US508353A - Cash register and indicator - Google Patents

Description

v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' G. W. SPURR.

GASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

S E S S E N n W ATTORNEY G. 2 Sheets -S heet 2.

Patented N '7 1893.

, CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR;

(Np Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

GEORGE w. SPURR, onNEw BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,353, dated November '7, 1893.

Application filed March 10 1893. Serial No. 465,465. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SPURR, of

New Britain, county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cash Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention consists in combining the hereinafter more fully described mechanism in a novel way.

The object of my invention is to construct 'a cheap and yet serviceable cash register in the manner hereinafter described.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention in which several details are shown in dotted outline. Fig. 2 is a horizontal crosssection on the line 22 (Fig. 1) of the addingup dial mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection of Fig. 1 on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the register mechanism on the line 4-4 Fig.3.

Ais a suitable standard or base supporting the cash register mechanism. This base may rest upon a suitable cabinet B which may contain a drawer D.

- E is an upright support rising from the base A. The upper part of this support E is dial shaped as shown in Fig. 1.

F (Fig. 3) is a hollow shaftwhich is fixed to thecenter of the dial-plate E. This hollow shaft F supports the internal dial mechanism of the cash-register inthe manner described.

G is a front dial-plate having formed upon its face the figures O, 5, 10, 15, 856., to 95 inelusive, or if desired, all the figures from 1 to 99 inclusive. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that the rear side of the dialplate G, is peculiarly formed, there being an over-lapping edge as clearly seen in Fig. 3. On the inside of this over-lapping edge alternate depressions and elevations are by preference formed, for a purpose hereinafter described. Fixed also to the rear side of this dial-plate G is the adding-up mechanism, consisting of the dials H, I, J. This adding-up mechanism may be of any well known mechanism now in use andmay be arranged as shown to be set at-any desired time to indicate that nothing isregistered. I do not claim any special fea- I ture alone of this adding-up mechanism as my invention.

K is a dial frictionally carried upon the 1101- low shaft F. This dial is dished or concaved as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the edge of this 7 dial is flattened sufliciently to carry numbers corresponding to the numbers on the dial plate G. The flattened portion of the dialK which carries the numbers, rests close to the rear side of the dial-plate G. These numbers appear successively past an opening in the dial-plate G, (see Fig. 1,) in which figure the number 50 on the dial-plate K is seen throug this hole.

The object of dishing or concaving the dialplate K is to give room between the dial-plate G for the adding-up mechanism H, I, J. (See Fig. 3.) Formed as a part of this dial, or attached to the rear side of the dial K (as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3) by means of the screws L L, is a ratchet-wheel M.

