US773052A - Cash-register. - Google Patents

Description

No. 773,052. PATENTED 001?. 25, 1904. T. CARROLL. CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1898.

R0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES I 11v VENTOH U A TTOHNE I I No. 773,052. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

T. CARROLL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1898.

no MODEL. 4 sums-sum 2.

w/rlvsssss //v VEN ma I ATTOHNEj PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

T. CARROLL. CASH REGISTER. APPLICATION 11.21) AUG. 18, 1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' N0 MODEL.

IN VEN TOH M 6M A TTOHNEY.- j

. N6 N Inn HHDHEHDHAHOUHFQHEHOHHE w 1 i W TNESSES N PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

T. CARROLL.

GASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION nun) we. 18. 1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' no menu.

l V VENTOR.

13y g 2 E ATTOVRNE.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

PATE T OFFICE.

THOMAS CARROLL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CASH-REGISTER.

SEPEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent-No. 773,052, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed August 18,1898. Serial No. 688,915. (N0 model.)

To all 11/71/0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS CARROLL, aciti- Zen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in cash registers and recorders.

The object of the invention is to provide machine especially adapted for use in recording transactions in stores or departments of stores where the details of the transactions are first written upon a paper check, which is then inserted in the machine and the proper keys pressed representing the amount of the recorded transaction. The handle is then operated which registers or records the amount of the transaction upon a paper strip within the machine, besides printing it upon the paper check. My invention is further provided with means for severing a portion from said check to retain it as an additional per manent record within the machine. 1

In the appended drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 represents a view similar to Fig. 1 with the casing, keys, and one of the guide-plates removed. Fig. 4: represents a vertical longitudinal section through the machine on the line g y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a bottom plan view of the apertured key-plate and its locking-slides Fig. 6 represents a transverse vertical section through the said devices shown in Fig.5. Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detail side elevation of the alininglever and its operating-cam, and Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the means employed to feed the detail paper strip.

In the aforesaid drawings, 1 represents the base of my improved mechanism; 2, the easing; 3, the amount-keys, and 4 the operating lever or handle. The said keys 3 are. arranged in banks each numbered from one to nine notch 7; said shanks passing through suitable apertures in the top of the casing 2 and being normally held in elevated positions by coil-springs 8, which surround them and bear with their opposite ends against said buttons and easing. Each of the said shanks is also provided with a rigid lateral pin 9, which acts as a limiting-stop for the same and is normally held against the under side of the top of the casing by its respective coil-spring. The lower ends of the abovementioned shanks are guided by an apertured plate 10. which is supported in position slightly below the top of the casing by crossbars 11 11, which are connected to the sides of the casing. These cross-bars further form supports for the apertured key-plates 12, which are rigidly secured thereto and of which there are two, one for the cents and dimes banks of keys and the other for the dollars and tens-of-dollars banks of keys. Each is formed with two rows of alternately square and round apertures 13 and 14, respectively. The under side of each key-plate is formed with two parallel dovetail grooves 15, corresponding in position with the apertures 13 and 14: and arranged to receive a series of insprings connected to said pins will normally draw the-slides 16 only partly over the re spective apertures 13. A vertical stud 21 is mounted upon each of the slides 19 and projects upward through a suitable slot formed in its respective plate 12, so as to form an attaching means for one of two coiled springs 22, which are secured also to one of the crossbars 11. It will be observed from the above description that these springs 22 normally draw the slides 19 into the positions shown in Fig. 5, with the slides 16projecting only partly over the apertures 13, so that when a key is depressed the lower beveled end of its shank will engage the edge of its respective slide 16 and force the same forward and cover its companion aperture 14, thereby forming a stop for one of a series of graduated studs 23, formed on one of a series of four graduated levers 24, mounted in the casing 2. These levers are all duplicates of each other. Therefore a description of one will suflice for all. Each lever is in the form of a bell-crank, and its respective projections 23, which are arranged to pass through the apertures 14, are of different relativelengths, according to their location in respect to the fulcrum of the lever, to represent different values from Zero to nine and to allow different degrees of movement of the lever according to the particular stud-apertures which may be blocked by the operation of the key, as above described. When one of said apertures is blocked by its respective slide 16, the upward movement of the corresponding lever is limited by one of the studs contacting with said slide. Slotted bars 25 are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the bell-crank levers and are also connected, respectively, to crank-arms 26, rigidly mounted upon a transverse rock-shaft 27 by pins 28, which enter the slotted portions of said bars. Each of said pins is further connected to the lower arm of its respective bellcrank lever by a coil-spring 29.

