, only those elements which are required for a full understand ing of the invention will be disclosed and described herein.

Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown a schematic representation of the keyboard of the cash register in which the present invention is utilized. Included in the keyboard are a bank of motorized transaction keys 20, five banks of amount keys 21 to 25 inclusive, a Unit Lock Lever 26 and a nonmotorized Taxable Item key 27, and a motorized combination Subtotal and item-entering key 28. As is well known in the art, the keys in the transaction banks and the key 28, when depressed, control the operation of the machine, which results in the rotation of a main cam shaft. During the machine operation, amounts set up in the amount banks are transferred to the totalizers selected by the depressed transaction keys.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, there is shown the mechanism for selecting the totalizers to which amounts are to be added or from which amounts are to be removed. Included is a countershifting selecting plate 30 engaged and slidably held within a slot 31 located on two pairs of studs 32 mounted on an L-shaped flange portion 33 of a selecting plate bracket 34. The bracket 34 has a pair of slots 35, within which are located studs 36 mounted on a side frame (not shown) of the machine. The slots 35 allow the bracket 34 to be reciprocated on the studs 36 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 2, the countershifting selecting plate 30 contains two sets of holes 37, 38, arranged in nine rows of five holes each. Each row represents a key position in the transaction bank, and each hole in each row represents the totalizer pinion on one of the totalizer lines. In the present embodiment, there are two lines of totalizer pinions, each having a maximum capacity of five totalizers. Thus the holes 37 in the countershifting selecting plate 30 represent any one of the five totalizer pinions on the first totalizer line while the holes 38 represent any one of the five totalizer pinions on the second totalizer line.

Selectively positioned in some of the holes 37, 38 are studs 40. As shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 and in FIGS. 3, 7, 8, and 9, some of the studs may be mounted on the bottom of the slide only, while others may be mounted on the top only or on both sides located in the same position. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the studs are programmed to be located on a selecting plate to allow any of the keys in the transaction row to select any of the totalizers on the first and second totalizer lines.

Mounted on the front end of the selecting plate is a coupling member 41 (FIG. 3) containing a slot 42. Located within the slot 42 is a stud 43 mounted on one end of an idler arm 44. The other end of the idler arm 44 contains a stud 45 mounted within a slot 46 located in a reducer arm detent 47 slidably mounted on a pair oi support members 48 for rectilinear movement. The idler arm 44 is rotatably mounted on u stud 50 located in the machine framework.

A stud 51. mounted midway of the reducer arm detent 47, is yoked by the forked end 52 of the transaction detent arm 53 which is rotatably mounted on a stud 54 located on the machine framework. A second stud, 55, mounted on the detent arm 53, is positioned within a slot 56 located on the bottom edge of a differential detent 57, which is slidably mounted within the machine framework for rectilinear movement. As shown in FIG. 3, the detent 57 is mounted adjacent to each of the stems 58 of the transaction keys in the transaction bank 20 (FIG. 1). Located in the detent 57 and adjacent to each of the key stems 58 are a slot 60 and two cam surfaces,'61, 62. The key stem portion 58 constitutes a notched-out portion of the key, thereby providing a shoulder 63, which, when the key is depressed, engages either one of the cam surfaces 61, 62 or the slot 60. With this arrangement, the differential detent arm 53 is cammed in either direction or remains in the neutral rsition whenever a transaction key is depressed.

The cam surfaces 61, 62 areso oriented that each transaction key so programmed earns the detent arm 53 a predetermined distance. This movement is transmitted by the transaction detent arm 53 to the reducer arm detent 47, which in turn positions the selecting plate 30 through the action of the'idler arm 44. Thus the selecting plate 30 is positioned commensurate with the transaction key depressed. As will be described more fully hereinafter, this movement of the selecting plate locates one of the studs 40 in a position to be sensed by a totalizer shifting mechanism for positioning a totalizer for operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown an exploded view of the totalizer shifting mechanism used in the present embodiment. This shifting mechanism is similar in construction and operation to the structure disclosed in the previously- Zurbuchen et a]. US. Pat. application Ser. No. 618,598,

filed Feb. 27, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,431,401. Since there are two totalizer lines, there is a shifting mechanism for each totalizer line. Since both of the shifting mechanisms used with the totalizer lines are of the same structure, only one vyill be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, a totalizer shaft 64 is mounted between a pair of support members 65, one of which is shown in the drawing. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 64 are the totalizer pinions 66. On the first totalizer line in the present embodiment, there are a cross-footer or add-subtract totalizer, a group totalizer, and a selection itemizer for each amount bank in the machine. On the second totalizer line, there are five itemizing totals for each amount bank in the machine. Included is a totalizer for each of the fCredit, Meat,"

