US3679878A

US3679878A - Remotely controlled actuator

Info

Publication number: US3679878A
Application number: US83968A
Authority: US
Inventors: David L Greenwood
Original assignee: Litton Business Systems Inc
Current assignee: Western Atlas Inc; Sweda International Inc
Priority date: 1970-10-26
Filing date: 1970-10-26
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A plurality of actuators are disposed so that there is an actuator between each keyrow column of a cash register keyboard. Each actuator is journaled for longitudinal movement from a home position to a plurality of positions whereat successive lugs, carried by the actuator, are aligned with successive key, stems of the cash register; and for rotational movement following alignment of a lug with a keystem of the cash register, to coact with and move the keystem and the key associated therewith into an actuated condition. Each of the actuators is urged from its home position by a spring, but restrained against such movement due to the interaction between rack teeth carried by the actuator and a gear and cam assembly carried by an actuator shaft. As the actuator shaft is operated the cam rotates permitting rotation of its associated gear and longitudinal displacement of the rack due to the spring action. In response to an appropriate signal from a remote source a solenoid, associated with the actuator, is deenergized and teeth carried by a spring biased pawl engage teeth carried by the actuator to arrest movement of the actuator with the lug thereon aligned with the cash register keystem to be operated. The actuator shaft continues to move carrying with it the cam until an appropriate portion of the cam engages the actuator to rock same about its axis of displacement. The actuator lug now coacts with the keystem to depress same. Displacement of the actuator shaft furthermore effects displacement of a timing slide, formed with a plurality of apertures adapted, during movement of the slide, to be aligned with a source of illumination and a photocell such that a timing pulse is generated.

Description

[ 54] REMOTELY CONTROLLED ACTUATOR David L. Greenwood, New York, N.Y.

Litton Business Systems, Inc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, I970 [2]] Appl. No.: 83,968

[ 72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl ..235/146, 235/61.6 M [51] Int. Cl. ..G06c 7/02, G06c 25/00 [58] Field of Search ..235/145 R, 146, 60 R, 6, 61 PB, I 235/61 PG,61.6M,61.11E

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,970,756 2/ 1961 Spesock et al. ..235/146 X 3,034,717 5/1962 Werner ..235/146 3,044,700 7/1962 Spingies et al.. ..235/146 3,059,843 10/1962 Breitling et ...235/l46 X 3,269,648 8/1966 Kagitani ..235/146 X 3,413,447 11/1968 Lamers ..235/6l.l1 E

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 206,674 12/1959 Austria ..235/6I.6 M

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

Attorney-Norman Friedman, Stephen E. Feldman, Arthur T. Groeninger, Morris 1. Pollack and Philip Furgang 1 July 25, 1972 57 ABSTRACT A plurality of actuators are disposed so that there is an actuator between each keyrow column of a cash register keyboard. Each actuator is joumaled for longitudinal movement from a home position to a plurality of positions whereat successive lugs, carried by the actuator, are aligned with successive key,

. stems of the cash register; and for rotational movement following alignment of a lug with a keystem of the cash register, to coact with and move the keystem and the key associated therewith into an actuated condition. Each of the actuators is urged from its home position by a spring, but restrained against such movement due to the interaction between rack teeth carried by the actuator and a gear and cam assembly carried by an actuator shaft. As the actuator shaft is operated the cam rotates permitting rotation of its associated gear and longitudinal displacement of the rack due to the spring action. In response to an appropriate signal from a remote source a solenoid, associated with the actuator, is deenergized and teeth carried by a spring biased pawl engage teeth carried by the actuator to arrest movement of the actuator with the lug thereon aligned with the cash register keystem to be operated. The actuator shaft continues to move carrying with it the cam until an appropriate portion of the cam engages the actuator to rock same about its axis of displacement. The actuator lug now coacts with the keystem to depress same.

7 Claims, 31 Drawing Figures FFEJULZS m2 SHEET 02 0F 14 ax i INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD 7 BY 1" LL: 1 ATTORNEY SHEET on HF 1 INVENTOR L. GREENWOOD DAVI D ATTORNEY iPAFE NFFEMm m2 SHEET 05 0F 14 ATTO RN EY PATENTEDJUL 25 1912 SHEET .07 0F 1 Em mm INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD ATTORNEY PM'ENTEDJMS m2 SHEET 08 OF 14 mmdi INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD Q: \vmw mmw I. Qww 6w i w? QM? New B @Mm ATTORNEY AYHEJULZS I972 SHEET 09 0F 14 INVENTOR DAVID L, GREENWOOD ATTORNEY PATHEBJUL 26 m2 SHEET l0 UF 14 INVENTOR GREENWOOD L D V A D ATTORNEY P A'TE'NZIIEDJMS 1912 SHEET 11 [1F 14 INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD ATTORNEY PATENIEDJUL25 I972 SHEET 12 OF 14 INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD ATTORNEY PATHEQJUL 25 m2 SHEET 13 [1F 14 INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD ATTO R N EY PlmmJm-zgm BEST AVAEABLE COPY 879L878 INVENTOR DAVID L. GREENWOOD ATTOR NEY REMOTELY CONTROLLED ACTUATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-FIELD OF APPLICATION This invention relates to remotely controlled equipment; and more particularly to a mechanism, controlled from the remote source, for selectively actuating one of a plurality of actuatable instrumentalities of said equipment.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION-DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART The business world today is replete with equipment wherein the operator must manually select certain instrumentalities from a plurality of instrumentalities during each operation of the equipment. With each operation of a cash register the cashier usually selects one of a plurality of department keys, one of a plurality of keys for each ordinal value of the price, one of a plurality of operation keys, and quite often certain keys in other banks of the cash register. In utilizing an adding machine or calculator, whether it be full keyboard or lO-key keyboard, the operator again successively selects individual ones of a plurality of selectable keys. This same routine of selecting certain ones of a plurality of selectable items holds true for keypunch equipment, various printing devices, and many other types of equipment.

