US444680A - Store service apparatus - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' J. WHITTEMORE. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 444,680. Patented Jan. 13, 1891.

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(No Model.) 3 Sneets-Sleet 24 J. WHITTEMORE.

'STORE SERVIGE APPABATUS. i No. 444,680. Patented Jan. 13,1891.

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Patented Jan. 13, 1891.

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(No Model.)

-m fi m I second, in the Construction of the cash-regis- UNITED STATES JAMES KVHITTEMORE, OF DETROIT,

SPRAGUE & SON,

STORE-SERVlC PATENT OFFICE.

E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 4444380, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed March 8, 1890. Serial No. %8,193. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JAMES Wn'rrrnnonn, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Detroit, in the County of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usei'ul Improvernents in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a speeifieation, reference being had therein to the aceompanying drawings.

This inventon relates to new and useful inprovementsin store-service apparatus; and the inventiou consists, first, in the peeuliar Construction, arrangement, and combination, with a storerailway, of a cash register and indieator adapted to co-operate therewith;

tering apparatus, whereby it is looked from operation while the ear of the railway is absent from its station; third, ot the Construction of the indieating apparatus, whereby the indieation remains exposed while the car is away from its station; fourth, in the construction ot devices tor returning` the indication to zero upon the return of the car; lifth, in the Construction of the eash registering and eonuecting mechanism, whereby the car is locked against operation until the register is operated; sixth, in the peeuliar e0ustruetion, arrangement, and combinatiou of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings which aecompanv this speeiication, Figure l is a side elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a cross-section tlereof on line a; Fig. is a front elevation of the cash-register with the front plate removed and partly in section. Fig. i is a cross-section en line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lett end ot Fig. et with the casing removed. Fig. G is a vertical longitudinal section through the register on line .2 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the looking-bar for the aetuatingeord of the car.

Fig. S is a erossseetion on line 2" 2' in Fig. b.

Fig. 9 shows bar U as the carriage is passing out. Fig. lO is a diagram plan of mystore-service system applied to a number of lines. a

A is the hanger or standard ot a store-railway apparatus Secured to the cehngfio which one end of the wireway B is Secured. C is the terminal traelc, which in the drawings I have shown as a single strip of metal a, secured upon the track having an incline a' at its outer end. Below is a guide-rail a",having an ineline Z). The wheels of the carriage D are grooved to run upon the strip a', and a supplemental wheel b' runs upon the guiderail a". b" is a sliding pusher upon the strip a, adapted to be propelled by pulling the cord c, which pashes over the pulleys c' and e" and the end attaohed to the sliding pusher, which has suitable butter bloclts, against which buffers upon the car Strike. The sliding pusher is normally retracted by an elastie cord c'. The particular Construction of this cash-carrier and terminal station is not my invention, and I hereby disclaiin the same as thus far described. lVhile I have shown this particular Construction of carrier and terminal station, it is not at all an essential part of my invention, and anyother tyge of storeserviee apparatus may be used by simply making the necessary changes ef the paris Operating in connection with the registering neehanism. The hanger or standard A forms the support for my easl -registering apparatus which may be of any desired construction, so that 'it edoperates with the storeservice apparat-us. I have herein shown and described a cash register which is what I preferably use.

I will first describe the registering and indicating mechanism.

E isa shaft stationarilySecured in suitable fixed supports in the trame of the machine, and upon this shatt are journaled the series of actuating and indicating wheels E', each of which is provided with the cireunterential groove (Z, in. which is Secured the actuatingcord F. A recess is forned upon one side of these wheels, in which the coil-spring F' is Secured, one end to the shaft E and. the other end to the wheel E', so arranged that the tension of the spring will always tend to rotate 9 the wheels 'froni right to left, as shown by arrow in Fig. a. These wheels are also marked upon the face e with the digits and a eipher, and provided with a eireunferential ratchet Gr", one notch 'for each digit, the spring-pawls G (shown in Figs. 4 and S) engaging With the ratchet and holding the wheel in its adjusted position. An aperture G' in the casing (shown in Fig. 1) exhibits one figure at a time, the cipher'being normally eXposed to View. Each wheel E' carries a spring-pawl H, which engages With a ratchet upon the register-ingwheel H', which corresponds withthe ratchet upon the wheel E'. This wheel is marked to correspond with the figures upon the wheel E'.

