US484376A - Ijvtejftor - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. F. ROBERTS.

CASH REGISTER.

N0. 484,376. Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

WITJV'ES ES ht/ IN E TOR WWW (No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 2. E. P. ROBERTS.

CASH REGISTER.

1 I0.484,3'76. Patented 001:. 11, 1892.

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WITNESSES I mwlk MW flttorneys.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. F. ROBERTS.

CASH REGISTER. No. 484,376. Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

I WITJVES S WMM Attorney:

'IETEL (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. F. ROBERTS.

CASH REGISTER No. 484,376. Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

.Attorneyu" UNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVARD F. ROBERTS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TI'IE ROBERTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,376, dated October 11, 1892.

Application filed August 11, 1890. Serial No. 361,731. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, EDWARD F. ROBERTS, a Citizen of Great Britain, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in cash-registers; and it will be set forth in the succeeding specification and claims.

Like letters refer to the same parts in the Several figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the principal parts of my invention with the drawer and operating mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail View and side elevation of the mechanism for operating the units-wheel. Fig. 3 is a detail view and side elevation of the key-lever, the ratchet-wheel for operating the units-wheel, and mechanism for communicating motion from the lever to said ratchel-wheel. Fig. 4 is a view of the same mechanism in position after the keylever has been depressed. Fig.5 is an inside elevation of the drawer and the mechanism operating the same with the shafts of such mechanism in cross-section. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line wxof Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an outside elevation of a portion of the drawer, the locking mechanism, and the lever for operating such locking mechanism. Fig. 8 is a view in detail of the target-rod and the toggle-levers with a section of the keylever or operating-lever. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 10 is a detail of the elbow-lever and throwing-bar for the targetoperating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the detached links of the toggle-levers; and Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the entire mechanism of the register, the casing and woodwork of drawer being removed and the target broken off. Fig. 15 is a detail sectional View of the dogging device.

One of the improvements coming within the scope of my present invention relates to the cash-drawer and the mechanism for manipulating the same, and this I will now describe.

The drawer A for containing cash is of ordinary shape andconformation. Thisdrawerhas affixed to each of its sides a longitudinal rackbar B,the under side of which is smooth and rests on friction-rollers C 0, attached to sidesof main frame orcasing, on which the drawer 1111 travel. The frame is provided with roov e l horizontal rails F, attached toits sides formin ways for the tongued racks E, which are fast ened to the side edges of the slidin cover I) of the drawer. Mounted upon each e iid of a suitable shaft G journaled transversely in the main frame above the drawer and between it and cover, are two pinions G G which are arranged so as to be between the rack-bars and the drawer and the cover and to mesh therewith. Upon the shaft G are two sprin s l I, having their inner ends secured ri idI to such shaft and their outer ends fast ene i to a pro ection from the main frame. These springs are so wound that their normal tendency is to turn the shaft and the pinions thereon, and thus cause the drawer to slide outwardly and the cover to slide inwardly The pinions being placed between the rack-bars of the respective movable parts causes these parts to slidein opposite directions. To keep the drawer closed, I provide the latter with any suitable catch, such as is shown at H which may interlock with a latch K pro ecting from a rock-shaft journaled iii the frame, which rock-shaft has an arm L proecting upwardly therefrom. This arm I may be manipulated from anycoiivenient or tion of the machine and by hand or by p slr rod. As shown, it is operated from each ke lever by mechanism hereinafter described and also by a special key-leverM, which may be arranged conveniently at one side of the machine andin a position to be manipulated for this purpose alone. By the use of the rack-bars l) and E or similar mechanism and the intermediate mechanism for drivin such rack-bars in reverse directions I am eiihbled to uncover the cash-drawer to the full extent by only one-half the movement of either the drawer 01" its cover which has ordinaril been necessary. 3 I will next describe the tar,g ;et-operatin mechanism. Pivoted in the main frame b means of a transverse rod N 6 or otherwise i s a series of key-levers N N, which are marked with predetermined symbols in the usual manner, or according to the best method elected by the constructer for the particular use to which the machine is to be put. In the machine shown in Fig. 12-the practical machine-I preferably have three groups of key-levers on shaft N, nine levers in each group, and each group representing units, tens, and hundreds, or cents, dimes, and dollars, as indicated in Fig. 12. The change-key M is also mounted on shaft N, beside the units group. The rear end of each one of these key-levers is preferably bent upward and provided with a small friction-roller. Arranged in the machine is a series of plates P bearing legends corresponding to the symbols upon the key levers, one plate with its legend for each keylever. These plates, with their legends, I denominate targets. I have found that it is convenientto mount the targets in the frame and operate the same in the following manner: To each target is affixed a depending stem or rod P which at a short distance from its lower end is bent at right angles and then again bent so as to projecta small distance in a parallel plane to the main portion of the stem, but at right angles to the bent portion. Transversely of the frame I arrange two bars, one P at a point near the top of such frame and the other P at a point much lower down and in the path of the lower vertical ends of the stems or rods of the target. Each of these transverse bars is provided with vertical holes made to fit the portions of the stems or rods P which pass therethrough and are guided thereby. Connected to the target-stems, preferably at'a point where the main portion of the stem is turned in the right-angle direction, is a link 19 of a toggle-lever P, the other link 19 of which is pivoted at its outer end to the cross-bar P In their normal position with targets lowered all the toggle-levers are collapsed; but when a key-lever is operated its rear end strikes the lower link of the togglelever and carries the same upward until such lever is straightened, and, further, until its central pivot passes a vertical line between its end pivots and strikes a plate Q, which will hereinafter be described. In this manner the particular target actuated is lifted above its associates and caused to display itslegend or symbol, and the position of the toggle-lever which supports it is such that the target will be held by gravity in this position exposed to view until the position of the toggle-lever is changed. Journaled in the main frame above the key-levers and intermediate shaft N and bar P is a shaft S on which are arms S, the extremities of which are connected by a cross-rod Z, extending transversely from one side of the machine to the other. R R are opposite hook-shaped levers pivoted to the opposite sides of the main frame near the lower ends of their longer arms, their pivots being near the lower endsof arms S. The

