US596360A - clark - Google Patents

Description

(No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. CLARK. KEY MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

Patented Dec. 28,1897.

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Attorney.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. CLARK. KEY MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

Patented Dec. 28,1897.

Inventor.

6 j 5 u o w w h H i n l 0 0 2 H S z w I Attorney m2 nanms pawns cov PNOYDJJYHQ, wAsmNnToN. a c.

(Nb Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

W. H. CLARK. KEY MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

No. 596,860. Patented Deo.'28,1897.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

\VILLIAM Iil'. CLARK, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROCHESTER CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CASH-REGlSTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,360, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed November 6, 1896. Serial No. 611,232. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city. of Rochester, Monroe county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key Mechanisms for Cash- Registers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan of two of the actuating-springs, illustratin g the connections. Fig. Al is a cross-section on the staggered line at 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the slotted key-plates. Figs. 6 and 7 are face views of said key-plates. Figs. 8 and 9 are opposite side elevations of the latch-plates, and Fig. 10 is a side view showing the driving mechanism.

This invention is applicable to cash-registers, calculating-machines, and like instruments of the two-motion typeviz., the type in which the actuation of the keys results in setting the mechanism in position or condition to be operated to a degree corresponding to the key actuated, and then the mechanism is either operated or returned to initial posi tion by a separate power device, such as a lever or crank.

In the device shown the crank II, provided with a suitable handle, transmits power by suitable connecting devices to the registering, indicating, or printing mechanism of the machine. The crank H is adapted to revolve in one direction only, and for that purpose is provided with a ratchet-Wheel 77.- on its axis, a pawl h engaging said ratchet-wheel, and a spring 71 to press said pawl into such engagement. On the crank-shaft is a gear-wheel H, which meshes with other suitable gear-wheels for driving the parts of the mechanism. One of the gear-wheelsH bears a crank-pin 'L, to which is attached a link I pivoted to a block 1 which slides vertically in guides i on the frame a of the machine. From this block I depends a link 1 to which is fastened a hori zontal bail I, which rises and falls once with each rotation of the crank.

The keys A A A by which this machine is set, are of the push-button variety. Each key has a head a, a stem a, a lug or pin a on one side, and a lug or pin a on the other side of the stem. The keys are arranged in different banks, as shown in Fig. 1, one bank being devoted to each denomination of money or of units. In certain of the cash-registers another bank is devoted to characterizingmarks to indicate the origin or character of the transactionas, for instance, in Fig. 1 the bank on the left has a series of letters upon the respective keys to adapt it to set mechanism for indicating, recording, or printing corresponding characterizing marks. The bank on the right in said Fig. 1 is adapted to units or in cash-registers to cents. The bank in the middle is devoted, as shown,to dollars. Cash-registers of this type have only the figures 1 to 9 upon the keys of each bank where the notation is decimal. The zeros are not shown on the keys, but are shown on indicators of suitable form and construction, and are also usually printed by type which are at the normal position of rest of the printing mechanism.

The key-stems a slide in suitable radial guide-slots I) in curved brackets B, there being one bracket fore-ach bank of keys. In the arrangement of the device shown in the drawings there are five of these radial slots in a row on one side of the bracket, and four like slots in a row on the other side of the bracket, the positions of the slots on one side alternating with those on the other side of the bracket. Hence the key stems and heads may be arranged compactly, as shown. The pin a on the end of each key-stem is connected to a spring (0 attached to a pin (9 on the under side of the bracket, so that the spring always tends to pull the key outward, and when the stem is pushed inward for operation of the machine the spring is put under tension. The slots Z) in the bracket 13 are square, and the key-stems a are also square in the form shown; but any other device for permitting longitudinal movement of the key-stems and at the same time for preventing the keystems from turning may be employed. The pins a extend sidewise from the key-stems, so as to project outward from the slots 6. On

each side of the bracket 13 is a stop-plate D D, which is pivoted to rock on an axis E at the center from which the key-stems radiate. Two plates D D are provided for each bank of keys and are fastened rigidly together by a sleeve d, and this sleeve turns upon the axis within the sleeve. The stop-plates D D are segmental in form and have near their peripheries a series of parallel slots 100, 101, and 102 out in their side faces and in arcs drawn from the center of the axis on radii of different lengths. These slots are of different lengths proportionate to the values of the keys to be operated in order to allow the stopplates to be rocked to different degrees and stopped at different points by an operated key according to its value. Thus the operation of the key marked 1 permits a certain movement of the plates, and the key marked 2 permits twice as much movement, and so on.