N is a dial frictionally carried upon the hollow shaft F. This dial performs the function of permitting the drawer-locking mechanism to be operated, and also the function of moving ahead the dial plate K which indicates the amount of the purchase. The dial N may be recessed :so' that the ratchet-wheel M is contained partially, or entirely, within the said recess asf-shown in Fig. 3. The 'object of recessing' this dial N is to economize space. Connected to the dial N is the arm 0. Thearm O and pointer Pare connected together by the cross-piece R and are parallel to each other. The pointer P is secured to a shaft S which runs through the hollow shaft F. At the opposite end of this shaft S is fixed another point T. Either pointer P or T may be supplied with a handle U. On the rear side of the dial plate, formed by the up-' per end of the standard E, are numbers formed causes the pointer 0 to be moved ahead and thereby the dial plate N, to which the pointer O is secured. Fixed to this dial N are one or more pawls V V. (See dotted lines in Fig. 4.) These pawls engage in the teeth on the ratchet-wheel M which is secured to the dial K. It will be seen that as the pointers T and P are moved ahead, and the revolving motion transmitted thereby to the dial N, the said pawls VV on this dial N will cause the ratchet-wheel M and the dial K to be moved around in the same direction. It will now be seen that if the number 0 upon the recessed dial plate K is in front of the hole in the dial-plate G, and the pointers P and T both point to the figure 0, it will indicate that no fraction of a dollar is at that time registered. As soon as the pointers P and T are moved ahead as be fore described, motion will be transmitted to the dial K and the number corresponding to the number at which the pointer stops will be seen through the hole in the dial-plate G. Vhen it is desired to again turn the pointer back to zero to permit the next amount to be registered, the dial K remains quiet and the pawls slip over the ratchet-teeth M. It dcsired, an additional means may be added to secure against the dial K being moved backward by the friction of the pawls V V slipping over the ratchets. The springs W W (see Fig. 41.) carrying at their outer ends the rollers X X, may be secured to the said dial K. The tendency of these springs W W is to press outward and to hold the rollers against the inside edge of the dial plate G which, as before described, has alternate depressions and elevations, the number of depressions corresponding to the number of figures indicated on the outside of the dial plate G. As the dial K is advanced, therefore, these rollers will run along this uneven surface and hold at each depression the dial K until sufficient power is brought to move it on to the next and so on. Another feature of this roller and spring mechanism is that the dial K may be very loosely carried on the hollow shaft F so that if the pointer should be moved ahead quickly and should happen to stop a little beyond or a little short of the number desired to be indicated, the tendency of the spring and rollers would be to draw the dial around until the rollers rest in the depression as indicated in the drawings, Fig. 4. When the roller is in this depression the numberon the dial K is directly in the middle of the hole in the dial G. The pin projection a (Fig. 1), or other suitable means, maybe provided to intermittently move ahead the wheel J which is the first one of the series of the adding-up wheels H, I, J. A recess A may be formed in the periphery of the dial N for the following purpose:

B is a post supported by a spring D from below. The upper end of this post B is bent, as indicated in Fig. 3, and bears against the periphery of the dial N. The lower end of the post B forms an overhanging bolt E.

When the upper end of the post B bears against the periphery of the disk N, the bolt E, is depressed and in position to lock the drawer. A spring latch F is fixed to the inside of the drawer in any suitable position. This latch may consist of a suitable piece of spring metal forming an abrupt angle to engage with the bolt E Eon one side and forming an incline on the other side so that the drawer, when it is open, and the bolt E is in the depressed position, may be shut, and the spring latch, which is by preference only supported at one end G,will slide under bolt E E and coming up on the other side securely lock the drawer. A recess maybe cut in the back wall of the drawer, so as to allow the said drawer to pass the downwardly projecting bolt E. When the pointers P T are turned back to zero the recess A in the periphery of the dial N will permit the said draw-bar D to rise as will readily be seen, inasmuch as it will slip into the said recess A. In this way when the backward movement of the handle U and the pointers P T, after the pointers on their way back have passed the figure 5 and approach the figure 0, the bolt E will slip into the recess A in the periphery of the dial N, and the drawer will be unlocked and may be opened byasuitable spring H, orby hand.

In operation, a sale has been made, amounting to a certain sum, there is no amount registered, no change in the drawer and the drawer is open. The amount of the sale is indicated by pushing the handle U ahead and thereby the dial K, and the pointers P T are stopped at the number which indicates the amount of the purchase. In this movement the draw-bar has been depressed by being forced out of the recess A in the periphery in the dial N and the dial N has been advanced ahead so that the number upon its face, appearing in front of the hole in the dial face G, indicates the amount of the purchase. The change received from the sale is placed in the drawer and the drawer is shut. much as the pointers and therefore the dial wheel M are at the position indicating one of the numbers from 5 to 95 inclusive, it is possible to lock the drawer. When the next sale is made, it will be impossible to unlock the drawer, or to make change, or to put the amount of the purchase in the drawer until the handle and pointers have been moved back to zero when the drawer unlocks and may be opened. The change is put into the drawergbut the drawer will not automatically lock until the pointer is moved away from zero and ahead to indicate the amount of the purchase. The drawer is still open, the change can be made and the drawer then closed, and automatically locked, &c.