Quite often the information, which the operator must enter into such equipment, is stored in a computer or other information storage device. It has thus become advantageous to interconnect the information storage device directly to such equipment. In this way the instrumentalities of the equipment can be remotely controlled without direct selection and operation by the operator.

One common way of remotely actuating selected instrumentalities of such equipment has been to provide a unit, housing the remotely controlled actuators, over the selectable instrumentalities of the equipment (as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,367). However this form of remote control unit is unsightly, and by preventing operator access to the selectable instrumentalities greatly limits the versatility of the equipment. Another common form of remote control is accomplished by providing an electromagnet for each of the selectable instrumentalities in such a way that the instrumentality keystem forms the core of the electromagnet (as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,998,355). Manual selection is possible but this form of remote control requires a considerable number of electromagnets and space as well as the circuitry and power for operating the electromagnets.

Some remotely controlled actuators minimize the number of electromagnets by interconnecting a predetermined number of electromagnets, for each ordinal array of selectable instrumentalities, through link and lever arrangements (as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,255,960 and 3,260,648). Such arrangements are complex to fabricate, assemble, and service and add considerably to the cost of the equipment. In addition this type of mechanism bypasses the safety interlock mechanisms normally associated with the selectable instrumentalities, and thus requires the incorporation of additional interlocks to prevent improper operation of the equipment or leaves the equipment in a condition to be improperly operated.

Other equipment utilizes a single electromagnet for each ordinal arrangement of selectable instrumentalities as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,845; however here again the keyboard and its attendant interlocks are bypassed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved remotely controlled actuator.

It is a further object to provide an improved remotely controlled actuator for selecting one of a plurality of otherwise manually selectable instrumentalities.

It is another object to provide an improved remotely controlled actuator for selecting one of a plurality of otherwise manually selectable instrumentalities in such a way that interlocks and other safeguarding mechanisms, normally associated with the manually selectable instrumentalities, are not bypassed but are in fact utilized.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved remotely controlled actuating mechanism which is easily adaptable for utilization with existing equipment.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide an improved remotely controlled actuator which, when disposed for association with the manually selectable instrumentalities of the equipment, requires a minimum of additional power and space.

It is yet still another object of this invention to provide an improved remotely controlled actuator which is easily disposed for cooperation with manually selectable instrumentalities without in any way interfering with the manual selection of such instrumentalities if such be desired.

This invention involves equipment incorporating a plurality of manually selectable instrumentalities and wherein only certain ones of said instrumentalities are to be selected, sometimes in a predetermined order or sequence, during the operation of the equipment; and contemplates providing a remotely controlled actuating mechanism for cooperation with said instrumentalities to select certain ones of said instrumentalities in response to appropriate electrical signals from an information storage device.

In carrying out the invention, according to the preferred embodiment thereof, one or more actuators are interspersed within the array of manually selectable instrumentalities on the equipment. Each such actuator is disposed for movement in a longitudinal direction to align successive ones of lugs carried thereby with successive ones of shoulders formed on the manually selectable instrumentalities. When an appropriate lug is aligned with the instrumentality to be selected, in accordance with the signal received from the information storage device, longitudinal displacement of the actuator ceases. The actuator is thereafter rocked about its axis of displacement and the lug engages a shoulder, formed on the instrumentality, to operate same. A timing slide, formed with spaced apertures adapted to pass between a source of illumination and a light responsive photocell, is displaced concurrently with the actuator to provide the information storage device with a signal indicative of the position of the actuator.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention in its detail of construction and arrangement of parts, will be seen from the above, from the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawings, from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an information storage device adapted to receive information from a coded document and to transmit same to a cash register adapted to incorporate the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the keyboard section of the cash register of FIG. I, with parts removed to better show the remotely controlled actuator mechanism installed therewithin;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, broken away in parts to better show details of the keyrow act'uators;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the keyrow actuator of FIG. 3 showing same in its home position and with some of the mechanisms associated therewith;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the keyrow actuator of FIG. 6 showing same displaced into alignment with a particular key stem;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the keyrow actuator after depressing a particular key stem;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the keyrow actuator of FIG. 7 after it has been operated upon to depress the associated key stem;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the key stem depressed as in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary detail of the mechanism of FIG. 3 showing same just prior to return of the actuator to home position;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 2 and showing the keyrow actuator mechanism for the operation control keys;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the keyrow actuator of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16- 16 of FIG. 12 and showing details of the operation key depression override device;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 2 and showing details of a portion of the actuator slide reset mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 2 and showing additional details of the actuator slide reset mechanism;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 2 and showing elements associated with the timing control slide;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 2 showing further details of the elements associated with the timing control slide;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the timing control slide and its housing;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the timing control slide and housing of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 2

and showing details of the light source and photocell associated with the timing control slide of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is an elevational view of some of the elements associated with the timing control slide;

FIG. 25 is a perspective exploded view showing details of some of the elements of FIGS. 19 and 20 and 21;

FIG. 26 is a left side elevational view of the cash register of FIG. 2 showing some details of the actuator drive mechanism;

FIG. 27 is a partial elevational section showing further details of the actuator drive mechanism;

FIG. 28 is a partial elevational section showing additional details of the actuator drive mechanism;