upper ends of the longer arms of levers R are connected by a transverse plate 0, which lies normally intermediate bars P P. The shorter arms of levers R curve up in front of rod Z when the parts are in normal position and are provided with spring-pins a, which engage said rod and cause the latter to rock levers R when it is swung upward. The shaft S upon which the arms S are mounted, is the main shaft of the machine, and when a key-lever is manipulated its first effect is to cause the arms S to swing in the arc of a circle, and thereby cause rod Z to come in contact with spring-pins a in the short arms of the bent levers R, which action causes said arms to turn upon their journals and cause the plate Q to strike the toggle-levers and force them toward the rear of the machine until their central pivots are beyond a straight line joining their extremities, and then they drop by their own weight with the targets.

The mechanism for operating the registering-wheels is next to be described. T T designate pairs of ratchet-wheels mounted loosely on shaft S beside each other, there being one pair of such wheels for each of the cents, dimes, and dollars groups of keys. Each wheel has a band or registering Wheel T attached toit, the perimeter of which is figured like an ordinary registering-wheel. Thus the wheel attached to the wheel T of the cents group is numbered 1 to 99, and the wheel attached to wheel T of the cents group is marked with another series of numbers indicating dollars, and is moved one notch for every complete revolution of wheel T, as hereinafter described, registering $1. Mounted on shaft S beside each wheel T is an elbow-lever or key-lever stop and regulator U. This hasarear depending plate portion U, which extends transversely over the rear ends of the series of key-levers in a group in rear of shaft S and also has a front arm U which is bent downwardly and then laterally and extends transversely over the series of key-levers in a group in front of shaft S and is adapted to engage a shoulder c of either key-lever N. hen a key-leverN is depressed, its rear end strikes plate U and oscillates elbow-lever U, depressing arm U thereof until it engages shoulder 0, when the movement of the elbow-lever is arrested. In Figs. 8 and 4: I have shown the key-levers N provided with spring-pins N for striking the plates U, and in Fig.1 I show the key-levers provided with screws N which can be adjusted to various heights, so as to impart varying movements to the plate from the several levers. The arm U may be provided with a series of adjusting-screws I), by which the con tact with shoulders 0 may be regulated. NV is an arm attached to the hub of each elbow-lever U, and IV is a pawl pivoted to the outer end thereof and engaging teeth of the adjoining ratchet-wheel T in Figs. 1 and 2, being held in engagement therewith by a spring W Consequently when the elbowlever is shifted by a key-lever, as described, pawl W is raised more or less and turns the ratchet-wheel T forward accordingly. T T are dogs pivoted on a transverse shaft ocabove and somewhat in rear of shaft S engaging ratchets T T to prevent backward movement thereof. T is a dogging device suspended loosely on shaft m above each pair of wheels T T and having a depending lugg, which overlies the perimeter of wheel T attached to ratchet T, and is adapted to be engaged by a pin don said Wheel once during each revolution of wheel T. T also has a springtooth e and a tooth it behind tooth both of which are adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet T. When the pin cl shifts lug g, the latter. swings teeth 6 it forward also, thereby moving wheel T forward one notch. Tooth e is the driving-pawl, and tooth his a lockingpaWl, being shorter than tooth 6, so that when the latter has caused wheel T to move one notch tooth h comes into engagement with a tooth of the wheel T and looks it upon the same principle as the escapement of a clock, so that wheel T cannot be worked forward by momentum past the proper point. X designates a curved bar suspended from shaft 51;