The slots are separated from each other and from the edge of the plate D by webs or flanges 103 101 105, and the shortest of these slots is nearest the axis of the plate, while the longest is farthest therefrom on each plate. Through the webs and leading into the slots from the outer sides are openings 1, 2 3 to 9. When the plates D D are at their normal position of rest the openings are opposite the positions of the pins a and are of such size with reference to the pins that a pin can enter its opening only when they register quite exactly. If the plate is moved from its normal position of rest, the webs come under the pins a of the unoperated keys and over the pins of the operated keys, whereby the unoperated keys are locked in inoperative position and the operated keys are locked in operative position to stop the plate in its rocking movement about its center of oscillation.

The slots have abutments 1 2 3 to 9 so far distant from the corresponding openings 1 2 to 9 that when the plate is rocked and an abutment strikes the lug a of its key the plate will be stopped against the lug at a distance from the initial position of the plate corresponding in extent to the amount of movement necessary for setting the register to register an amount corresponding to the operated key. Thus the slot 100 has a stop or abutment 3 in it for contact with the lug 0f the 3 key, which is adapted to enter through an opening 3 into the outer slot 100, in order to stop its plates D D by a stop in said slot, and the 9 key enters an opening 9, leading into the slot 100, and the slot into which it enters is long enough to permit the maximum swing of the plate before the abutment 9 stops it. The lug of the 7 key moves into the slot 101 through the opening 7, leading from the slot 100 to the slot 101, and the swing of the plate is stopped against it by the end 7 of the slot 101. The openings for the lugs a into the inner slots 101 and 102 lead from the next adjacent outer slots, and the lugs (t rest in said adjacent outer slots, whereby a very compact arrangement is provided.

Of course two or more keys may be simultaneously operated; but in any such case the key of lowest value is the only one which is effective in stopping its plate. For instance, if the 1 key and the 8 key are both simultaneously pressed inward the plates D and D will be arrested as soon as the stop of the 1keyhas come against the lug a of the same key, and this will have occurred before the stop of the 8 key will have come in contact with the lug on its key.

Each pair of plates D D has an arm D provided at its end with a pin (1 which rests in the slot (Z of an car d of a plug-slide D in a mechanism substantially the same as that shown in my Patent No. 556,0i5, granted March 10, 1890; but it is obvious that the differential movement of the plates D D or one of them is suitable to produce the differential movement necessary to set any well-known cash-registering mechanism of the two-motion type.

In order to throw the sector-shaped plates D D forward in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 2 and to give them a normal tendency to move in said one direction, I provide a springmotor mechanism, which may be connected to it in any suitable manner. In order, 110wever, to provide a spring with a long life, I employ a coiled spring Z, attached to the frame A of the machine and also attached to a link D pivoted to the arm D and to a parallel arm D which last-mentioned arm is of substantially the same length as the arm D and is pivoted 011 a shaft D parallel to the axis of oscillation of the plates D D. The spring is attached to the link D at a point distant from its attachment to the frame A and tends to pull the link and swing the arm D and with it the plates D D in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

In the form of device shown when the bail I rises it makes contact with and lifts the ear d", which oscillates the arm D and with it the plate D, arm D and link D, stretching the spring Z and putting it under tension. lVhen one of the platesas, for instance, the plate Dreaches its normal position of rest, the spring-operated latch F, pivoted to the bracket B, engages a notch f in the edge of said plate and the parts are held with the spring Z under tension ready for another operation. lVhen the plates D D reach said normal position of rest and are latched, as just stated, the openings 1 2, ($110., in the webs 103 101 105 of the plates come opposite the positions of the lugs a on the key-stems, and the operated keys may spring out under the impulse of their springs to to their original unoperated positions.

In order to detach the latch F from the plates D D, I provide a mechanism situated between said plates D D and consistingof a sleeve G", surrounding the sleeve (6 of said plates and capable of independent oscillation thereon. The pin 663 of each key-stem to which the spring a is attached normally rests adjacent to a lug g upon one of two latchplates G G. This lug has an inclined surface g, and a toe g on one of the plates G G is normally held against a lug G upon the bracket B by means of a spring G There is a beveled lug g for each key-stem, and the two latch-plates G G are integral or are fastened together or connected to move as if integral.

The latch F is pivoted to the frame, as at F, and has an angle-arm or bell-crank F which is pivoted, as at f to one of the plates G G. An oscillation of the plates G G in the direction of the arrow marked 2 in Fig. 2 stretches the spring G and releases the latch F from its notch f in the plates D, thereby permitting the plate to be thrown forward under the influence of its spring Z until it stops against a lug a on the operated key-stem. This movement of the plates G G is produced by the pressure of the lug a on any of the key-stems against the inclined surface g of any of the projections g on either of the plates G or G.

A key-stem a when depressed and held down by engagement of one of its lateral pins a with the under side of one of the webs in a plate D or D remains against its lug g and the plates G G remain in their retracted positions, but as soon as the plates D D are moved backward to their initial position the operated key-stem springs outward through its opening in a wall or web of the slot in which the lateral projection a was held, and then the latch F immediately engages its notch f and retains the plates D Din their initial or normal position.