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view showing details of the actuator drive mechanism of FIG. 27 and 28;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view taken on line 30-30 of FIG. 27; and

FIG. 31 is a partial sectional view taken on line 31-31 of FIG. 30.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For convenience, the invention will be described as applied to a cash register of the full keyboard type; it being understood, nevertheless, that without departing from the scope of this invention that subject remotely controlled actuator may be applied to any other type of cash register, to a full keyboard calculating machine or a calculating machine of the .IO-key keyboard type, to any business machine such as a nine item keys 54 in each column with the rightmost columns generally used for entering digital data such as price, and the leftmost columns generally used to enter nonprice data such as department number. Operation of an item key 54 furthermore sets up printing mechanism, conventionally provided within cash register 50, to print upon an audit strip contained in print section 60 to provide some form of record for accounting, bookkeeping, or inventory control purposes or the like. Selector keys 56 are utilized to control cash register 50 for different types of sales, such as charge, cash, and lay-away and to identify the clerk entering the transaction.

Cash register 50 is particularly adapted for department store operation wherein inventory control information, in the form of a control number, is entered with a first operation of cash register 50 and thereafter price and department information is entered with a second operation of cash register 50. Operation key 58a is utilized to initiate a cycle of operation of cash register 50 to enter a control number; while operation key 58b is utilized to initiate a cycle of operation of cash register 50 to enter price information.

An electronic package 66 is suitably interconnected through an input cable 68 to an information pick-up device in the form of an electromagnet i.e. transducer 70 adapted to pick-up information suitably encoded upon a data record 72. Electronic package 66 contains suitable electronics to interpret data picked up by transducer 70, to store same until needed, and to thereafter transmit same, via an output cable 74, to a remotely controlled input assembly (FIG. 2) housed beneath cover plate 82 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of cash register 50.

A representative electronics package is illustrated and described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,882,817, issued to Gerhard Wolf. Referring to FIG. 1, Wolf discloses that the data retained upon the rotating storage drum is sensed by a reading head, and the signals so produced are amplified in a conventional manner. The amplified signals are then fed in sequential fashion into a series to parallel converter, which takes the series of signals representing a unique digit valve and after conversion in a magnetic core array, sends out a solitary output signal over one of the plurality of output lines. The output signal serves as one input for an electronic gate, such as an AND gate, and a second signal emanating from a printing section is fed to a second input for the gate. The gate is tripped when both inputs are energized and the output signal from the converter passes through the gate into an order selector or other slaved instrumentality.

Input assembly 80 includes a plurality of item key actuator assemblies 84 (FIGS. 2-11), an operation key actuator assembly 86 (FIGS. 2 and 12-16), an item key reset assembly 88 (FIGS. 2 and 17 and 18). a timing and keyboard control assembly 90 (FIGS. 2 and 19-25) and an actuator drive assembly 92 (FIGS. 2 and 26-31).

Each item key actuator assembly 84 includes an actuator slide slidably mounted in a groove 102 (FIG. 18) formed in a rear bearing 104 (FIGS. 3 and 6), and a groove 102 formed in a front bearing 106, disposed respectively in a rear bearing support 108 and a front bearing support 110. Nine ac tuator lugs -1 to 120-9 are formed on actuator slide 100 so that as slide 100 is longitudinally displaced in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 6), in a manner to be hereinafter described, lugs 120 successively become aligned with shoulders 122 (FIGS. 4 and 6) formed on keystems 124.

A plurality of notches (FIGS. 5 and 6) are formed on a slug 132 carried by slide 100 for cooperation with teeth 134 formed on the end of a pawl 136 (FIGS. 3 and 11) formed of plastic material integrally with a pawl and magnet housing 138 carried by rear bearing support 108 and fron bearing support 110. An electromagnet 140 is disposed in housing 138 for coaction with a metallic plate 142 carried by pawl 136 and is connected by suitable conductors 144 (FIG. 3) to electronic package 66 through cable 74. A compression spring 146 having one of its ends disposed about a lug 148 formed on housing 138 and the other of its ends disposed about a lug 150 formed on pawl arm 136, urges pawl arm 136 in the counterclockwise direction (FIG. 3) to engage its teeth 134 with teeth 130 on actuator slide 100.

A cam lug 160 (FIG. 3) is formed on pawl arm 136 for coaction with a cam surface 162 carried by actuator slide 100. Upon movement of actuator slide 100 in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 3) pawl arm 136 will be cammed and maintained in an upward position with plate 142 in proximity to electromagnet 140. Thus electromagnets 140 need not be constantly energized, but when they are energized they can easily attract plates 142.

.A pawl lifting arm 166 (FIGS. 3 and 11) is pivotally mounted at 168 to housing 138 and is interconnected to pawl arm 136 through a pin and slot connection 170. A nose 172 is formed on arm 166 for coaction with a lug 174 carried by an actuator cam 176 mounted on an actuator drive shaft 178.

Actuator cam 176, on the side opposite that shown in FIG. 11, mounts an escapement lug 190 (FIG. 6) disposed for coaction with a lug 192 carried by an escapement gear 194 rotatably disposed upon actuator drive shaft 178 for meshing engagement with escapement teeth 196 carried by actuator slide 100. An escapement spring 198 (FIG. 3) having one of its ends fixedly secured to actuator slide 100, as at 200, and the other of its ends fixedly secured to rear bearing 104, as at 202, urges actuator slide 100 in the direction of arrow A (FIGS. 3 and 6). This interaction is transmitted through teeth 196 to gear 194 urging gear 194 in the direction of arrow X about actuator drive shaft 178. However, lug 192 of gear 194, abutting against lug 190 of cam 176, prevents rotation of gear 194 and corresponding sliding movement of slide 100 in the direction of arrow A, because cam 176 is fixed to shaft 178 and shaft 178, as shown in FIG. 6, is in a stationary condition.