H" is a pin upon the side of the wheel H', which strikes the inclineI upon the bell-crank lever I?, pivoted upon the shaft I" and rocks the lever so that the spring-pawl J moves forward one noteh of the 'registering-wheel J',"

which is pivoted upon the shaft J". As soon as the pin I-1 reaches the notch J' in the lever I' the spring K moves the lever to turn the wheel J' one noteh. The movement of the lever I'is stopped by the set-screw K', by means of which it may be adjusted.

K" is a spring-pawl, which prevents the retractiou of the wheel J Thus it will be seen that each rotation of the wheel I-I' moves the wheel J' one noteh;

While I have described but one group of wheels the parts referred to are similar in all three groups, andlike letters refer to like parts in each group. The wheel E' at the right represents' units, the next wheel to the left tens, and the next hundreds, when used with the decimal system.

The operation o this mechanism to indicate and register the amount shown in Fig. 1 ($9.85) is as follows: The operator draws down first upon the units or cents cord until the 5 is exposed to View. The wheel E' in the cents group is rotated five notches, carrying with it the registering-wheel H', and is held in its operated position by the pawl G. Next the tens-wheel is turned until the 8 is exposed to view, it having correspondingly moved its registering-wheel, and then the dollars-wheel is turned to 9 by its cord, and the amount is indicated as shown. A stationary dollar-mark and astationary period upon the casing assist in the reading.

I provide means for preventing the proi pelling of the car from the station until the registration is commenced, and means for un` looking the car to pernit its being propelled as soon as the registration is commcnced, of the following Construction: The pulley or wheel c' I locate within the casing of the reg ister, and the cord c I provide with an enlarged hearing or block L, having its upper end tapered and its lower end square, as plainly shown in Fig. 6. This block is guided in its vertical movement by the guide-tubes L'. Below this tube is slidingly secured the looking-bar L' ','having a slot L through which the block L can pass freely. iare wings pivotally secured to the 'bar L" and held in position by the springs i', so as to form the slot M, through which the cord can pass, but too small to pernit the passage of the block L, and the ape'rture M' of sufficient size to allow the block to pass freely through; '\Vlen the slot M is beneath the block L, it is evident that the cord for actuating the car cannot be withd rawn, as the blockcould not pass through the slot; but when the aperture M' is beneath the block the block can freely pass through to allow of propelling the car by drawing upon the cord. `To reoiprocate this bar I construct thefollowingmechanism: Narespring-latches which in the initial position of the registering and indicating wheels rest in a noteh in the periphery of each of the wheels E' so arranged .that when any wheel. E' has moved one noteh the end of its latch will be lifted out'of the noteh and forthe remainder of the rotation will run upon the face of the wheel. The upward notion of this latch carries with it the swinging bar N', which is supported by the inclined links N". The bar N' is common to all of the latches. One of the links has a crank-arm O, which engages with the bar L". A spring O' (see Fig."4) tends to hold the bar firnly in contact with the latches N. The operation of any indicatingwheel onenotch or more will raise the latch, and with it the bar N', rocking the arm O and moving the bar L' With the aperture M' be-` neath the guide Q. In this position it is evident the cord may be drawn to propel the car. As soon as the car is propelled the bar Q', which is upon the car, is withdrawn and al lows the vertical lever R to be moved by the tension of the spring Q". This lever at. its lower end bears against the rock-arm R' upon the shat't R", which carries the spring-pawls R'". These pawls are by this movement thrown into engagement with the ratchet upon the wheels E' and hold them against operation until the return of the car. At its end the arm Q' upon the car has a tapered or inclined portion upon its inner edge, which bears against 'the lever R, moving it, and thus throwng the pawls R out of engagement with the wheels E' as long as the car is in place. The parts having been operated to register and indicate any desired amount and the car being propelled, the registerin g Operating-wheels are returned to normal position bythe incoming of the car by disengaging the pawls G by means of the releasing-bar S, extending across all of the pawls and engaging with the extension S' thereof. This bar is supported by suitable pivotal arms S" and has an arm 8 which at its outer end is connected to the arm T, which connects to the bell-crank lever T', the other arm of which connects to the tri pping-bar T", extending outside the casing and connecting to thelever U, which at its lower end connects to the bar U' the other end of which is supported by a link U', havinga squared head, against which the spring V' acts, tendiug to return the link U' and bar U" to their normal position, as shown in Fig. 1. The bar U" projects slightly below the bottom of the guide-rail a" and in the path of the guide-wheelb'. The wheel b' on the incoming car strikes the bar U" and swings it upwardly and inwardly swinging IOO IIO