The operating-lever 4 is rigidly secured upon one end of the rockshaft 27. The crank-arm 26, bearing the stud 28, is also rigidly secured upon the rock-shaft, and the tension-spring 29, connected at its opposite ends to-the pin of the crank 26 and the crank-arm 24 of the graduated lever 24, respectively, causes a normal tendency of the graduated lever to swing on its pivoted shaft 24". Said movement, however, is normally restrained, because the lever is normally held immovable. W'hen, however, the operating-lever4 is swung upon its shaft to rock the crank 26, the graduated lever moves upward as fast as the movement of the pin 28 will permit until a stud 23 strikes a plate 16, which has been moved over an aperture 14 by the operated key in that bank. The graduated lever and the crank arm 24 thereupon come to a positive stop; but the crank 26 moves onto its full stroke, the spring 29 stretching or yielding to permit it to thus complete its movement. Upon the return movement of the operating-lever 4 the pins 28 contact with the end walls of the slots in the bars 25 and force the bell-cranks back to normal position. The outer end of each of the graduated levers 24 is provided with a laterally projecting headed pin 30, which projects into the slot 31 of one of a series of slotted arms 32, which are secured, respectively, rigidly to rotatable nested sleeves 33, 34, 35, and 36, journaled upon a transverse shaft 37. Rigidly secured upon the opposite ends of the sleeve are the series of segments 38 and 39, respectively, having type upon their peripheries. Formed integral with the series of segments 39 are the toothed segmental alining-racks 40.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing that the variable movement of the respective levers 24 imparts a corresponding degree of movement to the printing-segments, and thus brings the proper types into alinement with a printing-platen 41. This platen is provided with a suitable resilient facing 42 and is supported and carried by pivoted leverarms 43, mounted on the opposite sides of the casing 2. Each of these levers is provided at its lower end with a laterally-projecting stud 44, which projects through one of two slots 45, formed in said casing, and is connected exteriorly of said casing to one of two operating-bars 46, located on opposite sides of the casing. One end of each bar is formed with a yoke 47 (see Fig. 4) and an antifriction-roller 48, said yoke being arranged to embrace the opposite protruding ends of a rock-shaft 49, which is journaled in the easing. This shaft is provided at each end with a cam 50, so located that when said shaft is rocked, as hereinafter described, the cams will engage their respective rollers 48, and thus operate the levers 46 to throw the platen forward through the medium of the aforesaid pivoted levers 43. The said platen 42 is normally held away from the printing-segments in its retracted position by a coil-spring 57, Fig. 2, which connects the lower end of one of the levers 43 with the casing. The requisite amount of movement of the shaft 49 is secured by means of a pinion 51, fast thereon and meshing with a segmental rack 52, fast on the operating rock-shaft 27, which receives its motion from theoperating-lever4, as before described. In addition to the pinion 51 the shaft49 is provided with a segmental plate 52, having detent-teeth on its periphery and arranged to be engaged by a pendent spring-pressed arrester-pawl 53, which normally occupies a vertical position. After themovement of the plate 52 has commenced the pawl 53 is tipped into an inclined position, so as to ride over the teeth of said segment, and any reverse movement of the plate before the end of the stroke is thus prevented. \Vhen the forward stroke has been completed, the pawl 53 passes out of engagement with the segment and assumes a vertical position again, so that a reverse movement of the segment becomes possible. A cam 54, Fig. 2, mounted on the said shaft 49, is arranged to engage the end of a pivoted alining-lever 55, mounted in the easing and provided with an alining-head 56, which is of sufficient width to include all of the four alining-segments 40 of the printingsegments. The location of the cam 54 is such that the lever 55 remains inactive until after the type-segments have been adjusted, when the head 56 is moved into engagement with the alining-segments, and thereby both alines and locks all of said segments. The alininghead 56 is normally held out of engagement with the racks 40 by a coiled spring 56*,which connects it with a portion of the base. In proximity to the segments 39 are arranged a plurality of date-printing wheels 57, mounted and adjustable in any suitable manner so as to lie in the proper printing position in relation to the platen 42, and the printing positions of the segments or type- carriers 38 and 39 and the date-printing wheels 57 are all on a line with each other, so that when the platen 41 is moved up it strikes them all simultaneously. iVhen one of the checks 58, upon which the details of a sale or transaction have been written, is inserted through a tapering chute 58, mounted in the casing 2, it passes downward between the printing- wheels 38, 39, and 