1 Produce, Grocery," and Tax" transaction keys.

Mounted between the support members 65 is a connecting rod 67, on which is secured a control arm 68, a portion of which is shown in dotted lines. The end of the arm 68 extends from the rod 67 to a position within a notched portion 70 of an auxiliary slide member 71, which is part of a complementary differential or scissors mechanism for shifting the totalizer shaft 64. As shown in FIG. 5 more fully, this scissors mechanism includes an auxiliary slide member 71, a primary slide member 72, a primary slide arm 73, and a shifting plate 74. The slide arm 73 has, mounted on its upper surface, a roller 75, which is positioned within a slot 76, located in the auxiliary slide 71, and a stud 77, positioned within a hole 78, located in the primary slide 72.

Mounted on the lower side of the slide arm 73 is a roller 79, positioned within a slot located in the shifting plate 74. A second slot, 81, accommodates the stud of the slide arm for is shsmbs tsria fl yami 9..

LII

The shifting plate 74 and the slides 71 and 72 are slidably mounted on a differential bracket member 82 (FIG. 4), which is mounted within the framework ofthe machine. Mounted on the bracket 82 is a stud 83, having a shoulder portion 84. The stud 83 is positioned within the slot 85 (FIG. 5). located in the auxiliary slide 71, and a slot 86. located in the primary slide 72. A second stud, 88, is positioned withina slot of the slide 71 and a slot 91 of the slide 72, both slides separated by a spacer 69 (FIG. 3) and resting on the shoulder 84 of the studs 83 and the shoulder 92 of the stud 88. This arrangement A set of studs 93, mounted on the bracket 82 is positioned within a pair of slots 94, located in the shifting plate 74. A second set of .studs, 95, 96, accommodate the shifting mechanism for the second totalizer line;

Rotatably mounted on a stud 98 (FIGS. 4-and 5), located at one end of the shifting plate 74, is a shifting link 100, the other end-of which is connected to a shifting arm 101, rotatably mounted on a shaft 102. The arm 101 is secured to a second arm, 103-by means of a shaft and hub combination 104. The second arm 103 in turn is connected to a cam follower arm 105, rotatably mounted one cam arm line 106. A pairof gllers 107, mounted on the cam follower arm 105, engages a pair of cam plates 108 secured to a cam shaft 110. Upon the clockwise rotation of thecam shaft 110, the shifting link 100, through the action of the shifting arms 101 and 103 and the cam follower arm 105, reciprocates the shifting plate 74 first to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, and then to the right. As shown in FIG. 6, the cam plate 108 reciprocates the shifting plate 74 twice during each machine operation. The shifting plate 74 moves to the left at 5 of revolution, completing its movement by 55 of revolution. At of revolution, the'plate 74 begins to move to the right, towards its home position, completing this movement by of revolution. The second movement begins at of revolution and is completed at 250 of revolution. I