beside each wheel T and depending below and beside dog W and in front of rod Z. Yis an additional wedge-shaped strip secured to the rear edge and lower portion of bar X. WVhen moved inward, the bar X binds the dog WV against its ratchet, so that the dog serves as a brake and stop by binding or biting the wheel T, and when the dog stops moving the wheel T stops instantly with it. Normally the bars X swing rearwardly out of contact with the dogs WV. WVhen a key-lever is depressed, thereby lifting the rod Z and dog W, as hereinbefore described, the rod Z in using contacts with the cam-surface Y of the bar and swings the latter forward, thereby binding the dog WV against the ratchet so closely that the ratchet and dog are interlocked and the movement and stoppage of both are simultaneous. Upon the release of the key-lever. the rod Z drops and bar X swings rearwardly, permitting the dog WV to drop with arm WV to normal position without binding on the ratchet-wheel.

The feature of locking the ratchet so that the pawl becomes the stop for the ratchet is one of the main features of my invention, and as it might be accomplished by various means I desire to protect it broadly.

By the arrangement above described when a key-lever has caused the registering mechanism to do the desired work all further movement are prevented, inasmuch as the ratchets are locked by the pawls h and the pawl upon the arm WV, and the bent lever U is locked by the shoulder upon the key-lever, and consequently steadiness and certainty of movement are secured which have heretofore been unattainable. The same movement of the key-lever also causes the release of the drawer, as hereinbefore described. These locking devices also prevent dishonest or careless persons tampering with the registering mechanism, or, as it is styled, from beating the machine. The spring-pins upon the key-levers-such as I have shown in Figs. 3 and 4Ladd to the efficiency of the machine in this respect, for it is impossible to ascertain to what extent this spring will compress, and the elbow-lever U, which actuates the registering mechanism, may be given its full throw (allowed by shoulder 0) before the rear end of the key-lever has completed its upward movement and thrown up the target.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to operate a ratchet-wheel of a register by means of a reciprocating rack-bar pivoted to an arm projecting from a rock-shaft and adapted when raised to be thrown into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet, so as to give the latter a partial rotation. My invention differs from such construction both in function and mode of operation, it being the sole object of the device referred to to insure an engagement of the rack-bar with the ratchet for the purpose of effecting a partial rotation of the latter, while the function of my device is to positively .lock the pawl or dog to the ratchet-wheel on the initial movement of a key-lever, so that it not only effects a partial rotation of the wheel,but serves, also, as a stop therefor for the purpose of preventing forward motion of the wheel by reason of its acquired momentum when the motion of the pawl is arrested. I disclaim any such construction as that heretofore proposed and for the purpose stated.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a casing, a drawer therein, racks attached to the sides of the drawer, a horizontal shaft journaled in the sides of the casing above the drawer, and the coiled springs on said shaft for revolving the same with the sliding cover above the drawer and shaft, the tongue-and-groove guide-supports for the cover, the racks attached to the cover vertically over the racks on the drawer sides, and a single pinion on and near each end of said shaft, directly meshing with a rack on the drawer and on the cover, all substantially as described.

2. Ina cash-register, the combination of the rod carrying a target, a toggle-lever for elevating said rod, and a key-lever adapted to open said toggle with the oscillating bent levers R R, the connecting-plate Q, swinging links S, and connecting-rod Z for knocking down the toggle, all substantially as described.

3. In a cash-register, one or more key-le vers provided with shoulders, an oscillating bent or elbow-lever secured to a cross-shaft of the frame above the inner or longer end of the key-lever, one side of the bent lever being arranged in the path of the longer end of the key-lever, so as to be oscillated thereby upon the depression thereof, and the other side of the bent lever making contact with the shoulder of the key-lever when the elbow-lever is oscillated, whereby the throw of the bent lever is limited, substantially as shown and described.

at. In a cash-register, one or more key-levers, each provided with a shoulder, the bent lever secured so as to turn upon the shaft in the frame, one end of the bent lever arranged in the path of the longer arm of the key-lever, the other end of the bent lever having an adjustable stop for coaction with the shoulder on a key-lever, whereby the throw of the bent lever may be adjusted to a predetermined degree, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a cash-register, one or more key-levers, each having a spring-pressed projection, a bent lever journaled on a cross-shaft, one side of said bent lever being provided with a stop to limit its throw and its outer side adapted to be struck by the spring-pressed projection, a registering-wheel mounted on the shaft beside the bent lever, and a bar connected with the bent lever for carrying a pawl for operating the ratchet of the registering-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a cash-register, one or more key-levers, an oscillating bent or elbow lever arranged in the path of the longer arm of the key-lever and connected to mechanism for operating the register, said bent lever being pivoted above the key-lever, so that it will be both oscillated and stopped by the key-lever when the latter is depressed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a cash-register, a registering-wheel, one or more key-levers, an oscillating bent leverbeside the registering-wheel, having one end arranged in the path of the longer arm of the key-lever and the other end provided with stops to limit its movement, and mechanism carried by said lever for operating said registering-wheel, substantially as described.