57 and the platen, so that when the latter is forced forward an impression will be made upon the check. Thisimpression is secured by an inking-ribbon 59, which passes laterally through the machine in front of the type-segments and has its opposite ends wound upon-suitable spools60, mounted in casings 61 and provided with protruding knobs or heads 52, whereby they may be rotated to move the ribbon in either direction as the same-wears from continued use. The 'lower portion of the check, which constitutes a voucher, is cut off during the operation of the machine and forced onto a pin-file 63. This cutting and filing operation is accomplished by a movable knife-blade 64, arranged to cooperate with a stationary blade 65 and formed with an aperture 66 to permit of the passage of the pin 63 therethrough during the filing operation. The movable blade 64 is supported on a carriage 67, which is mounted in suitable guiding-grooves 68, formed in the casing, and is pivotally connected at each end to a link-bar 69, said bars being in turn connected to crank-arms 70, mounted rigidly upon the rock-shaft 27. It will be observed that by this means each movement of the shaft 27 will be communicated to the blade 64 and cause the same to pass under the blade'65 and sever the voucher end of the ticket lying between them. The permanent record of the transactions, which it is intended shall remain within the machine, is printed by the type-segments 38 upon a strip 71, which passes over the platen 41 and has its opposite ends wound upon rollers 72 and 73, respectively. The roller 72 is simply a supply-roller, while the roller 73 is intended to feed the strip forward with a step-by-step motion. This movement is secured by a ratchet-wheel 74, mounted on the roller 73, and a pawl 75, pivotally mounted upon a lever 76, which in turn is pivoted to the casing and is formed at its lower end with an elongatedslot 77, into which projects a stud 78, mounted on the end of the platen. As the said platen moves forward it rocks the lever 76 and draws the pawl backward and upon its reverse movement forces the pawl forward to turn the ratchet-wheel one tooth, said pawl being held in yielding engagement with the ratchet-wheel by a coilspring 79, which connects it with a portion of the frame. Any backward movement of the ratchet-wheel 74 is prevented by a pivoted pawl 75*, which is mounted upon the casing so as to engage the teeth of said wheel. When one of the keys 3 is depressed, it is held in such depressed position by its respective slide 16 catching in its notch 7 and is only released from such depressed position by a longitudinal movement of its slide 19, which latter is provided with pendent lugs 80, arranged in the path of one of two releasingarms 81, mounted upon a transverse rockshaft 82. When either of the slides are moved as above described, the noses 20, which abut against the pins 17, move the slides 16 simultaneously to release the keys. The said shaft 82 extends through the casing 2 at one end and is provided with a crank-handle 83, which may be grasped and operated if there has been a mistake made in operating the keys 3. This shaft is further arranged to be rocked near the end of each operation of the machine to release the keys by an arm 84, with which it is provided. A spring-pressed wiper-block is pivoted on said arm 84 and abuts against a stop-pin 86, so that it is limited to movement in one direction only. This wiper-block is so situated as to normally lie in the path of a cam projection 87, mounted on the shaft 49, and be struck thereby. By this structure the movement of the shaft 49 in one direction will simply cause the wiper-block 85 to turn upon its pivot until after the projection 87 has passed said wiper-block; but any movement in an opposite direction will cause the arm 84 to be swung upward and the shaft 82 rocked to release the keys. The end of the arm 84 rests upon the shaft 49 so as to hold the shaft 82 in its proper normal position. The movements of the operating-lever 4 are limited by stops 88, projecting laterally from one side of the casing.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that upon the operation of the de desired keys the respective stop-slides are set, and then upon the operation of the lever 4 the levers 24- are raised until the projectimis 23 in alinement with the operating-slides strike their respective slides, and thus bring said levers 24c to rest. movement of the levers lei imparts proportionate movements to the printing-segments, and it will be noticed that each of the graduments 39, and consequently, also, one of the printing segments 38, which are rigidly sleeved, respectively, to the aforesaid segments, so that both a ticket and a permanent record are printed. Thelower portion is also severed from the ticket and filed in the machine. The paper strip 58 when inserted into the chute 58 is not enough to cover both sets of printing-segments, so that the amount of the recorded transaction and the date are printed upon the paper strip by segments 39 and dating-wheels 57. The amount is printed upon the record-strip '71 by the segments 38. The knurled thumb-buttons 99 are for the purpose of setting the date-wheels 57.

