US616866A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

No. 616,866. Patented Dec. 27 I898.

w. F. BOCKHUFF.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-$heet I.

aw/Wm m WW 'No. 6l6,866. Patented Dec. 27, I898.

W. F. BOCKHOFF.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-$heet 2.

lvi/bweww 3440mm:-

9 Z YE/1:34am;

5 p Mme/13 s. PEYERS co. wow-n mm. wwmmrm. n l.

No. 6|6,866. Patented Dec. 27, I898. w. F.'BOCKHOFF.

v CASH REGISTER.

' (Apphcntion flied Doc. 27, 1897.) (No Model;)

43m T W 2 44M 54:; WOW;

No. amass. Patented Dec. 27, I898.

w. F. BUCKHDFF. r

CASH REGISTER. (Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W I Wozwum me Nomhs PETERS c0, PHOTG-LH'HG \VAEHINGTON, a r;

No. 6l6,866. Patented Dec. 27, I898. W. F. BUCKHUFF.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1397.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

in; Noam warms co wow-mm) msummm 0 c No. 6|6,866. Patented Dec. 27, I898. W. F. BOCKHDFF.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Dec. 2'1, 1897.)

7 5heets-$haet 6.

(No Modal.)

E E H 3 mmmmwmmmmmmm No. 6|6,866. Patented Dec. 27, I898.

w. F. BUCKHOFF.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. BOCKIIOFF, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,866, dated December 27-, 1898. Application filed December 27,1897. Serial No. 668,577. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. BOOK- HOFF, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Cash-Register; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like figures refer to like parts.

The invention relates to the use of a plurality of cash-drawers in a cash-register that is provided with a series of individual keys for operating the registering, indicating, printing, or other part of the machine, the releasin g or unlocking means attached to said drawers being so arranged and connected with the individual keys that when a certain one of said keys is operated a certain one of said drawers will be released or opened.

The purpose of this invention is to enable persons using a machine containing it to have and use a separate cash-drawer for each clerk or for the purpose of separating the cash received by different persons or for di'lferent purposes. This furnishes an additional check upon mistakes over the checks provided in machines heretofore, such as the registering, indicating, and printing mechanism, as it points out who made the mistake.

To properly perform its function, the invention should he so connected up with the parts of the machine that the individual cashdrawer will not be released and unlocked until after the transaction has been registered, indicated, or printed, or all of these things have occurred. This is to prevent any partial recording of the transaction, as it is preferable that the machine should perform all its functions relative to the transaction before the cash-drawer is opened.

lVhile this invention is in no wise limited to any special make or kind of cash-register or indicating-machine, and while I desire by this patent to cover the use of said invention in all sorts of machines of the character mentioned, yet 1 have employed it only in connection with machines of the type shown in the drawings herein, being the same as that shown in the Letters Patent to Hugo Cook, No. 483,511, patented September 27, 1892, and in the following other patents relating to the same general machines: Letters Patent to Hugo Cook, No. 164,294, patented December 1, 1891; to O. V. Grove, No. 509,660, patented November 28, 1893, and to J. XV. Cleal and F. A. Reinhard, No. 580,378, patented April 13, 1897.

The full nature of my invention will more fully appear from the accompanying drawin gs and the description and claims following.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the left-hand end of the mechanism of a machine such as those above referred to, with its casing removed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same portion of the machine in similar condition. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the left-hand end of the machine. Fig. is a vertical section approximately on the line A A of Fig. 1, showing also the cash-drawers beneath, the machine being set at zero. Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. at, excepting the keyhas been operated and the parts are shown in their operated position. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the series of cash-drawers beneath the machine proper. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the rod and fingers that release the drawers. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the latch at the rear end of the drawers which is released. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the parts that elevate the drawer-releasing rod. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the right-hand end of the machine. Fig. 11 is a detail of the private look.