As a practical matter shaft 178 is formed with a longitudinal groove 210 (FIG. 3), and cam 176 is carried by a hub 212 formed with a slot 214. A pin 216 maintained in slot 214 and groove 210 by a spring clip 218 releasably secures cam 176 to shaft 178. Should cam 176 be incapable of rotation, for any reason whatsoever, pin 216 will slip out of groove 210 and shaft 178 will continue without cam 176. When groove 210 on shaft 178 is again aligned with pin 216, spring clip 218 will move pin 216 back into groove 210 and cam 176 and shaft 178 will be releasably secured together again.

In actual operation shaft 178 is first driven in the direction of arrow X (FIGS. 6, 7 and 9) through approximately 244 and then returned in the direction of arrow Y. As shaft 178 moves in the direction of arrow X it carries with it cam 176 tomove escapement lug 190 of cam 176 away from lug 192 on gear 194. This action occurs for all item key actuator assemblies 84 simultaneously. Spring 198 (FIG. 3) is now able to draw slide 100 in the direction of arrow A (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). Teeth 196 carried by slide 100 rotates gear 194, in the direction of arrow X about shaft 178, to keep lug 192 thereof in engagement with lug 190 on cam 176. Due to the spacing between adjacent lugs 120-1 through 120-9 only one of lug 120 will be aligned with its associated keystem shoulder 122 at a time. Thus first all lugs 120-l will be aligned with all shoulders 122-1 of the 1 item keys 54 while the remaining lugs 120-2 through 120-9 will not be so aligned. Thereafter all lugs 120-2 will be aligned with shoulders 122-2 of the 2" item keys 54 while lugs 120-1 and lugs 120-3 through 120-9 will not be so aligned. If there were no restraint on actuator slide 100 during this movement lugs 120 thereof would successively be aligned with shoulders 122 until all lugs 120-9 were aligned with their associated shoulders 122 of the 9 item keys 54. However, electronic package 66, as will be hereinafter explained, provides signals to electromagnets 140, simultaneously for all orders where an identical digit is to be entered, as the appropriate lug 120 is aligned with its associated shoulder 122. Therefore as lugs 120-l are aligned with their associated shoulders 122-1 any orders which are to have a l entered therein will receive appropriate signals from electronic package 66 to deenergize electromagnets 140 thereof. As lugs 120-2 are aligned with their respective shoulders 122-2 those orders which are to receive a 2" will have their electromagnets 140 deenergized, and so forth up to the digit 9".

As each electromagnet 140 is deenergized its compression spring 146 will urge its pawl arm 136 downward towards actuator slide to engage teeth 134 of arm 136 with teeth 130 on slide 100 and thus arrest slide 100 with the appropriate lug aligned with shoulder 122 of the item key 54 to be operated. FIG. 7 shows lug 120-5 aligned with shoulder 122-5 of key stem 124-5 of the 5" item key 54.

As actuator drive shaft 178 continues to rotate in the direction of arrow X it carries with it cam 176 and lug 190. However, because teeth 134 of arm 136 are engaged with teeth on actuator slide 100, slide 100 cannot move any further in the direction of arrow A. Gear 194 no longer rotates and lug 190 moves away from lug 192. As this action continues cam surface 188 of actuator cam 176 engages the upper surface of actuator slide 100 to rock slide 100 and its rear bearing 104 and front bearing 106 in the direction of arrow S (FIGS. 4 and 7). Lug 120-5 of slide 100 engages shoulder 122- 5 of key stem 1245 to move keystem 124-5 downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 9 (this is similar to the positions shown for keystem 124 in FIGS. 8 and 10). All keys so depressed or operated will be retained in their downward condition by mechanism otherwise provided in the keyboard (as explained in US Pat. No. 3,263,915 referred to above).

Actuator drive shaft 178, as it approaches the completion of its excursion in the direction of arrow X, moves lug 174 (FIG. 11), carries by cam 176, into engagement with nose 172 on pawl disengaging arm 166 to drive same in the counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11) about pivot 168. This action and the interaction between pin and slot connection 170 results in a movement of arm 136 upwardly to disengage teeth 134 of arm 136 from teeth 130 on slug 132 of actuator slide Receipt by electromagnets 140 of an appropriate signal from electronic package 66 energizes electromagnets 140 attracting metallic plates 142 to maintain arms 136 and their teeth 134 out of engagement with teeth 130 on actuator slides 100.

Actuator shaft 178, after completing its excursion in the direction of arrow X, is returned in the direction of arrow Y to its home position. This motion moves lugs 190, carried by cams 176, into engagement with lugs 192 of gears 194 and is effective to rotate lugs 192 and gears 194 in the direction of arrow Y to drive slides 100 (through the meshing engagement between gears 194 and slug 196) in the direction of arrow B to their respective home positions. Near the end of the return of actuator slides 100 in the direction of arrow B cam lugs carried thereby will act on cam surfaces 162 of the arms 136 to hold arms 136 upwardly (FIG. 11) so that metallic plates 142 carried thereby are maintained in close proximity with electromagnets 140 even when deenergized.

Actuator slides 100 will, however, have to have been reset from their operated condition (FIG. 9) to their unoperated condition (FIG. 7) by actuator reset assembly 88 (FIG. 2), in the manner to be hereinafter expalined, before they can be moved to their home positions.