As the slots in the platesD D may be considered to end at the abutments, the slots are of different lengths proportionate to the value of the operated key which acts in that slot to stop the movement or swing of the rocking plates after permitting an oscillation suffieient to set the register to the required dedegree, or, in other Words, to permit an actuation of the register proportionate to the value of said key.

Nhat I claim is 1. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a plate normally tending to move in one direction and having a series of slots therein of different lengths, a series of movable keys having a stationary support, each key having a projection adapted to enter one of said slots and to stop the movement of said plate in a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer for said plate released by the actuation of any key, and connections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation.

2. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a rockingplate normallytending to move in one direction and having a series of slots therein of different lengths, a series of movable keys radially arranged in a stationary support and adapted to slide toward and from the center of movement of said rocking plate, each key having a projection adapted to enter one of said slots and to stop the movement of said plate when the latter reaches a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer for said plate released bythe actuation of any key, and connections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation.

3. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a rocking plate having a series of slots therein of different lengths, a spring connected thereto adapted to rock said plate in one direction, a series of keys radially arranged in a stationary support and adapted to slide toward and from the center of movement of said rocking plate, each key having a projection ad apted to enter one of said slots and to stop the movement of said plate when the latter reaches a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer for said plate released by the actuation of any key, and e011- nections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation.

4. In akey mechanism for cash-registers,an oscillating sector-shaped plate havinga series of arcshaped slots of dilferent lengths on its side face, mechanism normally tending to move said plate in one direction, a series of radially-arranged keys in a stationary support, each having a lateral projection adapted to enter one of said slots and to stop the move ment of said plate in a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer for said plate released by the actuation of any key, and connections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation.

5. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a pair of oscillating sector-shaped plates having on their adjacent side faces a series of slots of different lengths cut in arcs having radii of different lengths from the center of each sector, mechanism normally tending to move end plates in one direction, two rows of radially-sliding keys, each key in each row having a lateral projection adapted to enter one of the slots in one of said plates through an opening in its wall and to stop the movement of said plates in a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer for said plates released by the actuation of any key, and connections from said plates to a register for setting the register for operation.

6. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, an oscillating sector-shaped plate having a series of arc-shaped slots of different lengths on its side face, mechanism normally tending to move said plate in one direction, a series of radially-arranged sliding keys in a stationary support, each having a lateral pin adapted to enter one of said slots and to stop the movement of said plate in a position correspond ing to the value of the operated key, connections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation, and a retainer released by the actuation of any key for holding said plate in its normal position of rest.

His.

7. In a key mechanism for cashregisters, a rocking plate normally tending to move in one direction and having a series of slots therein of different lengths, a series of keys radially arranged in a stationary support an d movable toward and from the center of movement of said rocking plate, each key having a lateral pin adapted to enter one of said slots and to stop the movement of said plate when the lat ter reaches a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, connections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation, a latch adapted to engage said rocking plate and to hold the same at its normal position and a latch-plate moved by the actuation of any key for releasing said latch from said rocking plate.

8. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a plate normally tending to move in one direction and having a series of slots therein of different lengths in the side thereof, a series of keys arranged in a stationary support and movable across the line of movement of said plate, each key having a lateral pin adapted to enter one of said slots through its wall and to stop the movement of said plate when the latter reaches a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, connections from said plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation, a movable latch-plate operated by any key, and a retainer for said plate released by the movement of said latchplate.

9. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a rocking plate normally tending to rock on an axis in one direction provided with a series of slots of different lengths in the side thereof,

a series of keys arranged in a stationary sup port and movable toward and from the center of oscillation of said rocking plate, each key having a lateral pin adapted to enter one of said slots through its wall and to stop the oscillation of said plate when the same reaches a position corresponding to the value of an operated key, connections from said plate to a register for setting the same for operation, a latch-plate oscillating in the same axis as said rocking plate and operated by any key, and a latch for said rocking plate released by the movement of said latch-plate.

10. In a key mechanism for cash-registers, a pair of oscillating sector-shaped plates having on their adjacent side faces a series of slots of different lengths cut in ares having radii of different lengths from the center of each sector, mechanism normally tending to move said plates in one direction, two rows of radially-sliding keys, each key in each row having a lateral projection adapted to enter one of the slots in one of said plates through an opening in its wall, and to stop the movement of said plates in a position correspond ing to the value of the operated key, a pair of latch-plates oscillating on the same axis as the sector-shaped plates and provided with lugs having inclined faces engaged by pins on the keys whereby the latch-plate is moved by the actuation of any key, and a latch mechanism for retaining said sector-shaped plates released by the movement of the latch-plate.

IVILLIAM II. CLARK. Witnesses:

E. II. MAnsnLLUs, A. E. Wnntr.

Images