8. In a cash-register, the combination of a ratchet-wheel operating the register, one or more key-levers, an arm journaled on acrossshaft and carrying a dog for operating the ratchet-Wheel and arranged in the path of the key-lever, in combination with mechanism for moving and simultaneously locking the dog to the ratchet-wheel on the initial movement of a key-lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a cash-register, a register-wheel, one or more key-levers, an arm journaled on a cross-shaft, carrying the pawl, and arranged in the path of movement of the key-levers, a ratchet-wheel connected with the registerwheel, and a pivoted and curved bar, and mechanism for automatically carrying the free end of this bar inwardly, so as to lock the pawl to the ratchet-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a cash-register, one or more key-levers, a projection journaled upon the main shaft, having an arm arranged in the path of the key-levers, and an arm carrying a pawl, in combination with a ratchet connected to the register. a bar pivoted at one end having an outer cam-face at its free end, and mechanism for automatically forcing such free end inwardly, so as to cause the pawl to lock the ratchet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a cash-register, one or more key-levers provided each with a shoulder, a bent or elbow lever journaled upon a shaft in the frame, having one arm arranged in the path of the key-lever, a bent arm having its end arranged for contact with the shoulder, a pawl suitably connected with the elbow-lever, a pivoted curved bar having an outer cam-face, and mechanism for automatically actuating the free end of the curved bar, causing the same to lock the pawl in a notch of aratchetwheel, which latter is connected to the register, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a cash-register, one or more key-levers, a units-register, mechanism connecting the key-lever with the units-register, a pin on the face of the units-register, a dogging device T, pivoted to a shaft in the frame and consisting of a single casting having a laterallyextending lug for engagement with the pin, and a spring-tooth e and tooth 7L for engagement with the registering device for tens and hundreds, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. The combinatiomwith the ratchet-wheel for operating the registering devices and its actuating pawl ordog, of a key-lever and connections for shifting said dog and mechanism wherebythe dog is locked in engagement with the wheel on the initial movement of the key-lever and the dog and wheel caused to move together about a common center, so that the arrest of the motion of the dog shall stop the further movement of the wheel substantially as described.

14. The combination of the ratchet-wheel for operating the registering mechanism, its actuating pawl or dog, and key-levers and connections for raising said dog to revolve said ratchet-wheel forwardly with the swinging cam-bar and connections for shifting the same, whereby upon the depression of a keylever the dog is moved to revolve the ratchetwheel and simultaneously positively interlocked therewith, so as to prevent forward motion of the wheel by momentum when the motion of the dog is arrested, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the pair of registering-wheels and ratchets, the dogging device suspended above the same, formed of a single casting having fixed teeth g h and provided with a spring-tooth c, substantially as described.

16. The combination of the ratchet-wheel for actuating the registering devices, the actu- ITO ating-dog therefor, the cam-bar Y, rod Z, and key-levers, all substantially as described.

17. In a register, a ratchet-wheel and its operating mechanism, including a pawl or dog adapted to normally engage said wheel and move therewith, and means foractuating the dog and simultaneously locking the same in engagement with the wheel on the initial movement of said operating mechanism, so as to cause both dog and wheel to move and stop together, substantially as described.

18. In a register, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel and its operating mechanism, including a pawl or dog adapted to engage a tooth of said wheel, a swinging cam-bar, and connections for shifting said bar, so as to cause the latter 'to lock said pawl or dog in a tooth of said ratchet, substantially as described.

19. In a register, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel and its operating mechanism, of a movable cam-bar and a rod extending across the key-levers, whereby upon the operation of a key said bar is caused to look a dog-in a tooth of said ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

20. In a register, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel and its operating mechanism, of a cam-bar and a rod secured to arms projecting from a shaft journaled in the main frame, said rod extending across the key-levers, whereby upon the initial movement of the key the said bar is caused to lock a pawl or dog in a tooth of said ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

21. In a register, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel and its operating mechanism, of a cam-bar, a series of key-levers, and a rod secured to arms projecting from a shaftjournaled in the main frame, said rod extending across and above the rear ends of said keylevers, whereby upon the initial movement of a key the cam-bar is caused to look a pawl or dog in a tooth of said ratchet-wheel and to retain the dog or pawl so locked during the stroke of said key, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD F. ROBERTS. Witnesses:

O. M. BALL, GEO. W. STICKNEY.

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