It should be noted that teeth 130 on slugs 132 of slides 100 are given a predetermined configuration, as best shown in FIG. 5, so that as slides 100 are rocked in the direction of arrows S and T teeth 130 will remain engaged with teeth 134 of their associated pawl arms 136. It should also be noted that the teeth on lugs 196 are arcuate in configuration, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, to maintain same always in mesh with gears 194 as slides 100 are rocked in the direction of arrow S and returned in the direction of arrow T.

An operation key actuator cam 230 (FIGS. 12 and 13) is disposed upon actuator drive shaft 178 proximate the right side thereof (FIG. 2) to be driven thereby first in the direction of arrow X and then in the direction of arrow Y along with actuator cams 176. A shoulder 232 is formed on cam 230 for coaction with an escapement lug 234 carried by an escapement gear 236 having teeth 238 disposed in meshing engage ment with teeth 240 of an operation control slide 242. A rear slot 244 (FIGS. 12 and 13) and a front slot 246 are formed in slide 242 to facilitate its movement in the directions of arrows A and B (FIG. 13) upon a rear stud 248 and a front stud 250 carried by a bracket 252 fixedly secured in place to cash register 50. Bracket 252 furthermore carries a pair of

studs

260, 262 for receipt in a rear slot 264 and a front slot 266 respectively of an operation slide 268.

An actuation surface 270 is formed on slide 268 for coaction with an actuation cam surface 272 formed on cam 230. A reset arm 274 is also formed on slide 268 for coaction with'a reset cam surface 276 formed on cam 230. An additional rear slot 280, and front slot 282 are formed in slide 268 to receive a rear stud 284 and a front stud 286 respectively of a lower operation arm 290. Arm 290 is adjustably connected through elongated slots 292 and 294 (FIG. 13) and threaded members 296 and 298 (FIGS. 12 and 13) to an upper operation arm 300. After loosening

members

296 and 298

arms

290 and 300 may be adjusted and then secured together by retightening

members

296 and 298.

A control number shoulder 310, and a price shoulder 312, are disposed in spaced relationship on arm 300 for coaction with

lugs

314 and 316 respectively carried by

keystems

318 and 320 of control number key 580 and price key 58b. A stud 322 extends from arm 290 into a vertical slot 324 formed in slide 242 to guide any relative displacement therebetween. It should be understood that the elements are interconnected in such a manner that the various stud and slot connections do not become disengaged.

Slide 242 is normally urged in the direction of arrow A (FIGS. 12 and 13) by a spring 330 secured as at 332 to slide 242 and as at 334 to bracket 252. Slide 242 is normally prevented from movement in the direction of arrow A because teeth 240 formed thereon are in mesh with teeth 238 of escapement gear 236 and gear 236 is prevented from rotation about shaft 178 by engagement of its lug 234 and shoulder 232 of cam 230 which is fast on shaft 178.

A plurality of teeth 340 (FIGS. 12 and 13) are formed on slide 242 for coaction with a tooth 342 formed on a pawl 344 290 results in a corresponding downward movement of

arms

290 and 300 therewith. Depending upon the alignment of either

shoulder

310 or 314 with

lug

314 or 316, respectively, either control number key 58a or price key 58b will be moved downwardly. Once key 58a or 58b has been moved downwardly it will be retained in such condition by mechanism otherwise normally found in cash register 50.

Actuator drive shaft 178 continues to the end of this move ment in the direction of arrow X and is then returned in the direction of arrow Y. Shoulder 232 of cam 230 moving in the direction of arrow Y, engage lug 234 of gear 236 rotating pivotally mounted as at 346 to a frame of cash register 50. A

metallic plate 348 (FIG. 15) is carried by pawl 344 for coaction with an electromagnet 350 suitably interconnected to electronic package 66. A spring 352 urges pawl 344 in the counterclockwise direction about pivot 346 to effect engagement of tooth 342 carried therebywith teeth 340 on slide 242 following deenergization of electromagnet 350.

As actuator drive shaft 178 is rotated in the direction of arrow X (FIGS. 12 and 13) itwill carry with it cam 230 moving shoulder 232 (FIG. 13) thereof away from lug 234 of gear 236. Gear 236 will follow shoulder 232 due to the urging of spring 330 upon slide 242, and the inter-action of teeth 240 of slide 242 and teeth 238 of gear 236. Thus slide 242 will move in the direction of arrow A and the shoulders of slot 324 of slide 242 will act upon pin 322 and carry with it lower operation arm 290 and upper operation arm 300. The spacing between

shoulders

310 and 312 of upper operation arm 300 and lugs 314 and 316 of control number key 58a and price key 58b is such that first only shoulder 310 and lug 314 will be aligned, and thereafter only shoulder 312 and lug 316 will be aligned. Thus, with appropriate timing from electronic package 66, electromagnet 350 can be deenergized to permit spring 352 to rock pawl 344 about pivot 346 and engage tooth 342 of pawl 344 with teeth 340 of slide 242. The movement of slide 242 and control arm 300 will be arrested with either shoulder 310 aligned with lug 314 or shoulder 312 aligned with lug 316. After tooth 342 or pawl 344 is engaged with teeth 340 of slide 242 movement of slide 242 under action of spring 330 will also be arrested.