The leftward movement of the shifting plate 74 rotates the primary slide arm 73 clockwise. This movement of the arm 73 is transmitted by the roller 75 to the auxiliary slide 71 and by the stud 77 to the primary slide 72, resulting in movement of the slides 71 and 72 toward each other. Mounted on each of the slides 71 and 72 is a sensing finger 111 and112 respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, both of the fingers are positioned ad,- jacent to the countershifting selecting plate 30. As each of the slides 71, 72 move toward each other, the sensing finger 112 on the slide 72 and the sensing finger 111 on the slide 71 begin to move toward each other. Depending on the position of the plate 30 and a stud 40 on the plate 30, one of the sensing fingers senses the stud, thereby stopping the movement of its cor responding slide. The other slide continues its movement until its sensing finger senses the same stud as that sensed by the first sensing finger. During this latter movement of the slide, either the' notched portion 70 of the auxiliary slide 71 or the notched portion 169 of the primary slide72 (FIG. 5) engages the control arrri 68, thereby moving the totalizer support member 65 along a shaft 113 (FIG. 4) a distance commensurate with the position of the stud 40 on the plate 30. This movement aligns the totalizer, as represented by the position of the stud 40, for engagement by the appropriate racks of each amount bank for operation. It will be seen from this construction that any totalizer can be selected by any transaction key in the transaction row 20 by programming the position of the plate 30 by the appropriate transaction key and by locating a stud 40 in the appropriate position on the selecting plate As is well known in the art and fully disclosed in the previously-cited Zurbuchen et al.'U.S. Pat. application, 618,598, filed Feb. 27, 1967, when the totalizers are selected'during the first reciprocal movement of the shifting plate 74, the selected totalizer is moved into engagement with the amount racks by a totalizer-engaging mechanism (not shown) prior to t he movement of the racks from their home positions. The totalthe totalizer shifting mechanism for the second totalizer line. 75 izer-engaging mechanism is operated in reset or add timing to correspond to the timing of the operation of the totalizer. After the selected totalizers have been engaged with the amount racks by the totalizer-engaging mechanisms, the racks are moved under the control of the totalizers until a large tooth on the totalizer pinion engages a transfer mechanism, which thereby stops the movement of the amount racks. Thus the amount racks are positioned commensurate with the amount contained in the selected tOtalizerQAt this point, the totalizers have been positioned to zero. This is characterized as a reset operation. For a complete disclosure of the totalizerengaging mechanism used in the present structure, reference should be made to the previously-cited Zurbuchen et. al. US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 618,598, filed Feb. 27, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,431,401.

If, at this time, the first selected totalizers are withdrawn from engagement with the adjusted amount racks and a second group of totalizers are brought into engagement with the racks, subsequent movement of the racks to their home positions adds the amount set up in the racks by the first selected totalizers to the second group of totalizers. This action constitutes a transfer of amounts from the first set of totalizers to the second set of totalizers. As previously disclosed with regard to the operation of the keyboard 19 (FIG. 1), the engagement of the totalizers with the amount racks after the racks have been adjusted so as to contain an amount is characterized as an add operation. Thus the second movement of the shifting plate 74 (FIG. 6) is characterized as being operated in add timing. If an amount set up in the amount keys of the keyboard is to be added into a totalizer, the totalizer is also selected in add timing.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a mechanism for shifting the selecting plate 30 (FIG. 2) in a vertical direction. Located adjacent the selecting plate 30 is a cam shaft 114, to which are secured double cam members 115, whose cam surfaces are engaged by a pair of rollers 116 rotatably mounted on a counterselecting cam arm 117. The cam arm 117 is rotatably mounted on a stud 118, secured to the machine framework. The other end of the cam arm 117 has mounted thereon a stud 120, which is positioned between a pair of scissors arms 121 and 122 (FIGS. 8 and 9), rotatably mounted on a stud 123, located within the machine framework. As shown more clearly in FIG. 9, a spring 124 is connected between the arms 121 and 122, urging the arms toward each other, thereby gripping the stud 120. Thearm 121 has an upper scissors ex tension 125, which engages a stud 126, mounted on a control arm 127, which in turn is rotatably mounted on the stud 123. The arm 122 also has an upper scissors portion 128, which engages the stud 126, the extensions 125 and 128 gripping the stud 126 under the action of the spring 124. It is obvious that any movement of the stud 12% is transferred to the arm 127 due to the scissors action of the arms 12], 122.

As shown in FIG. 8, counterclockwise rotation of the cam 115 results in a clockwise rotation of the counter selecting cam arm 117 at 145 of rotation of the main cam shaft 110. This movement is transmitted by the stud 120 to the control arm 127 by the arms 121, 122, thereby rocking the arm 127 clockwise about the stud 123. Mounted on the front portion of the control arm is a stud 130 (FIGS. 3, 7, 8, and 9), located within a recessed portion 131 (FIGS. 3 and 7) of the selecting plate bracket 34. Clockwise rotation of the control arm 127 moves the bracket 34 downwardly under the guidance of the slot 35 on the studs 36. This movement is completed at 158 of revolution and positions the studs 40 on the upper side of the selecting plate 30 in a position to be sensed by the sensing fingers 111, 112 of the slides 71, 72 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in the manner described previously, The sensing action of the fingers 111, 112 in add timing takes place between 155 and 250 (FIG. 6) of revolution of the machine.