The device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, excepting my attachment and the cash-drawers, is the same as that shown in said Letters Patent No. 183,511, above referred to, letters, however, being substituted for the numerals in the left-hand bank of keys and in the corresponding indicating-disk and printing de vice. No extended description of said machine will be given here further than maybe necessary to explain the relation of my invention to the said machine, as previously stated. The description in detail of the other parts of the machine may be obtained from the Letters Patent I have mentioned, especially Nos. 164:,294 and 483,511. Such machines usually contain several sets or banks of keys having nine keys in each set. The left-hand set, or at least one set, of said keys is marked with letters or with any other mark that may be utilized to represent and distinguish different clerks or different kinds of ICO transactions, as maybe needed in any particular business.

The main driving-shaft of the machine is the revolnble shaft 1, that is operated by the gear 70, mounted thereon, and the gear 69, mounted on the shaft 74, that is actuated by a crank 57 at the right-hand end. (See Fig. 10.) lly a suitable connecting gear and mechanism said shaft 1 actuates the registering and indicating mechanisms, as shown and described in said-Letters Patent above mentioned. Said shaft has secured upon it a crank-arm 2, which is connected by the link 3 to a crank-arm i, fast on the oscillatory shaft 5. Loosely mounted on the shaft 5 are gear-toothed sectors 0, one for each bank of keys, only two, however, being contained in the portion of the machine shown in the drawings. This part of the construction appears most plainly in Figs. it and These sectors mesh with a gear-wheel 70, which in turn meshes with a gear 71, fast on the hub of an indicator-wheel '72, there being one of such geared to each sector and representing numerical values, excepting the wheel 7 at the left-hand end, which is lettered to agree with the left hand bank of keys. Herein it is shown provided with letters.

Each sector (5 carries a pivoted latch-plate S, to be seen in Figs. and 5, which cooperates with the cam 9 and lug 10, fast on the shaft 5 beside the sector 6. A month 11 in the outer end of the plate 8 cooperates with the series of keys 2. These keys have notches in their sides near their inner ends and are surrounded by coilresetting springs. hen any key is pushed in, its notch is engaged by a detent in the plate 13, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, and the key held until the plate is moved to release it.

The operation of the latch S and the associated dev'ces is explained at length in the patents above referred to, and it will be sufficient here to state that when a key in any series is pushed in and caught by the detentplate 13 and the shaft 1 then given one C0111- plete rotation and the shaft 5 thereby oscillated forward and back the lug 10 011 the side of the cam 9 will engage a recess 14: in the latch-plate at the end of the forward oscillation of the shaft 5 and in the backward movement of the shaft will carry the latchplate,and consequently the sector,with it until the mouth 11 at the outer end of the plate 8 engages the inner end of the key that has been pushed in. Thereupon the lug 10 will be disengaged from the latch-plate 8 and the shaft 5 will move on alone, and the latchplate will be caught upon the key and the sector arrested at that point. The adjustment of the parts is such that when the sectors are in the position shown in Fig. t the imlicator-wheels 72 stand with their zeros exposed at the reading-point of the casing in the machine. As the sector is carried backward with the shaft 5 in the manner before explained, the indicator-wheel is turned foremcee ward from Zero, and when the latch-plate S engages the operated key and the sector is arrested the number or letter upon the indicator-wheel which corresponds to the operated key will be exposed at the reading-opening. The gear-wheels are driven by the sectors 6 and in turn drive the indicatorwheels 72, as well as the registering-wheels 73, and are fast upon a series of concentric sleeves mounted upon the shaft 7i. (See Fig. at.) The gear at the extreme right of the machine (not shown) is fast upon the right-hand end of the inner sleeve. The second gear is fast upon the end of the second sleeve, and so on until the last gear, which is fast upon the outer sleeve. Upon the extreme left-hand end of these sleeves are secured four typecarriers 75. (Shown in Figs. 1, i, and 3.) The extreme left-hand type-carrier and the extreme right-hand gear 70 (not shown) are fast upon opposite ends of the inner sleeve, (see Patent No. 483,511, above referred to,) so that this type-carrier and indicator-wheel will turn together. The next type-carrier is fast upon the same sleeve as the second gearwheel 70 from the left, so that these turn together, and so on. The arrangement of the parts is such that when any nu mber upon any indicator-wheel is brought before any reading-opening the same number upon the corresponding type-wheel will be brought to the printing-point. From this description it will also appear that in one operation of the machine the adding or registering mechanism and the printing or recording mechanism will. all be operated.