Cam 230, driven by shaft 178, continues its excursion in the direction of arrow X moving its shoulder 272 into engagement with actuation surface 270 of slide 268 to move same downwardly. The coaction between the sides of

slots

280 and 282 of slide 268 and

studs

284 and 286 of lower operation arm same in the direction of arrow Y. The meshing engagement between teeth 238 of gear 236 and teeth 240 of slide 242 effects a movement of slide 242, against the action of spring 330, in the direction of arrow B towards its home position. The coaction between the shoulders of slot 324 and stud 322 of arin 290

returns arms

290 and 300 to their home position. During this same time reset cam surface 276 of cam 230 acts upon reset lug 374 of slide 268 to move same upwardly to its home position resulting in a corresponding upward movement of

arms

290 and 300. lfthe operated key 58a, or 58b, is at this time under the control of the mechanisms otherwise provided in cash register 50 they will not necessarily return to their home positions at this time. They will be so returned during the normal cycle of cash register 50.

As slide 242 approaches its home position the last tooth 340-1 thereon (FIGS. 13 and 14) engages tooth 342 on pawl 344 and because tooth 340-1 is higher then the other teeth 340 (see FIG. 14) it will cam pawl 342 upwardly moving metallic plate 348 into proximity with electromagnet 350. In the interim, electronic package 66 will have supplied suitable power to electromagnet 350 and plate 348 will be held thereagainst.

Any attempt to operate keys 58a or 58b, by the action of arm 300, slide 268, and cam 230, when the mechanism within cash register 50 is set to prevent operation of such keys will result in a yielding of cam 230. This will occur because cam 230 is fixedly connected to a flexible shaft 360 (FIG. 16) journaled in and extending through a hollow 364 formed in actuator drive shaft 178, and connected to a plug 366 disposed proximate the left end of shaft 178. A plurality of holes 368 (only one shown) are formed in plug 366 for alignment with a hole (not shown) formed in shaft 178, to receive a pin 372 (FIG. 2). Pin 372 secures shaft 178, plug 366, and flexible shaft 360, to cam 230 for conjoint rotation while permitting yielding action when required. A slot 374 (FIG. 16) is formed at the end of plug 366 to accept the blade of a screw driver. Upon removal of pin 372 plug 366 may be rotated to align a different hole 368 with the hole in shaft 178 to permit adjustment of the tension of flexible shaft 360.

Actuator reset assembly 88 (FIGS. 2 and 17) includes a reset bracket 400 slidably disposed between frame members of cash register 50 and normally urged in the direction of arrow B by a spring 402. Spring 402 is interconnected as at 404 to bracket 400 and as at 406 to the frame of cash register 50. A bypass pawl 408 is pivotally mounted as at 410 upon bracket 400 and is formed with a nose 412 extending on top of a shoulder 414 of bracket 400. A spring 416, having one of its ends connected as at 418 to pawl 408 and the other of its ends connected as at 420 to bracket 400, urges pawl 408 in the clockwise direction about pivot 410 to maintain nose 412 of pawl 408 against shoulder 414 of bracket 400. An actuating surface 422 is formed on pawl 408 for coaction with a cam 424 carried by actuator shaft 178 for conjoint rotation therewith.

A pin 430 (FIGS. 2 and 17 depends from bracket 400 to interconnect same to a bellcrank 432 pivotally mounted as at 434 to a frame of cash register 50. Bellcrank 432 is formed with a lug 436 (FIG. 2) disposed within a housing 438 (FIGS. 2 and 17) carried at the end of a reset slide 440 (FIGS. 17 and 18). Slide 440 is slidably disposed upon front bearing support through pin and slot connections 441. Notches 442 are formed in slide 440 to receive lugs 444 formed on front bearings 106. A spring 446 (FIG. 2), connected at one of its ends to an arm 448 carried by slide 440 and at its other end to a bracket 450 carried by a frame of cash register 50, urges slide 440 in the direction of arrow G (FIGS. 2 and 18).

If, during the rotation of shaft 178 in the direction of arrow X, cam 424 engages actuating end 422 of pawl 408 pawl 408 will be rocked in the counterclockwise direction about pivot 410 and against the action of spring 416 until cam 424 has passed. Thereafter spring 416 will rock pawl 408 in the clockwise direction about pivot 410 until nose 412 of pawl 408 again abuts against shoulder 414 of bracket 400.

As set forth hereinabove actuator drive shaft 178 is first driven in the direction of arrow X (FIG. 17) and is then returned home in the direction of arrow Y. During movement of shaft 178 in the direction of arrow X actuator slides 100, are moved in the direction of arrow S to depress their associated keystems 124 carrying with them front bearings 106. Bearings 106, through lugs 444 and notches 442, when so moved move slide 440 in the direction of arrow H against the action of spring 446. Movement of slide 440 in the direction of arrow I-I carries with it housing 438 and lug 436 to rock bellcrank 432 in the counterclockwise direction about pin 434 (FIG. 2). This movement, through pin 430, moves bracket 400 (FIGS. 2 and 17) in the direction of arrow A.

Subsequent return of shaft 178 in the direction of arrow Y moves cam 424 into engagement with actuating end 422 of pawl 408, and through pin 410, moves bracket 400 in the direction of arrow B (FIGS. 2 and 17). This movement of bracket 400 is assisted by the action of sprint 402 and is transmitted by pin 430, carried by bracket 400, to bellcrank 432 to rock same in the clockwise direction about pin 434. Lug 436 of rocking bellcrank 432 acts upon housing 438 of slide 440 and moves reset slide 440 in the direction of arrow G. As reset slide 440 moves in the direction of arrow G the side walls of notches 442, formed therein, act upon lugs 444 of front bearings 106 rotating same in the direction of arrow T (FIG. 18). This resets actuator slides 100 from the operated condition thereof (as shown in FIG. 9) to the unoperated condition thereof(as shown in FIG. 6, 7 and 18).