With this construction it is seen that, by locating a stud on the top of the selecting plate 30 in a position different from that of a stud located on the bottom of the plate but in the same line, a transfer of totals may be made between totalizers located on the same line. This example is shown in FIG. 2,

where a stud 132 is located on top of the plate and a stud 133 is located on the bottom of the plate. During the first, or reset, operation of the slides 71, 72 the stud 133 is sensed, thereby selecting the totalizer for resetting to its zero position in the manner described above. As shown in FIG. 6, the slides 71, 72 are returned to their home positions by of revolution of the main cam shaft, at which time the selecting plate 30 is lowered by the action of the cam 115, as described above. This movement is completed by 158 of revolution. Upon the actuation of the slides 71, 72 in add timing, which is completed by 190 of revolution of the cam shaft, the stud 132 is sensed by the sensing fingers, thereby positioning a selected totalizer for engagement with the amount racks, which at this time have been adjusted under the control of the totalizer selected by the stud 133. The amount racks are then returned to their home position, thereby adding the amount set up in the racks by the first set of totalizers to the second selected totalizers. Thus a total amount is transferred between the totalizers located on the same totalizer line during the same machine operation.

If an amount is to be added into a totalizer from the keyboard, no stud on the lower edge of the selecting plate 30 is sensed in reset timing. A stud 40 will be positioned on the top edge of the plate 30 to allow the sensing mechanism to select the totalizer in add timing, which adds the amount set up on the keyboard by the amount keys to the totalizer.

As described above, to transfer a total amount to, or to enter an amount into, a totalizer, the selecting plate 30 is programmed by the location of a stud 40 on the upper side of the plate, so that the programmed totalizer to which an amount is to be transferred, or into which an amount is to be entered, will be selected in add timing. In order to read out this selected totalizer or reset it to zero, the stud 40 representing this totalizer must be sensed by the sensing mechanism of FIGS. 4 and 5 in reset timing. In order to provide this control,

the mechanism disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10 is used.

In a normal operation of the keyboard, shown in FIG. 1, whenever any of the transaction keys other than the Taxable Total key or the Total key (FIG. 1) is used with the Unit Lock Lever 26 in the Register" position, amounts set up in the amount banks of the keyboard are transferred to their own totalizer located on the second totalizer line. When the Unit Lock Lever 26 is moved to the Reset Plus" position, the amount in each of these totalizers is reset to zero and transferred to the plus side of the add-subtract totalizer. Subsequent use of the Total" key resets the plus side of the addsubtract totalizer and transfers the amount to the group totalizer on the same totalizer line in the manner described above. When the Lock Lever 26 is moved to the Read Group" position, the amount in the group totalizer is removed from the totalizer and set up in the indicators and is printed. The stud 40 for this group totalizer is located on the upper side of the selecting plate 30 to allow the stud to be sensed in add timing during the transfer operation, but, in the above-cited Read Group" operation, the stud must be sensed in reset timing. The following-disclosed mechanism allows this operation to occur.