The advantages offered by this mechanism are as follows: The amount of the purchase is indicated, the successive purchases are automatically added up, and the drawer-lock mechanism is at all times in a position to lock the drawer when the said drawer has been pushed Inasin, except when the pointers P and T are at zero. Any suitable transparent cover Z may be used to cover the dial face G. This cover Z would serve to prevent tampering with the adding up dials H, I, J, by dishonest employs. Any suitable lock may be provided to the cover so that it may be readily removed by the holder of the key. 7

V is a handle to the drawer D, which handle may be connected to a little latch 11 on the inside of the drawer that may serve to hold the drawer shut when the pointers have been moved back to zero for the purpose of opening the drawer only for the purpose of making change.

I is a slot in the bottom and near the center of the drawer D.

J 'is a post fixed to the lower part of the case'B and projecting up through the slot 1. When the drawer is closed the post J is at or near one end of the slot I. When the drawer is opened, it will be clearly seen that the post will prevent the drawer from sliding entirely out of the case B, the distance the drawer can be opened being limited by the length of the slot.

'K is a bell secured to the bottom of the drawer. The edge of this bell should preferably slightly overlap the edge of the slot 1 so that when the drawer is opened or shut, the bell will strike the post J and thereby cause the said bell to ring.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is

1. In a cash register the dial G, the pointer P carried by a central shaft S, said pointer being connected at its outer end to the dial N with the dial K adapted to be rotated in one direction, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Ina cash register the dials G, E, the pointers P, T, carried on a central shaft with the movable dial N carrying the pawls V V- adapted to engage in ratchet teeth on the movable dial K, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a cash register the stationary numbered dials G, E, the pointers P, T, fixed to the ends of the shaft S which is carried within a hollow shaft F, with the arm 0 connected topointer P and adapted to transmit motion to the dial N, which turns on the hollow shaft F, and one or more pawls V V adapted to move the numbered ratchet dial K, ahead, substantially as described. 4. In a cash register the stationary num-' bered dial E supporting the sleeve F which carries the shaft S which in turn carries the movable pointers, adapted to move the dial N in either direction and means in connection with the dial N to move in one direction the numbered dial K, withthe adding up dials H, I, J, substantially as described.

5. In a cash register the combination of the dial E, the dial G having on its rear side an overlapping edge which has alternate depressions and elevations with the movable dial mechanism as described, and with the springs W W fixed to and with the dial K, the ends of which bear against the raised and depressed inner surfaces of the overlapping edge of the stationary dial G, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6; The combination in a cash register of the dial E,'the dialGhaving the overlapping edge forming alternate elevations and depressions, with the movable dial mechanism as described and with the springs W W fixed to and with the dial K and carrying the rollers XX which bear against the raised and depressed inner surfaces of overlapping edges of the stationary dial G, substantially as de-- scribed.

7. In a cash register, the combination of the fixed dial G, shaft S, the pointer P suitably connected to and adapted to transmit motionto the disk wheel N having the recess A with the lock-bar B, spring D, overlapping lip E and with the spring latch F fixed to the drawer D, substantially as described.

8. In a cash register, the combination of the indicating and registering mechanism with the drawer lock mechanism, consisting of the lock-bar B the upper end of which bears against the periphery of the disk wheel N provided With the lip E with the springlatch F substantially as described.

9. In a cash register, the combination of the pointers P, T, fixed to the shaft S, arm 0, connecting arm R dial N, pawl V, ratchet wheel M, revolving dial K, with the station ary dial G and the adding up mechanism, substantially as described.

10. In a cash register, the combination of the registering and drawer locking mechanism with the post J moving in the slot 1' in the drawer, and adapted to strike the bell K at each opening and shutting of the drawer, the edge of the bell K projecting slightly into the path of the post J, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a cash registeiythe combination of the fixed dials E, G, and the pointers P, T, carried by the shaft S, the pointers P, T, adapted to rotate the wheel N having the recess A adapted to operate the drawer looking mechanism, the said wheel N being adapted also to move the dial K and thereby the adding up'mechanism 1-1, I, J, with a cover Z, substantially as desciibed.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand this 6th day of March, A. D. 1893.

GEORGE w. SPUR-R.

Witnesses:

J OHN H. .KIRKHAM, JOHN P. BARTLETT.

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