Secured upon the left-hand side of the machine is a framework 76, (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5,) within which the type-carriers above mentioned and other associated parts are located. Fittingin the inclined guideway in the outer wall of this framework at 77 is a sliding bar 78, (see Fig. 3,) which carries at its lower end an integral plate 7.), projecting inward at right angles to the bar 78 beneath the type-carriers 75. This plate 70 carries, among other things, an impressionplaten (not shown) which cooperates with the type-carriers 7 5.

Fast upon the outer end of the shaft if is a disk 81, fitting against the outer side of the frame 76 and sliding bar 78. This disk has upon its inner face a camgroove 82, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) in which fits a pin upon the outer face of the bar 78. The result of this is that when the shaft 7i and disk 81 are revolved the bar 78 will slide back and forth in its guidewayin the frame 76 and the plate 79 and the impression-platen S0 is moved away from and toward the type-carriers 75.

The paper strip 83 from which the checks are cut is carried on a reel 84-, from which it is led rearward and upward between the feedroller 86 and the flanges 87 of a cylinder 88, which bears against the feed-roller, as seen in Fig. 2, thence forward over the plate 79 and platen beneath the typecarriers 75. The

feed-roller 8G and the flanged cylinder 88 are cured to the inner face of the rear cross-bar driven. by a train of gears from the shaft 7-1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the uppermost one of which is fast upon said shaft just inside of the outer wall of the frame 76.

Hung by arms 92 in a swinging frame 93 is an inking-roller 9-1, Fig. 5, arranged to travel over the faces of the type-carriers. To the supporting side arm of the frame is pivoted the upper end of a link 95, whose lower end is pivoted to the outer side of the disk 96, fast upon the oscillatory shaft 5. The spring 97, Fig. l, coiled about the shaft 08, by which the arms 92 are hung to the frame 93 and hearing at one end against one of the arms 92, yieldingly presses the indicating-roller against the faces of the type-carriers.

Hung upon the shaft 98 is a thin arm or plate '99, which fits between two of the typecarriers and has its lower end extended downward and rearward over the platen S0.

100 is a permanent record strip carried upon a reel 101, that is loose upon the shaft 102, which is carried by a support depending from the plate 7.). The strip is led up through an opening in the plate 79 and over the platen and around a storage-spool103,1oosely meun ted upon a shaft lO-it, carried by a support 105, projecting forward and downward from the plate 79.

The details of this printing attachment are identical with that shown and described in Letters Patent No. 483,511, above referred to, and in said Letters Patent a full description thereof may be found. \Vith reference to my invention the kind of printing attachment is immaterial, excepting that it should be so connect-ed up with the operative parts of the machine that it will operate before the cashdrawer is opened. The same statement is true regarding the indicating and registering mechanisms.

Turning now to my invention, 1 provide beneath. the machine a series of cash-drawers 15, inclosed within a suitable casing 16, provided with proper lateral guides 17 and having back pieces 18 extending across at the rearof the casing. The main part of the cashregister is supported upon the top 19. Any suitable drawer mechanism will answer the purpose here. lVhat I have shown is locked or latched to the stationary bars 18 by the latch 20, pivotally mounted on the bracket 21, secured to the rear end of the drawer. The latch 20 is inclined at its outer end and provided with a tooth or detent 22, so that the latch will enter the opening in the catch-plate 23, that is secured to the rear cross-bars 18. This arrangement is shown in Figs. eland 5. At the extreme end of the latch a tongue 2% is provided for engagement by the releasing device which elevates the end of the latch, so that its tooth or detent will be disengaged from the catch-plate The latch 20 is helddown by the spring 25, to be seen in Fig. 8. \Vhen a drawer is released, it is propelled by the flat semi-elliptical spring 46, that is se- 18, and has its free ends in such position as to engage loosely the rear end of the drawers. Any other well-known means for locking and unlocking and propelling outward the said drawers may be adopted.