As shown in FIG. 10, the Unit Lock Lever 26 is slidably mounted on studs 134 and contains a number of gear teeth 135, which engage a gear segment 136 rotatably mounted on a stud 137. The lower end of the segment 136 contains gear teeth 138, which engage a gear 140 secured to a transmission line 141. As shown in FIG. 9, mounted on the transmission line 141 is a cam 142, engaged by a sensing arm 143 rotatably mounted on a stud 144. The other end of the sensing arm 143 is engaged by a link 145, which is connected to the control arm 127. It is seen from this construction that, whenever the Lock Lever 26 is moved to the left or right, as viewed in FIG. 10, the transmission line 141 is rotated by the action of the gear segment 136, which positions a high portion 146 of the cam 142 adjacent to the sensing arm 143, thereby rocking the sensing arm clockwise about the stud 144. This movement of the arm 143 is transmitted to the link 145, which results in the rocking of the control arm 127 clockwise about the stud 123, which lowers the selecting plate 30 due to the engagement of the bracket 34 by the stud 130 mounted on the end of the control arm 127. Thus, whenever the Lock Lever 26 is moved to the Read'Group" position or to the Reset Credit" position (FIG. 1), the selecting plate 30 is moved downwardly, thus allowing the sensing fingers 111, 112 (FlGS. 4 and to sense the stud 40 mounted on the upper side of the selecting plate 30 in reset timing. This allows amounts contained in the totalizer represented by these studs'to be removed for indicating, printing, or clearing from the cash register. it is obvious that, by changing the configuration of the cam 142, any position of the Lock Lever 26 can selectively be programmed for the above operation.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown the control of the selecting plate 30 by the Taxable Item" key 27 (FIG. 1 The Taxable Item key is a modifying key andis used with the Meat key 147 (FIG. 1) and the Produce key 148. Normally, the operation of the Meat and Produce" keys would add amounts into their own totalizers and the plus side of the add-subtract totalizer. With the depression of the Taxable Item key, the amounts are entered into the selective itemizer totalizer and their own totalizers. Since the selecting plate 30 is positioned by the transaction keys 147, 148 in the transaction bank 20, the selection of either the selective itemizer totalizer or the plus side of the add-subtract totalizer must take place at one position of the selecting plate. This is accomplished in the following manner.

When the Meat key 147, for example, is depressed without depression of the Taxable ltern" key 27, a stud 149 (FIG. 2), located on the top side of the selecting plate 30, is sensed in add timing to select the plus side of the add-subtract totalizer for engagement with the differential rack members of the amount banks in the manner described above. As disclosed previously, after the proper totalizers have been positioned by the movement of the sensing fingers 1 11, 112 (FIG. 4), a totalizer-engaging mechanism (not shown) moves the selected totalizer into engagement with the differential rack members in either reset or add timing, the timing being controlled by the transaction key depressed, in the present example, the totalizer-engaging mechanism is operated in add timing, since the amounts set up in into the selected totalizer. Thus the only totalizer that will be selected will be that totalizer which is selected by the sensing fingers 111, 112 during this operation in add timing, as

. described previously. In this case, the plus side of the add subtract totalizer will be selected. I

When the Taxable Item" key 27 is depressed, a stud 163 (FIG. 2), mounted on the bottom of the selecting plate 30 but in the same row as the stud 149, is also sensed in add timing in the following manner. Since a different totalizer is now being selected, the stud 163 is located in a position different from that of the stud 149, as shown in HO. 2. As shown in FlG. 7, depression of the Taxable item key 27 allows a shoulder 150 on the key stem to cam a detent 151 to the left, as viewed in H6. 7. This movement rocks an arm 152, rotatably mounted on a shaft 153, clockwise due to the yoking of a stud mounted on the arm by the detent 151. A second stud, 155, mounted on the arm 152 engages a hook portion 156 of a slide arm 157 slidably mounted on a pair of studs 158. A stud 160, mounted on the slide arm 157, is positioned adjacent a cutout portion 161 of the selecting plate bracket 34. It is seen that the clockwise rotation of the arm 152 moves the slide arm 157 against the action of a spring 162 to position the stud 160 within the cutout portion 161, thus blocking any downward movement of the bracket 34.

Upon the operation of the sensing fingers 11 l, 1 12 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in reset timing, the selective itemizer totalizer, represented by the stud 163, is selected, but, since the totalizers engaging mechanism is now being operated in add timing, the selected totalizers remain disengaged from the differential rack members of the amount bank. During the second operation of the sensing fingers in add timing, the same lower stud 163 of the selecting plate 30 that was sensed in reset timing is now sensed by the sensing fingers to position the selective itemizer totalizcrs for engagement again with the differential racks. At this time, the totalizer-engaging mechanism operates to engage the selected totalizer with the rack members of the amount bank. Thus the amounts that would previously have been entered into the. plus side of the add-subtract totalizer are now entered into the selective itemizer totalizer. A similar operation occurs with the use of the Produce" key 148.