The end 2 of the casing carrying the pinlile 63 as well as a portion 2" of the top are removable, so that by releasing the lock 2" the end of the casing carrying the pin-file, with the severed portions 58 of the printed slips 58, may be removed, permitting ready access thereto and to the various records within the machine.

It will be recognized that many changes both in form and construction can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, 1 have shown the graduated levers 24 arranged to move the printing-segments different distances, according to the numerical value of the actuated keys; but 1 do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, for it will be readily understood by those familiar with the art that the printingsegments are the substantial equivalent of register-actuating device and that the segments 39 might very well be constructed to actuate a suitable counter, and thus register the amounts according to the keys operated, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

\Vhere the expression recording devices or the like appear in the claims is intended any device for leaving a record of any particular transactions or amounts, whether this record be a printed record, an indicated record, or an added record, such as would be included in a counting mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. .In a cash-register, the combination with an apertured plate, of a series of keys arranged to close the respective apertures, an operating-lever having projections which are arranged to enter the apertures of said plate, means for operating said lever, and recording devices controlled by said lever.

The above-described 2. In a cash-register, the combination with an apertured plate, of a series of keys arranged to close the aperture respectively, a lever, having projections arranged to play through the apertures of said plate, means for operating said lever, flexible connections be 7 tween the lever and said lever-operating ated levers actuates one of the printing-segmeans, and, recording devices controlled by said lever.

3. in a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of independent stops controlled by said keys. a lever having projections of different recording values, and arranged to operate in the paths of the operated stops and a recording means connected to said lever.

t. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of an independently-movable stop means for each key, an operating-lever having projections of varying recording values arranged to be arrested by the stops, devices for simultaneously moving all of said stops, and a recording mechanism connected to said lever.

5. ]n a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys arranged in banks, of movable stops controlled by said keys, pivoted levers arranged to have their movements limited by said stop means and pivoted printing-segments having slotted projections which loosely engage pins mounted on the respective pivoted levers.

6. In a cash-register. the combination with a plurality of keys, of independent stop-slides for said keys, a release-slide arranged to move all of said stop-slides simultaneously, operating-levers the movements of which are limited by the stop-slides and a recording mechanism connected to the said operating-levers.

T. in a cash-register the combination with a series of keys, of stop-slides arranged to be indepei'idently operated by the respective keys, independent means for moving all of said slides to release the keys, and recording devices arranged to be controlled by said slides to record different amounts according to the slide operated.

8. II n a cash-register, the combination with a plurality of keys, of stop-siides for the same, a series of operating-levers arranged to be limited in their movements by said stops, an operating-shaft carrying crank-arms, springs connecting said arms to the operating-levers, and a recording mechanism connected to said operating-levers.

9. In a cash-register, the combination with a plurality of keys, of a printing mechanism co(" perating therewith, a pin-file, a knife, and operating devices arranged to actuate the printing devices to print upon an inserted ticket and to cut a portion therefrom and file it on the pin-lilo.

10. in a cash-register, the combination with a plurality of keys, of a series of levers arranged to be limited in their movements by the operation of said keys, means for moving said levers, pins mounted on said levers, pivoted type-segments having alining teeth and slotted projections; the latter for the reception of said pins, and an alining means connected to the movable parts of the machine and arranged to engage .the alining teeth.

11. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of stops arranged to be operated by said keys, a pivoted lever adapted to be limited in movement by said stops, a slotted link pivotally connected to said lever, a power-shaft carrying a crank-arm having a projection which enters the slot of said link, a spring connecting the crank-arm and lever and a recording mechanism connected to said lever.

12. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of an independent stop-slide for each key, a release-slide arranged to move all of said stop-slides, springs connecting the release and stop slides, an operating-lever, the movement of which is limited by said stopslides, and a recording mechanism connected to said operating-lever.

13. In a cash-register, the combination with an apertured plate, of a series of keys arranged to close the apertures respectively, a lever having projections arranged to play through the apertures of said plate and recording devices controlled by said lever.

14. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys having notched shanks, of an independently movable slide for each key adapted to enter the notched portion of the shank, means for moving all of said slides simultaneously to release said keys, an operating-lever cooperating with said slides to se' cure the desired variable movement for recording different amounts according to the slide operated and a recording mechanism connected to said lever.

15. In a cash-register,the combination with a series of keys, of an independently-movable stop means for each key.arranged to be operated thereby, .a lever cooperating with said stops so as to have a variable movement according to the stop operated, duplicate printing-segments connected to said lever, a paper strip arranged in proximity to one of said segments, inking means and a platen.

16. In a cashregister,the combination with a series of keys, of an independently-movable stop means for each key, a lever arranged to have its movements limited according to the stop means operated, a recording mechanism connected to said lever, and means connected to the moving parts of the machine for simultaneously releasing all of the stop means.

17. In a cashregister,the combination with a plate having apertures arranged in pairs, of a series of keys which pass respectively through oneaperture of each pair, an independent slide for each key arranged to be moved by the same to cover the companion aperture of said slide, an operating-lever hav ing projections which are arranged to pass through said apertures and a recording mechanism connected to said lever.

18. In acash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of an independently-movable stop means for each key arranged to be operated thereby, a lever cooperating with said stops and controlled thereby so as to have a greater or less movement according to the to the graduated levers.

20. The combination with a series of keys, of an independently-movable stop means for and actuated by each key, a graduated lever arranged to have its movements limited according to the key actuated, a driving mechanism, printing-segments connected to the graduated lever and a platen actuated by the driving mechanism.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with the recording mechanism cooperating with the keys and arranged to print the amount of the recorded transaction upon a paper strip, a duplicate recording mechanism actuated by the first-mentioned mechanism and arranged to print a record of the recorded transaction upon a second paper strip, and a knife arranged to automatically sever a portion of one of said strips and file it in the machine.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing device of a member connected to said device and arranged if uninterrupted to make a predetermined excursion, a driving member arranged to actuate said first-rnentioned member in each excursion, a flexible connection between the two members and a series of keys so arranged that when one of them is operated it will interrupt the movement of the first-mentioned member in its excursion at a point depending upon the numerical value of the key operated.

23. In a machine of the class described, the

' combination with the printing-segments of a lever connected to each printing-segment and each of said levers arranged if uninterrupted to make a predetermined excursion, to bring the Zero-type to the printing-point, a driving member arranged to actuate said levers in their excursions, flexible connections between the driving member and said levers and a series of keys for each lever so arranged that when one of them is operated, it will interru pt its respective lever at a point in its travel depending upon the numerical value of said operated key.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the recording means, of a driving member, a series of keys, a series of stops independently movable by said keys and arranged to latch the keys in their depressed posit-ions, means cooperating with the stops for controlling the recording means and mechanism for simultaneously moving all of the stops to release the operated keys.

25. In a cash register or recorder the combination with an apertured plate, of a series of keys and connections arranged to close the apertures of said plate, a movable member having operating projections constructed to play through the apertures of the plate, and a recording device controlled by said movable member.

26. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, and a printing mechanism cooperating therewith, of a knife, operating devices to actuate said printing mechanism and said knife to print upon an inserted ticket and also cut a portion therefrom, and means for positively stacking said cut-off portion within the machine.

27. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, and a printing mechanism cooperating therewith, of a movable frame carrying a knife; operating devices arranged to actuate said printing mechanism and said movable frame to print upon an inserted ticket and also cut a portion therefrom; and means controlled by the extended movement of said frame after the knife has severed said portion, for positively stacking said portion.

28. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, and a printing mechanism cooperating therewith, of a movable frame carrying a knife; operating devices arranged to actuate the printing mechanism and said movable frame, to print upon the inserted ticket and also cut a portion therefrom; a pin-file; and means controlled by the extended movement of said movable frame for filing said cut-off portion upon said pin-file.

29. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, and a printing mechanism cooperating therewith, of a movable knife formed with an aperture in the body portion thereof; a pin-file for engaging said aperture upon the movement of said knife; and operating devices arranged to actuate said printing mechanism and said knife to print upon an inserted ticket, cut a portion therefrom, and file said portion upon said pin-file.

In testimony whereof I, aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS CARROLL. l/Vitnesses:

11m BERKSTRESSER, \YILLIAM MUZZY.

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