1 have shown here nine drawers-that is, one for each character-key located in the lefthand bank. The keys and drawers are simi larly lettered or marked, so that one drawer will be associated with one key. However, in any desired case two keys or more may open one drawer, while other keys will open other drawers.

The main feature of my invention lies in the ability of a particular clerk or one when registering a particular transaction to open a particular drawer without unlocking the rest, and that in order to open such particu lar drawer it is necessary to operate a particular key, and that when said particular key is operated and the registering mechanism is operated the indicator will show what particular key was operated, and the printing or adding device will also record the same. By this means a certain clerk will open only a certain drawer, as the indicator r recording mechanism shows which drawer he has opened. To this end various simple means for connecting the keys with the locking mechanism for the drawers in such manner that a certain drawer can be opened only upon the operation of a certain key may be adopted. The means which i have used and here show is as follows: [it the rear of the machine I provide what I call a drawer-releasing rod 26. This is a vertically-extended rod that passes from the machine above through the top supporting it down behind the series of drawers, as is to be seen in Figs. at and 6. It is so mounted as to be vertically reciprocable somewhat and also rotatable, as will be seen later. At intervals along said rod releasing-fingers 27 are secured. One of these fingers is provided for each drawer and is longenough when turned into positionthat is, when extended directly toward the drawerto more under the rear end of the latch 20 and the tongue 24-, secured thereto. After such finger has been moved into the position just mentioned further operation of the machine by the means hereinafter mentioned elevates the rod 26, and hence the finger 27, thus causing said finger to elevate the rear end of the latch 20 until its tooth disengages the catoh-plate 28, whereupon the spring 4L6 propels the drawer outward.

The series of fingers 27 are arranged sufficiently far out of line with each other, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, that only one of said fingers at any one time would be in a position to unlock a drawer, the latches on the drawers are placed in a row one above the other, in the machine here shown directly in front of the rod 26, as seen in 6. Therefore each cash-drawer has a finger 27 corresponding with it, and the connection with the character keys with this rod 26 is such as to rotate said rod sufficiently far when a certain key is pushed that the finger 27 is in position to unlock the drawer that corresponds to the key pushed. \Vhen the rod 26 is thereafter elevated, therefore, it is clear that in the machine shown no drawer will be opened by the operation of a certain character-key exceptin g the one drawer corresponding with it.

I show here the following means for rotating the rod 26, and thus setting the releasing device in such a position as to unlock only the drawer desired. Said rod 26 extends through a bracket or bearing-piece 28 in the lower part of the machine, to be seen in Figs. l and 5. It is supported thereon by the pin 29, that extends through slotted collar 30. Above said collar there is abeveled pinion 31, mounted in such man ner as to permit the rod 26 to slide through it, but not to rotate independent of the beveled gear. The rod 26 is rotated by means of the beveled gear 31, being actuated by the segmental gear 32, that is mounted on the shaft (Most plainly shown in Fig. 2.) Said shaft is rotatably mounted in the frame-pieces 3i and of the machine. The segmental gear is actuated by the arm 30, that is rigidly secured to the shaft at one end, and at the other end is pivotally connected with the link 37, that extends through the machine and is pivotally secured to the sector 6. When a certain key is operated, the sector 6 moves a certain distance, the distance depending upon the key operated. The lowest key in the series moves said sector but a short distance, while the succeeding keys as you pass upward rotate the sector proportionately farther. By means of the link 3?, arm 30, shaft 33, and segmental gear 32 said segmental gear would be actuated or moved in the same proportion as the sector (3, the two moving together. The segmental gear 32 is placed as shown in Fig. a when the machine is at Zero. When the second key from the bottom is actuated, as seen in Fig. 5, the sector (5 and the segmental gear will move into position, as shown in said figure, and when the topmost character-key is actuated said sector 0 and segmental gear 32 will reach their limit of movement. Therefore it is obvious that by properly setting the connection between the releasing-rod 26 and the segmental gear said rod 20 will be rotated or turned a distance proportionate with the movement of the segmental gear 32 and the sector 6, whereby upon the operation of any character-key the releasing mechanism that I have described will be set so as to unlock the corresponding drawer. After the releasing device has been set, as specified,the drawer is unlocked, as has been stated, by the vertical movementof the rod 20. Thisis accomplished in the machine I have shown as follows: Upon the main drive-shaft l I secure a cam 38. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 4. and 5 and more fully in Fig. 9.) A liftingbar 39 has a hook l0 on its upper end that rides loosely upon the driving-shaft 1 and adjacent to said cam. It has a laterallyextending pin ll, that is engaged by the said cam. The lower end of the lifting-bar 39 is loosely pivoted to the upper end of the releasing-bar 26. The cam arrangementhere is so mounted on the said shaft 1 that it will lift the bar 39 near the end of the operation of the machinethat is, after the registering, indicating, and printing or recording mechananisms have been operated. Of course it can be set to lift said bar at any other time. However, when said bar 39 is lifted it is obvious that the rod 26 is also elevated, the slot in the collar 30 permitting the pin 29 to move upward from the position shown in Fig. i to the position shown in Fig. This upward movement of the releasing -bar 26 releases the drawer, under whose latch the corresponding finger 27 is set at the time by means of the operation of the corresponding character-key.