With the bracket 34 held in the upper position by the slide arm 157 (FIG. 7), the structure shown infiqi. 8 and? a lthe keyboard are being added 1 various accounting procedgre s.

lows the cam arm 117 to be rotated clockwise without bending the control arm 127. As disclosed previously, clockwise'rotation of the cam arm 117 rotates the arm 122 clockwise by the action of the stud 120. Since the arm 125 is now held by the stud 126, mounted on the control arm 127, movement of the arm 121 stretches the spring 124, which absorbs the movement of the cam arm 117. Further rotation of the cam returns the cam arm 117 to its home position, allowing the spring 124 to rotate the arm 1 22 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 9.

lt is obvious from the construction disclosed that any type of totalizer operation can be easily programmed by the selective positioning of the studs 40 on the selecting plate 30. With the control of the selecting plate by the Unit Lock Lever and a modifying key ori the keyboard, the cash register or accounting machine is very flexible in performing operations under 1 claim:

1. In a business machine apparatus constructed and arranged to perform a machine operation, and including a plurality of selectively depressible control keys, the combination including:

a. a differentially settable member adjusted to a position commensurate with the control key depressed;

b. a plurality of totalizer elements each adapted when selected, to transfer information to the business machine apparatus during the first portion of said machine operation, and to receive information, inserted into the business machine, during the second portion of the machine operation;

. programming means for allowing any of said control keys to select any of said totalizer elements including a differentially settablc coded member settable to a position commensurate with the adjusted position of said scttable member, saidv coded member mounted for transverse movement between a first and second position and having a plurality of first and second control elements in predetermined selected positions thereon;

. means for shifting said adjusted coded member to said first position during the first portion of the machine operation and to said second position during the second portion of the machine operation;

. sensing means, when operated, for sensing a first control element when said coded member is in said first position and sensing a second control element when said coded member is in said second position, said sensing means establishing a control position upon sensing a control element;

f. means for operating said sensing means;

operated by said sensing means to select a totalizer element for operation commensurate with the control position of said sensing means whereby information set up in a totalizer element selected by said sensing means during the first portion of the machine operation is transferred to a totalizer element selected by the sensing means during the second portion of the machine operation.

2. The business machine apparatus of claim 1 in which:

said coded member comprises a slidably supported plate member containing a plurality of apertures; and

said first and second control elements comprise stud members selectively mounted in said apertures, said first stud members being mounted in a first control area of said plate member and the second stud members being mounted in a second control area of said plate member whereby, upon operation of said sensing means, information set up in a totalizer element selected by said sensing means upon sensing one of said first stud members is transferred to a totalizer element selected by said sensing means upon sensing one of said second stud members.

3. The business machine apparatus of claim 2 in which said first control area is the lower side of said plate member and said second control area is the upper side of said plate member.

4. The business machine apparatus of claim 3 in which:

said shifting means includes a support member slidably supporting said plate member, said support member being mounted for movement transverse to the movement of said plate member; and

cam-actuated means engaging said support member for moving said support member to said first position during the first portion of said machine operation and to said second position during the second portion of said machine operation.

5. The business machine apparatus of claim 4 which includes:

an actuating member engaging said support member, said artsatiss v.... 11t l2s sted. whsnpp r ing said support. member to said? second 'pos din ing the first and second portions of said machine opera tion;

means for operating said actuating member including a manually operated control member mounted on the keyboard of the business machine apparatus and adapted for movement to a first position; and

means interconnecting said actuating member and said manually operated control member whereby, upon movement of said control memberto the first position, said actuating member is operated. a

6. The business machine apparatus of claim 5 in which said interconnecting means includes:

a rotatably supported cam member having highand low control surfaces; saidcam member being rotated commensurate with the movement of said manually operated control member; and

sensing means connected to said actuating means and engaging said control surfaces whereby, upon' movement of said control member to said first position, said sensing means will sense a high control surface on said cam member, thereby operating said actuating means.

7. The business machine apparatus of claim 4 in which:

said sensing means includes a pair of feeler members each slidably mounted adjacent an opposite side of said plate member; and 7 said sensing operating means includes a cam member for moving said feeler members toward each other during the first and second portions of said machine operation; 'whereby said feelcr members will sense a stud member on the lower side of said plate member during the first portion of said machine operation when said plate member is in said first position and a stud member on the upper side of said plate member during the second portion of said machine operation when said plate member is in said second position.