A keyboard rest cam 470 (FIGS. 19 and is also carried by actuator drive shaft 178 for conjoint rotation therewith. Cam 470 is formed with a cam surface 472 disposed for coaction with a cam shoulder 474 formed on a pawl 476 pivotally mounted on a pin 478 carried by a plate 480. A spring 482 urgespawl 476 in the counterclockwise direction about pin 478 to engage a nose 484 of pawl 476 with a shoulder 486 formed on plate 480.

Plate 480 carries a stud 490 (FIG. 25) and has formed therein a slot 492. Stud 490 is received in a slot 494 formed in a mounting bracket 500 which also mounts a stud 496 adapted to be received in slot 492 of plate 480. Mounting bracket 500 is of a generally U-shaped construction, including a left wall 502 (FIG. 19 and 25) and a right wall 504 (FIG. 24 and 25), and is suitably secured in place to the frames of cash register 50. A keyboard reset plate 510 is carried by a pair of studs 512 extending from plate 480 into slots 514 formed in plate 510 so as to permit relative sliding movement between plate 510 and plate 480. A stud 516 (FIGS. 19 and 25) extends from an arm 518 formed on bracket 510 into a slot 520 formed in an arm 522 extending from bracket 480. Stud 516 is surrounded by a spring 524 which is normally maintained in compression between arms 518 and 520. A front edge 530 of plate 510 is normally disposed to engage a pin 532 carried by a bracket 534 secured to the end of a keyboard restoring shaft 536. Keyboard restoring shaft 536 is similar to shaft 391 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,915 and performs the keyboard restoring functions set forth in said patent. This action takes place while actuator slides 100 (FIG. 6) are moving towards their aligned positions with keystem 124 and is completed before slides 100 are rocked to depress keystems 124. The action clears the keyboard in the event of a previous partial manual entry.

As rotation of actuator drive shaft 178, in the direction of arrow X (FIG. 25), progresses (and prior to any rocking movement of actuator slide to depress a selected keystem 124) cam surface 472 of cam 470 will coact with cam shoulder 474 of pawl 476 to move pawl 476 pin 478, and plate 480, in the direction of arrow B. Plate 480 will carry with it plate 510 moving front end 530 thereof against pin 532 to rock pin 532, its mounting bracket 534, and key restoring shaft 536, in the counterclockwise direction. This action, as more clearly explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,915, operates, through mechanisms otherwise provided in cash register 50, to release any keystems 124 which might otherwise be in a depressed or operated condition. Should shaft 536 be unable to rock in the counterclockwise direction due to a problem otherwise presented by cash register 50 then bracket 534 will remain in the condition shown in FIG. 25 and pin 532 carried thereby will prevent movement of plate 510 in the direction of arrow B. Plate 480 will however move in the direction of arrow B with arm 522 thereof compressing spring 524 and pin 512 thereof sliding in slots 514 of plate 510. Upon passage of cam surface 472 from cam shoulder 474 spring 524 will return plate 480 to the condition thereof shown in FIG. 19.

Movement of actuator drive shaft 178 in the direction of arrow Y brings cam 470 into engagement beneath cam shoulder 474 of pawl 476 rocking same in the clockwise direction (FIG. 19) about pin 478 and against the action of spring 482. As cam 470 passes pawl 476 spring 482 will rock pawl 476 in the counterclockwise direction about pin 478 engaging nose 484 thereof on shoulder 486 of plate 480.

A timing slide control cam 550 (FIGS. 20 and 25 is also disposed upon actuator drive shaft 178 and is formed with a lug 552 disposed for coaction with a lug 554 carried by an escapement gear 556 rotatably disposed upon shaft 178. Teeth 558 formed on gear 556 are disposed in mesh with teeth 560 formed on a timing control slide 562. Slide 562 has formed therein a pair of slots 564 to facilitate the mounting of slide 562 upon suitable studs and retainers (not shown) carried by side walls 504 of mounting bracket 500. Coaction of slots 564 with their studs and retainers is such as to permit movement of slide 562 in the directions of arrows A and B (FIG. 25). A spring 566, attached at one of its ends to a stud 568 carried by slide 562, and at its other end in a hole 570 formed in side wall 504, urges slide 562 in the direction of arrow A. Such movement is however normally prevented due to the interaction of teeth 560 of slide 562 with teeth 568 of gear 556, and due to the interaction between lug 554 of gear 556 with lug 552 of cam 550 which is carried by shaft 178. A timing slide operating plate 580 (FIGS. 21 and 25) is adjustably secured to slide 562 by a pair of threaded members 582. Plate 580 has formed therein a notch 584 adapted to receive a lug 586 of a timing slide 588 (FIGS. 21 and 22). Adjustment of plate 580 upon slide 562 is facilitated by an externally threaded stud 590 having one of its ends received in an internally threaded aperture formed in an upstanding arm 592 of plate 580 and the other of its ends received in an internally threaded aperture formed in an arm 594 of a cradle 596. An unthreaded stud 602 extends from externally threaded stud 590 to be slidably mounted in an appropriate aperture formed in an upstanding arm 604 on cradle 596. stud 602 is surrounded by a compression spring 606 housed between arm 604 and an abutment 608 secured to the end of threaded member 590. An operating nut 610 (FIGS. 20 and 25) is secured on externally threaded stud 590. By loosening threaded members 582 and by adjusting operating nut 610 plate 580 may be moved with respect to slide 562 to adjust the position of timing slide 588. Such adjustment of slide 588 serves to adjust the position of a leading edge 618 (FIG. 22), formed thereon, with respect to a source of illumination (FIGS. 22 and 23) and a photocell 624. Y

A guide plate 630 (FIG. 22), for guiding the movement of timing slide 588 in the directions of arrows A and B, (FIG. 22), is sandwiched between a left retaining plate 632 and a right retaining plate 634.