The releasing-bar has on it in addition to the fingers .7, corresponding with the character-keys and set out of line with each other, a series of zero or at-home fingers 45. There is one of these for each drawer, and they are in line with each other, one above the other, being formed, as shown in Fig. 7, integral with the other linger, corresponding with the character-key,but diverging,so that said zerokeys will extend so that they will be one beneath the other.

In the class of machines described after every operation of the machine it turns to Zero or at home. At such times the zero or at-home fingers on the releasing-rod are all beneath the latches of the drawers, as seen in Fig. i,which shows the machine at home. In this class of machines also the machine is inoperative and remains so unless a key is operated. The locking means is shown in Figs. l and 5 and is more fully fully set forth and described in Letters Patent No. 34,204, as has been above mentioned. The machine cannot be operated until the sliding plate 13 is elevated, so as to cause its lower end t7 to disengage the notch 4:8 in the locking-plate l9. On the farther side of this locking-plate l9, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, a lug is shown in dotted lines that while the locking-plate is in the position shown in Fig. at, the machine being at home, holds down the latch S, and consequently the sector 0, so that they cannot beoperated. 'lhelocking-plateatQismounted at its outer end on the pin 51, that extends through a slot in said plate, and at the other end on the shaft 5, that extends likewise through a slot in said plate. hen the lower end at? of the plate 13 disengages said locking-plate 49, the spring 52 at the rear end of said plate withdraws it, and, since the lug 50 is on said locking-plate, it is consequently removed out of engagement with the latch 8, thus permitting said latch, and consequently the sector, to be operated. As is explained in said Patent No. tOlflSt, the disk 9 in the first part of the operation is turned downward,

so that the pin 53 in it (shown in dotted lines) is moved downward from behind the lug 50, so that said lock, and consequently the lockin g-plate 4.), may be withdrawn rearward by the spring 52. This is also explained there that in the latter part of the operation of the machine the oscillating shaft 5 turnsin a positive direction and said disk 9 moves back into the position shown in Fig. 4. In this movement the pin 53 as it moves upward engages the inclined lug 50 and forces the lockingplate a9 forward into the position it occupies in Fig. A, where it can be engaged in its notch i8 by the lower end 47 of the plate 13 when said plate has been released. Then the plate 13 will continue to hold the plate 4-9 in a lockin g position until another keyis operated.

For the purpose of preventing forward movementof any part of the machine, including the operating-handle 57,excepting at such times as one or more keys of the machine have been pressed in ward and caught by their respective detents, the machine here shown is provided with some kind of locking device, as is shown in the Patent No. 464,294, to normally hold the handle from forward movement, but automatically releasing it upon the depression of any key, and also a lock that automatically locks all of the inoperative keys as the key is started in its forward movement, and also the same sort of locking means for preventing the movement of the operatinghandle when any key has been pushed inward a short distance, but not far enough to have its notch caught by its inoperative detent. For a proper understanding of said locking means reference may be had to the drawings and description in the said Patent No. 46.1394, To operate said locking means without the operation of a character-key,a privatekey lock 55 is provided in the right-hand end of the machine to receive a private key 56.-