8. The business machine apparatus of claim 7 which includes:

means mounted adjacent said support member for disabling second portions of said machine operation.

9. The business machine apparatus of claim 8 in which:

said support member contains a slot portion;

said disabling means includes a detent member having a stud mounted thereon, said detent member being slidably mounted adjacent said support member with the stud being positioned adjacent the slot portion of the support member;

said manually operated means includes a control key mounted on the keyboard of the machine apparatus; and

means connected to said detent member and engaged by said control key whereby, upon operation of said control key, said detent member is moved to position the stud within the slot portion of said support member, thereby disabling the support member from moving to said second position.

10. In a business machine apparatus constructed and arranged to perform a machine operation and including a plurality of selectively depressible control keys, the combination including:

a. a differentially settable member adjusted to a position commensurate with the control key depressed;

b. a line of totalizer elements;

c. means for supporting said line of totalizer elements and adapted, when operated, to move said totalizer line to a predetermined position to select a totalizer element for transferring information to the business machine apparatus during the first portion of the machine operation, and to receive information, inserted into the machine upparatus, during the second portion of the machine operation;

d. a coded plate member containing a predetermined number of holes extending therethrough in selected positions thereon, said plate member being operated by said differentially settable member to be moved to a position commensurate with the adjusted position of said settable member;

e. a support member slidably supporting said plate member, said support member mounted for movement between a first and second position in a direction transverse to the movement of said plate member;

f. means engaging said support member for shifting said support member to the first positionduring the first portion of the machine operation and to the second position during the second portion of the machine operation;

g. a first set of stud members selectively mounted in some of said holes, said stud members extending from the lower surface of said plate member;

h. a second set of stud members selectively mounted in some of said holes, said second set of stud members extending from the upper surface of said plate member;

. a first and a second feeler member slidably mounted adjacent said plate member, said feelcr members adapted for movement toward each other;

. actuating means engaging said first and second feelcr members to move said feeler members toward each other during the first and second portions of said machine cycle, the feelcr member sensing one of said first set of stud members when the support member is in the first position and one of said second set of stud members when the support member is in the second position, one of said feeler members being moved to a control position upon sensing of a stud member; and

k. means connected to said supporting means and actuated by the feeler member in the control position to position the line gf totaiize elements acco rding to the stud member sensed by said feelcr members whereby information set up in the totalizer element selected by said feeler members during the first portion of the machine operation is transferred to a totalizer element selected by the feelcr members during the second portion of the machine operation.

Claims (10)

1. In a business machine apparatus constructed and arranged to perform a machine operation, and including a plurality of selectively depressible control keys, the combination including: a. a differentially settable member adjusted to a position commensurate with the control key depressed; b. a plurality of totalizer elements each adapted when selected, to transfer information to the business machine apparatus during the first portion of said machine operation, and to receive information, inserted into the business machine, during the second portion of the machine operation; c. programming means for allowing any of said control keys to select any of said totalizer elements including a differentially settable coded member settable to a position commensurate with the adjusted position of said settable member, said coded member mounted for transverse movement between a first and second position and having a plurality of first and second control elements in predetermined selected positions thereon; d. means for shifting said adjusted coded member to said first position during the first portion of the machine operation and to said second position during the second portion of the machine operation; e. sensing means, when operated, for sensing a first control element when said coded member is in said first position and sensing a second control element when said coded member is in said second position, said sensing means establishing a control position upon sensing a control element; f. means for operating said sensing means; g. and control means engaging said totalizer element and operated by said sensing means to select a totalizer element for operation commensurate with the control position of said sensing means whereby information set up in a totalizer element selected by said sensing means during the first portion of the machine operation is transferred to a totalizer element selected by the sensing means during the second portion of the machine operation.

2. The business machine apparatus of claim 1 in which: said coded member comprises a slidably supported plate member containing a plurality of apertures; and said first and second control elements comprise stud members selectively mounted in said apertures, said first stud members being mounted in a first control area of said plate member and the second stud members being mounted in a second control area of said plate member whereby, upon operation of said sensing means, information set up in a totalizer element selected by said sensing means upon sensing one of said first stud members is transferred to a totalizer element selected by said sensing means upon sensing one of said second stud members.