Plates

632 and 634 are secured together through suitable means such as members 636 (FIG. 21). Plate 634 also mounts a lamp housing 640 within which is

Claims

1. A mechanism for selecting and operating predetermined ones of a plurality of separately operable instrumentalities: comprising a. actuator means displaceable in a first predetermined direction from a home position to a selecting position and in a second predetermined direction from an unoperated condition to an operated condition; b. first displacing means to effect displacement of said actuator means in said first predetermined direction; c. selecting and operating means carried by said actuator means for movement therewith in said first predetermined direction and in such a way that said selecting and operating means is disposed for coaction with predetermined ones of the operable instrumentalities in sequence; d. second displacing means to effect displacement Of said actuator means in said second predetermined direction and in such a way that said selecting and operating means coacts with said predetermined ones of the operable instrumentalities to operate same; and e. reset and return means coacting with said actuator means to reset same from said operated condition to said unoperated condition and to return said actuator means from said selecting position to said home position.

2. The mechanism of claim 1: including a. arresting means coacting with said actuator means to arrest movement thereof in said first predetermined direction and with said selecting and operating means disposed for coaction with predetermined ones of the operable instrumentalities; and b. release means coacting with said arresting means to release said actuator means.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said selecting and operating means selects and operates but a single one of the separately operable instrumentalities at a time.

4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said actuator means: includes a. a plurality of slides each of which is disposed for selective coaction with a plurality of the separately operable instrumentalities.

5. The mechanism of claim 1: wherein a. said first predetermined direction is longitudinal with respect to a predetermined axis of movement; and b. said second predetermined direction is rotatably about said axis of movement.

6. An input mechanism adapted for disposition within a cash register having a plurality of selectively operable keys, arranged in an array with a plurality of keys per column and a plurality of columns, to select and operate one key per column in accordance with commands from a remote device appropriately interconnected to the register and in such a way as to not interfere with the manual operability of the cash register keys: comprising a. a slide for each of the columns of keys disposed in the space between adjacent key columns for coaction with the stems of the keys in one of the adjacent columns, and mounted therein for longitudinal displacement along an axis parallel to the columns as well as for rocking movement about said axis; b. a toothed pawl means for each of said slides, disposed for coaction with teeth carried by said slide to arrest longitudinal displacement thereof; c. a spring means for each of said toothed pawls urging the tooth thereon towards the teeth on said slide; d. an electromagnet for each of said pawls normally energized to attract a metallic plate carried by said pawl and to thereby hold said tooth on said pawl in a position out of engagement with said teeth on said slide; e. electrical means interconnecting said electromagnets to the remote device to transmit signals therefrom to said electromagnets to deenergize same to release said pawls in a predetermined manner and to reenergize same to reattract said pawls; f. a slide spring for each of said slides urging same along said axis and away from a home position; g. a plurality of gear teeth carried by each of said slides; h. a slide gear for each of said slides disposed in mesh with said gear teeth thereon and rotatably disposed upon an actuator shaft; i. an actuator cam for each of said slides disposed upon said actuator shaft for conjoint rotation therewith and adjacent a predetermined one of said slide gears; j. each of said cams including a lug disposed for coaction with a lug carried by the adjacent slide gear; k. said cam lugs and gear lugs coacting to resist rotation of said gears upon said actuator shaft and through said gear teeth and said gears displacement of said slides from said home position in response to urging of said slide springs; l. actuator drive means for driving said actuator cams carried thereby from a rest position through a predetermined excursion and back to said rest position; m. said lugs on said actuator cam moving away from said lugs on said slide gears during movement of said actuator shaft froM said rest position so that said lugs on said slide gears are caused to follow said cam lugs due to rotation of said slide gears about said actuator shaft in response to action of said slide spring moving said slide and cooperation of said gear teeth on said slide and said slide gear; n. a plurality of lugs carried by each of said slides each of said lugs being disposed to coact with a predetermined one of the key stems on the keys in the column associated with said slide; o. said electromagnets being successively deenergized in time for said toothed pawls to arrest longitudinal displacement of said slides with one of said lugs aligned with the key to be selected; p. said actuator cam means further including a cam surface disposed to coact with an associated one of said slides, after its longitudinal displacement has been arrested, to rock said slide about said axis of displacement from an unoperated condition to an operated condition so that said aligned lug coacts with the selected key to operate same; q. reset means coacting with said slides, after said slides have been moved to their operated condition, to return said slides to their unoperated condition; r. release means for releasing said pawls from their arresting position with said slides; s. said lugs on said actuator cams during movement of said actuator drive back to said rest position coacting with said lugs on said slide gears to rotate same and thus return said slides to their home positions.

7. The input mechanism of claim 6: including a. an operation slide disposed for coaction with the operation keys of the cash register; b. a plurality of lugs on said operation slide each disposed to coact with the stem of a different one of the operation keys of the cash register; c. cam and gear means on said actuator shaft disposed to coact with said operation slide to permit displacement thereof from a home position through positions wherein said lugs carried thereby are successively aligned for coaction with the keystems of an operation key; d. pawl and electromagnet means disposed for coaction with said operation slide to arrest movement thereof with a selected one of said lugs aligned for coaction with one of the operation key keystems; and in response to a signal from the remote device; and e. said cam and gear means coacting with said operation slide when so aligned to displace same from an unoperated condition to an operated condition to operate the selected keys, to permit return of said slide from said operated condition to said operated condition, and to return said operation slide to said home position.