Said private or proprietors or zero key when operated actuates the locking mechanism above referred to, so that the handle and main shaft can be rotated, thereby returning the indicating-wheels and type-carrier wheels to zero, where they will remain, as no characterkey is operated, so that O will be printed. In such operation the drawer-releasing rod 26 will be elevated, as in other operations of the machine, and since the zero-fingers 4-5 are all at the time beneath the latches on the drawers all of the drawers will be unlocked and thrown open unless they are otherwise secured. In such zero operation of the machine the sector and therefore the means that usually oscillate the rod 26 do not operate, and since said rod 26 is left in its zero position the zero-fingers remain beneath the drawer-latches, as above explained. As is seen in Fig. 11, the private key when operated will engage the notch 58 and throw the lever 59. This lever is secured on the shaft 60, that extends through the machine to the locking mechanism above described in connection with the bank of character-keys. Such locking, however, is needed only for the parts actuated by the character-keys. Therefore the series of drawers cannot be opened without the previous operation of the printing and indicating mechanisms bringing them to zero, whereby they will print and indicate O as evidence that the drawers have been opened by the proprietors key, so as to disclose the fact if opened by the wrong person.

It is observed that in this machine the means which unlocks or releases the drawer from the operation of the corresponding character-key also prevents the opening of the other drawers. This result follows from the use of a common means for releasing all the drawers, yet it is so actuated by the separate connections with the character-keys that one character-key will open a certain drawer and another key another drawer. The common means shown in this case is the shaft 33, the segmental gear 32 thereon, the rod 26, and the gear 31 thereon for rotating said rod 26, the main shaft 1, the cam 38 thereon, lifting-bar 39, and hook 40. It is clear that every operation whereby any drawer is released must employ this one common means, which is named regardless of the character-key that is actuated. The result is that in the machine shown only one drawer can be opened in any one operation of the machine and no other drawer can be opened at the same time. If one should operate two or more of the character-keys substantially at the saine time, one only, the first one to engage a notch, would operate through the mechanism connecting it with the drawers to open its correspondin g drawer. The operation of the other keys would have no effect, as there is only one common means through which the drawers can be reached, and a separate operation of that common means is required to open each drawer, unless it is when the proprietors key is used, as is explained above; but in this latter case the machine is not in its normal operative condition. So, too, it is seen that after the registering, indicating, or printing mechanisms have been operated and the drawer opened no otherdrawer can be opened until another operation of the registering, indicating, and printing mechanism. Also it is seen that the indicating-wheel containing thesame letters or names as the character-keys indicate to the public what drawer is opened as well as which character-key has been operated.

The use of a common means for releasing the drawers and actuating the mechanism for printing the character employed by a certain clerk or to represent a certain department after the key for such character has been operated prevents one from opening any drawer or drawers without recording the particular drawer opened. Furthermore, with appli cants employment of a common means for actuating or driving the registering mechanism and the drawer-releasing mechanism after a drawer is opened no other drawer can be opened without the registration, regardless of the means for opening the particular drawers. This is true also of the indicating and printing mechanisms.

Instead of each clerk or department having one drawer for his or its use, it is obvious that each could have two or more drawersthat is,the single drawer (liiplicatedfso that when the eharacter-keyis operated all of the drawers corresponding with such character-key will be opened while the others will remain closed.

13y character-key in the specifications and claims hereof is meant any key, button, lever, dial, or other means for predetermining, controlling, or limiting the action of the reg istcring, indicating, printing, or other mechanism in cash-registers.

in the operation of this machine it will be noticed that any number of drawers may be open at the same time, but that only one drawer can be opened upon each operation of the machine.

13y the term operation of the machine used in the claims it is intended to mean that there will be a completion of function of the particular machine for the particular transaction between the opening of one drawer and the opening of any other drawer.

-What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers with means for holding them closed, and means requiring an operation of the machine for releasing any drawer desired.