3. The business machine apparatus of claim 2 in which said first control area is the lower side of said plate member and said second control area is the upper side of said plate member.

4. The business machine apparatus of claim 3 in which: said shifting means includes a support member slidably supporting said plate member, said support member being mounted for movement transverse to the moveMent of said plate member; and cam-actuated means engaging said support member for moving said support member to said first position during the first portion of said machine operation and to said second position during the second portion of said machine operation.

5. The business machine apparatus of claim 4 which includes: an actuating member engaging said support member, said actuating member adapted, when operated, for move moving said support member to said second position during the first and second portions of said machine operation; means for operating said actuating member including a manually operated control member mounted on the keyboard of the business machine apparatus and adapted for movement to a first position; and means interconnecting said actuating member and said manually operated control member whereby, upon movement of said control member to the first position, said actuating member is operated.

6. The business machine apparatus of claim 5 in which said interconnecting means includes: a rotatably supported cam member having high and low control surfaces; said cam member being rotated commensurate with the movement of said manually operated control member; and sensing means connected to said actuating means and engaging said control surfaces whereby, upon movement of said control member to said first position, said sensing means will sense a high control surface on said cam member, thereby operating said actuating means.

7. The business machine apparatus of claim 4 in which: said sensing means includes a pair of feeler members each slidably mounted adjacent an opposite side of said plate member; and said sensing operating means includes a cam member for moving said feeler members toward each other during the first and second portions of said machine operation, whereby said feeler members will sense a stud member on the lower side of said plate member during the first portion of said machine operation when said plate member in is in said first position and a stud member on the upper side of said plate member during the second portion of said machine operation when said plate member is in said second position.

8. The business machine apparatus of claim 7 which includes: means mounted adjacent said support member for disabling said support member from moving to said second position when actuated; and manually operated means for actuating said disabling means whereby said feeler members will sense a stud member on the lower side of said plate member during the first and second portions of said machine operation.

9. The business machine apparatus of claim 8 in which: said support member contains a slot portion; said disabling means includes a detent member having a stud mounted thereon, said detent member being slidably mounted adjacent said support member with the stud being positioned adjacent the slot portion of the support member; said manually operated means includes a control key mounted on the keyboard of the machine apparatus; and means connected to said detent member and engaged by said control key whereby, upon operation of said control key, said detent member is moved to position the stud within the slot portion of said support member, thereby disabling the support member from moving to said second position.

10. In a business machine apparatus constructed and arranged to perform a machine operation and including a plurality of selectively depressible control keys, the combination including: a. a differentially settable member adjusted to a position commensurate with the control key depressed; b. a line of totalizer elements; c. means for supporting said line of totalizer elements and adapted, when operated, to move said totalizer line to a predetermined position to select a totalizer element for transferring information to the business machine apparatus during the first portion of the machine operation, and to receive information, inserted into tHe machine apparatus, during the second portion of the machine operation; d. a coded plate member containing a predetermined number of holes extending therethrough in selected positions thereon, said plate member being operated by said differentially settable member to be moved to a position commensurate with the adjusted position of said settable member; e. a support member slidably supporting said plate member, said support member mounted for movement between a first and second position in a direction transverse to the movement of said plate member; f. means engaging said support member for shifting said support member to the first position during the first portion of the machine operation and to the second position during the second portion of the machine operation; g. a first set of stud members selectively mounted in some of said holes, said stud members extending from the lower surface of said plate member; h. a second set of stud members selectively mounted in some of said holes, said second set of stud members extending from the upper surface of said plate member; i. a first and a second feeler member slidably mounted adjacent said plate member, said feeler members adapted for movement toward each other; j. actuating means engaging said first and second feeler members to move said feeler members toward each other during the first and second portions of said machine cycle, the feeler member sensing one of said first set of stud members when the support member is in the first position and one of said second set of stud members when the support member is in the second position, one of said feeler members being moved to a control position upon sensing of a stud member; and k. means connected to said supporting means and actuated by the feeler member in the control position to position the line of totalizer element according to the stud member sensed by said feeler members whereby information set up in the totalizer element selected by said feeler members during the first portion of the machine operation is transferred to a totalizer element selected by the feeler members during the second portion of the machine operation.

Images