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the lever U, and with it the rod T, depressing the bar S and disengaging the paWls G, which allows all the parts to return to their normal position. The registering-wheels are held in their adjusted position by means of the pawls V". The outgoing of the car does not operate the tripping mechanism, as the movement of the lever U in the opposite direction does not impart motion to the rod T, owing to its movement in the slot V in the rod, as shown in Fig. 9. It will be seen that as soon as the car is shot and the operator releases his hold ot' the cord c it is drawn toits initial position ready for the next operation by the spring c' wthdrawing the block L above the bar L" through the medium of the connecting-cord c. Should the spring c'not act promptly, the passage of the block L is permitted through the bar L' by the lateral yielding of the wings -i, which are pivotally connected to the bar and held nornallyin position (shown in Fig. 7) by the spring i'. It will thus be seen that the action of the cashregister is dependent upon and co-operates with the cash-carrier apparatus.

A store-service apparatus thus constructed and comprising a cash-carrier way connecting a sending and receiving station and a carrier or car on that Way and the cash-register constructed and Operating as described accomplishes the following results, which are not accomplished by either one alone. In many stores where a single cash-carrier lne is used it would be a simple matter for the clerk and cashier to conspire to defraud the proprietor where the cash-carrier alone were used, but by applying the cash-register, cooperating with the carrier, the clerk nust necessarily operate the register before the cash can be sent to the cashier. In thus registering the indication is eXposed to the purchaser and the clerk is thus called upon to indicate i the proper amount of the sales, which is also registered. As soon as the cash is put in the carrier and the carrier propelled the register is locked against further operation by the clerk. Should the clerk make another sale while the car is absent, he could not, therefore, indicate and register the same until the car returned. As soon as the car comes in, the parts are all returned to their' initial position, the indication to naught, ready foranother operation. The proprietor can at any tine see by inspecting the registering-wheels the total amount of Sales, a suitable hinged cover being provided for the register.

Another use of my invention, in addition to that previously mentioned, is in use in large stores having a number of lines. A cashregister at each sending-station accurately and automatically foots up the amount of cash sent from that station, and at nightthe proprietor can simply add the total of the amounts registered at the different Stations, and if it corresponds with the cash account at the cashiefs desk it is evident thatit must be correct; but if there is a shortage it is evident that something is wrong. To make sure that each amount is registered before sending forward the cash the operation of the carrier must be dependent upon the prior operation of the register, and the register must be locked during the absence of the car, so that no cash can be sent unless registered and none registered unless the car is present to receive the cash.

` The present use of stub-books requires that, in order to check the totals, the stubs be added. The cash-registers thus placed indicate the sales of each counter each day, and the proprietor can see which counters or departments are doing well and which are having small sales.

The advantage of my type of register is that it may be Secured upon the standard supporting the terminal station of the carrier. The indicator and registering mechanism is thereby out ot' reach, so that it cannot be tampered with.

The operation ot the register by simply drawing upon the cord is so simple that any one can operate it who can count and pull a string. Having the register above the counter also leaves the counter free of its encumbrance.

While I show a specific construction of cashcarrier apparatus and a specific Construction of cash-registering apparatus, I do not desire to limit myself to such specific construction, as I an aware that there are a great many different kinds of cash-carri'ers and many kinds of cash-registers which may be combined with proper mechanism for causing then to co-operate in the nanner and for the purpose herein described; nor do I desire to limit myself to the location of the cash-regisister, althoughI deem the end of the way and the standard of the cash-carrier apparatus by far the best location. I know it can be put upon the counter or even carried by the carrier itself.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. The combinat-ion, with a store-service apparatus,of a cash-register and means actuated by the register for controlling the operation of the apparatus, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a store-service apparatus, of a cash-register connected directly therewith and mechanism actuated by the register for controlling the operation of the apparatus, substantially as described.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way connecting two Stations, a carrier on said way, a cash-register at one of said Stations, and means arranged and constructed to make the operation of the carrier dependent on the same, substantially as described.

l. The combiuation of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, and connecting mechanism arranged to make the operation of one dependent on the other, substantially as described.