A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, means for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

3. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a drawer-releasing mechanism common to all the drawers, and means for predetermining which drawer shall be opened when i the drawer-releasing mechanism is operated.

l. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, means for holding them closed, and means requiring an operation of the machine for releasing any desired drawer and so ar ranged that no other drawer maybe released except upon another operation of the machine.

5. A cashregister including a plurality of drawers, means for holding them closed, and means requiring an operation of the machine for each drawer released, the arrangement being such that more than one drawer may be open at one time.

o. A cash-register including aplurality of drawers, an indicating mechanism, means for predetermining which drawershall be opened, means for operating the indicating mechanism, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

T. A cash-register indicating a plurality of drawers, a registering mechanism, means for predeterniining which drawer shall be opened, means for operating the registering mechanism, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said d rawcr.

S. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a printing or recording mechanism, means for predeterinining which drawer shall be opened, means for operating the printing or recordingmechanism, and means dependent upon a further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

9. A cash-register including a plurality oi. drawers, an indicating, registering, and printing or recording mechanism, means for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, means for operating the indicating, registering, and printing or recording mechanism, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

10. A cash-registerincludinga pluralityot' drawers, a plurality of character-keys for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

11. A cash-registerincludingan indicating mechanism, a plurality of drawers, a plurality of character-keys for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, means for operating the indicating mechanism, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

12. A cash-register including a registering mechanism, aplurality of drawers, a plurality of character-keys for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, means for operating the registering mechanism, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

13. A cash-register inoludinga printing or recording mechanism, a plurality of drawers, a plurality of character-keys for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, means for operating said printing or recording 1neehanism, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for opening said drawer.

14. A cash-register includingan indicating, registering, and printing or recording mechanism, a plurality of character-keys for predetermining which drawer shall be opened, and means dependent upon the further operation of the machine for operating said indicating, registering, and printing or recording mechanism and for opening said drawer.

15. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers with means for holding them closed, and a common means governed by the operation of the machine for releasing any drawer desired.

16. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding character-keys, and means common to said drawers for unlocking any drawer desired upon the operation of the corresponding character-key.

17. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corres tioiuling character-keys, means for printing or recording the name of each rharacter-kcy and its corresponding drawer, and a common means for actuating such printing or recording mechanism and releasing the drawer.

18. A cash-register including a registering mechanism, a plurality of drawers with suitable locking means, means for releasing said drawers, a common means for actuating the registering mechanism and such drawer-releasing means, and means for so setting such drawer-releasing means that when it is operated it will release any drawer desired.

19. A cash-register ineludin g an indicating mechanism, a plurality of drawers with suit able lockin g means, means for releasing said drawers, a common means for actuating the indicating mechanism and such drawer-rcleasing means, and means for so setting such drawer-releasing means that when it is operatedit will. release any drawer desired.

20. A cash-register including a printing or recording mechanism, a plurality of drawers with a suitable locking means, means for releasing said drawer, a common means for actuating the printing or recording mechanism and such drawer-releasin g means, and means for so setting such drawer-releasing means that when it is operated it will release any drawer desired.

21. A cash-register including a registering, indicating and printing or recording mech anism, a pluralityof drawers with suitable looking means, means for releasing said drawer, a common means for actuating the registering, indicating and printing or recording mechanism and such drawer-releasing means, and means for so setting such drawer-releas ing means that when it is operated it will release any drawer desired.

22. A cash-register including a printing or recording mechanism, a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding character-keys, and means depending upon the operation of the corresponding key for unlocking any drawer desired after the operation of the printing or recording mechanism and preventing the opening of the other drawers until after another operation of the printing or recording mechanism.

23. A cash-register including a registering, indicating and printing or recording mechanism, a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding character keys, and means depending upon the operation of the correspond ing key for unlocking any drawer desired after the operation of the registering, indicating and printing or recording mechanism and preventing the opening of the other drawers until after another operation ot' the registering, indicating and printing or recording mechanism.

24-. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding character-keys, a device for releasing said drawers, means for setting it to unlock a particular drawer upon the operation of the corresponding key, and means for actuating said releasing device after said key is operated.

