US760724A - Cash-register signal. - Google Patents

Description

No. 760,724. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904- W. F. BOGKHOFF.

CASH REGISTER SIGNAL.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 28, 1899. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

W. F. BOGKHOPF. CASH REGISTER SIGNAL.

APPLICATION nun JAN. 28. 1899.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM F. BOCKHOFF, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR' TO NATIONAL- CASH- REGISTER. COMPANY, OF "JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW J ERSEY,

CASH-REGISTER SIGNAL.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,724, dated. May 24, I904. Application filed January 28, 1899. Serial No. 703 ,645. (No model.)

rial No. 702, 651, I have illustrated and claimed arrangements of separate cash-receptacles for cash registers, a receptacle being provided for each clerk using the machine.

The object of my present invention is to produce means for making-a distinct signal or alarm for each receptacle, so that the entire force of clerks in whatever portion of the establishment they may be may know when and what portion of the register has been operated. The signals being such as to be readily distinguishable one from the others each clerk will thus be able to detect any fraudulent opening of his particular receptacle.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a register embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the drawers. Fig. .3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail.

In the drawings, 5 indicates a cash-register, such as shown in my patent above mentioned, provided withaseries of drawers or cash-receptacles 6 6 6 6 6, &c.. Each drawer-is provided with a latch 7 which is arranged to be operated by one of a series of fingers 8 8 8 8', &c., carried by a vertically-movable shaft 9, the movement of which is determined by means of character-keys AB C D, &c. The particular means by which any desired drawer may be opened is described and claimed in the patent already mentioned.

Secured to a suitable upright 11 in the drawer-casing is a series of bells 12 12 12" 12' 12', &c., each of which is provided with a hammer-lever l3.

Secured to each drawer is a rearwardlyprojecting; finger '14, perforated by one or more vertical holes, each of which is adapted to receive a vertically-movable pin 15, the

lower end of each of which is normally in position to engage the lever 13 of the adjacent bell and operate said lever when the drawer is pulled out. Said pins 15 are'so arranged, however, that when the drawer is closed they ride freely over the lever 13 and then drop down into operative position. The displacing movement of the pins 15 being upward, no springs are required; but to prevent the pins from being jumped out of finger 14: by'a sudden closing-0f the drawer I provide a guard 16, which extendsover the upper ends of the pins in position to prevent them from low-- ing the finger.

Eaclrfinger let is provided with as many' of bells, a'll the bells of each set having a sound distinctly different from the bells of either of the other sets. The first drawer of each set is then provided with one pin 15, the

second with two, and the third with three.

If desired, of course, each bell may have a distinctive sound or all the bells may have the same sound and each drawer be provided with p a different number or grouping of pins 15.

In the use of machines of this kind it often occurs that one or more of the clerks or' the proprietor is at some distance from the machine. I have therefore provided a central signal-station 16 in the present case provided with a series of distinguishable electric bells 17 17 17" 17' 17"", corresponding in numher to the drawers or receptacles. Located within the drawer casing near each drawer is a spring-terminal 18 and a stiff terminal 19, the two being suitably connected through a battery to one of the bells 17 Each drawer carries one or more pins 20, which are arranged to engage the spring-terminal 18 and force it into engagement with terminal 19. If desired, each drawer may be provided with a different number of pins 20, so that each drawer when operated will cause a characteristic number of rings of its bell. In this case a single bell connected to all of the terminals 18 and 19 may be used, if desired.

The operation is as follows: Clerk B having made a sale operates his own characterkey B, thus turning shaft 9 until the linger 8 comes into operative position beneath the latch 7 of the drawer 6. A further operation of the machine lifts the shaft, thus lifting latch 7 and releasing the drawer. As soon as the drawer is released the pins 15, carried by said drawer, are successively brought into engagement with the adjacent lever 13 and the corresponding bell rung as many times as there are pins 15,thus givingasignal which is readilydistinguishable as the signal of drawer 6. The forward movement of the drawer also brings pin 20 into engagement with the springterminal 18 and forces said terminal against terminal 19, thus causing bell 17 at the central station to ring. Bell 17 willof course be rung as many times as there are pins 20 on drawer 6. When the drawer is closed, pins 20 move terminal 18 away from terminal 19, so that bell 17 does not sound. As pins 15 are brought back into engagement with lever 13 they are forced upward thereby and then drop back into place, the guard 16 preventing said pins from being jumped out of their carrying-finger.

\Vith the mechanism described it becomes practically impossible for any clerk to beat the machine, for each clerk will soon become accustomed to the sound of his own signal and no other clerk will dare to open the drawer of any other clerk owing-to the risk of immediate detection. It will be readily understood that my device is applicable to cashrecorders, such as machines known as manual recorders.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of cash-receptacles, means for predetermining which receptacle will be exposed, devices dependent upon the further operation of the machine for exposing the receptacle, a series of characteristic signals located within the machine, a series of characteristic signals located at a distance from the machine, and mechanism for operating the respective signals when a cash-receptacle is exposed upon the regular operation of the machine.

2. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of cash-receptacles, of means for rendering any desired receptacle accessible,acous tic alarms located within the machine, acoustic alarms located at a distance from the machine, and mechanism intermediate the cashdrawers and the respective alarms, whereby a characteristic alarm is sounded both at the machine and at a distance for each receptacle made accessible.

3. In a cash register or recorder having a plurality of receptacles and means for rendering any desired receptacle accessible, a plurality of distinguishable audible signals arranged in the machine, means for operating the corresponding signal for each receptacle when made accessible, a distant-signaling device, and connections between said distantsignaling device and the receptacles whereby said distant-signaling device will give a characteristic signal for each receptacle made accessible.

1. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of cash-receptacles, of means for predetermining which receptacle will be exposed, devices dependent upon the further operation of the machine for exposing the receptacle, a series of characteristic mechanically-operated signals located within the machine, a series of characteristic electrically-operated signals located at a distance from the machine, and mechanism for operating the respective signals When a cash-receptacle is exposed upon the regular operation of the machine.

5. In a cash register or recorder, the combination with a plurality of cash-receptacles, means for predetermining which receptacle will be exposed, devices dependent upon the further operation of the machine for exposing the selected receptacle, electric-signaling mechanism located at a distance from the machine, and connections between said distantsignaling mechanism and the several cash-receptacles, arranged to give a characteristic signal when each receptacle is made accessible upon the operation of the machine, with provisions for preventing operation of said signal mechanism when the previously-opcned receptacle is closed.

6. In a cash register or recorder having a plurality of drawers and means for opening any desired drawer, an electric-signaling device, a pair of terminals arranged adjacent each drawer, connections between said terminals and signaling device, and means carried by each drawer for engaging one of the adjacent terminals,the said means of each drawer being such that each drawer will cause a characteristic number of operations of the signal, and the arrangement being such that the signal will be operated by a movement of the drawer in one direction only.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of cash-receptacles, of a series of characteristically differentiated signals located within the machine, a series of corresponding characteristically-differentiated signals located at a distance from the machine, and mechanism for operating the respective signals when the corresponding cash-receptacle is rendered accessible.

WILLIAM F. BOCKHOFF. Witnesses:

ARTHUR M. 1100]), FRANK A. FABLE.

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