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ratus, a cash register and indicator, and connecting mechanism whereby the indicating nechanism is returned to its initial position, ready for another indication by the movement of the car, snbstantially as described.

8. The combination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash register and indicator, and mechanism whereby the indication is removed upon the return of the car, substantially as described.

9. The combinat-ion of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash register and indicator, and connecting mechanism whereby the indication is exposed during the travel of the car and is removed upon the return thereof, substantially as described.

10. The combination,with a cash-carrier and a cash register and indicator, of a series of indioating devices,meehanism for Operating said devices, a tripping device common to all of said indicating devices, and a connection between said tripping device and the cash-car apparatus, whereby the indication is removed by the movement of the cash-car, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a cash-car and a cash register and indicator, of a series of indicating-wheels, mechanism for Operating each of said wheels independently, a tripping device common to all of said indicatingwheels, and a connection between said tripping device and the cash-car, whereby the indication is removed by the movement of the cash-ear, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a cash-car and a cash register and indicator, of a series of spring-actuated indicating-wheels, mechanism for Operating each of said wheels independently, a tripping device common to all of said indicating-Wheels, and connecting mechanism whereby the wheels are turned to their initial position by the incoming car, substantially as described.

13. The oombination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a lock for the registering mechanism, and mechanism for disenga-ging said lock when the car is at the station, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a lock for the registering mechanism, looking said mechanism against operation during the absence of the car, an arm uponsaid car, and connecting mechanism disengaging said lock upon the return of the car, substantially as described.

15. The conbination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a series of wheels adapted to register different denominations i of monetary value, mechanism for Operating the wheels of each denomination, a pawl to hold said wheels in their operated position, a 'trip common to all the-registering actuating mechanism, tripping mechanism for Operating said trip, operated by the movement of the carrier,

whereby the registering actuating mechanism is reset by the movement of the cash-carrier, substantially as' described.

lt. The combination, in a store-service apparatus, of a propelling-cord, a cash-car, a cash-register, a looking device normally locking the propelling-cord of the car, and mechanism for releasing the cord upon the operation ot' the cash-registering device, substantial'ly as described,

17. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a cash-carrier and a cash-register', a looking device for the carrier, and mechanism between said looking device and the cashregister, whereby said lock is released upon the operation of said register, substantially as described.

18. In a store-service apparatus, the conbination of a cash-carrier, a cash-register, a looking device for the carrier, and connecting mechanism with each denomination of the cash-register apparatus, whereby upon any indication of denomination of the cashregister the said look is released, substan` tially as described.

19. The combination, in a store-service apparatus, of a cash-carrier and a cash-registering apparatus, of a lock normally holding the cash-carrier apparatus from operation and releasing it upon the registration of any amount, substantially as described.

20. The combination, in a store-service apparatus comprising a cash-carrier and a cashregister, of the locking-bar L, having the apertures M M', the propelling-cord of the carrier, the block L thereon, and connecting mechanism between the bar L' and the registering mechanism, whereby the cord is normally locked, but is nnlocked upon the operation of the registering mechanism, substantially as described. t

21, In a 'store-service apparatus, a cashregister and a car normally held in an inoperative position by means controlled by the register, substantially as described.

22. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the combination of a cash-indicator and a look for the indicator, and mechanism to release the look bythe operation of the carrier, substantially as described.

23. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the oom-` IOC I'IO

actuated by the in dicat'or to release the earrier, substantizily as described.

28. The conbination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a lock for the reg stering mechnisn, and meehanisn for disengaging said lock When the carrier apparatus is in position to be operated, snbstantially as described.

In testmony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of February, 1890.

JAMES WHITTEMORE. witnesses:

M. B. O7DOGHERTY, GEO. A. GREGG.

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