25. A caslrregister including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding character-keys, a device for releasing said drawers, means for setting it to unlock a particular drawer when the corresponding key is'operated, and means for so connecting the re leasing device with the driving-shaft of the machine that said releasing device will be actuated near the end of the operation of the machine.

26. A cash-register including a plurality of individual drawers, suitable catches or locks for the drawers, a releasing device for unlocking a single drawer in one operation, a plurality of character-keys, and means for setting the releasing device to unlock a particular drawer, when the corresponding key is operated.

27. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, locking means for each drawer, a rotatable releasing-rod adjacent to said looking means, a series of releasing-lingers secured on such rod out of line with each other, means for rotating such rod to a certain extent when a key is operated and means for vertically moving said rod after it is so ro tated.

28. A cash-register including plurality of drawers one below the other, a latch secured to their rear ends that is released by vertical movement, a vertically-movable rotatable releasing-rod mounted behind the drawers in proximity to the drawer-latches a series of releasing-fingers secured on such rod out of line with each other, means for turning such rod to a certain extent when a key is operated to set it for unlocking a certain drawer, and means for elevating such rod at each operation of the machine.

29. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a stationary frame piece behind each drawer, a catch secured thereto, a latch secured to the drawer to en gage the catch and lock the drawer, a spring acting between the drawer and the frame-piece to propel the drawer open when released--a rotatable releasing-rod extendin behind the drawers, fingers secured to said rod out of line with each other to engage and release the latches, means for turning said rod sufliciently far upon the operation of a certain key to cause a finger thereon to open a certain drawer and means for lifting the releasing-rod after it is turned.

30. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of character keys, arotatable rod provided with fingers to open the drawer corresponding to the key operated. when turned snfticiently far, and means con trolled by said charactenkeys to turn said releasing-rod to varying extents depending upon the particular character-key operated.

31. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding charactor-keys, a rod provided with lingers that ICO will release a certain drawer when the rod is rotated to a certain extent and then moved vertically, a bevel-gear mounted in the shaft in the framework that meshes with the bevelgear, means for rotating the shaft on which said segmental gear is mounted to a certain extent depending upon the character-key operated and means for vertically moving said rod.

32. A cash-register including a plurality of drawers, a plurality of corresponding character-keys, and a rotatable rod for releasing a certain drawer when rotated to a certain extent, abevel-gear mounted on said rod, a segmental gear meshing therewith and secured to a shaft, mounted loosely in the framework, an arm secured to said shaft, an oscillatory sector for driving the various parts of the machine and adapted to move a certain distance depending upon the particular character-key operated, and a link pivotally connected with said sector at one end and at its other end to the arm secured to the shaft, substantially as set forth.

A cash-register including a series of drawers having catches for holding them closed,a longitudinally-movable rod provided with fingers thereon to engage and release the drawers when the rod is so moved, a driving-shaft for the machine, and means for longitudinally moving the said rod at each rotation of said shaft sufficiently far to release said drawers.

St. A caslnregister including a series of drawers, one beneath the other, having catches to hold the drawers closed, a vertically-movable releasingrod provided with fingers that extend under all the latches on said drawers, a driving-shaft in the machine, a cam mounted thereon, a link riding on said shaft and pivotally connected to said releasing-rod, and a pin secured to said link where it will be engaged by the cam and thereby elevate said releasing-rod so that the fingers thereon will disengage the latches on the drawers.

35. A cash-register including a series of drawers, a series of corresponding charac ter-keys, a vertically-movable rotatable releasing-rod, fingers extending therefrom and adapted when elevated to unlock a certain drawer when a certain key is operated, a bevel-gear mounted on said rod, a segmental gear meshing therewith and secured to an oscillatory shaft mounted in the framework, means for oscillating said shaft whose extent of movement depends upon the charactenkey operated, a driving-shaft, a cam thereon, a link supported on said driving-shaft at one end and pivotally connected with the release rod at the other, and a pin extending from said link where it will be engaged by the cam after said releasing-rod has been rotated to set it for unlocking the particular drawer.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of December, 1897.

XVILLIAM F. BOCKHOFF.

lVitnesses:

V. II. LooKwooD, R. D. HAWKINS.

Images