US789189A - Cash-register. - Google Patents

Description

No. 789,189. PATENTED MAY 9, 190-5.

' J. I. TOD.

CASH REGISTER.

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PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

J. I. TOD.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 10, 1902.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

q/viwe/mo No. 789,189. PATENTED MAY 9,1905.

J. I. TOD.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1902.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

1 1 a l n n 1 1 1 u 1 I a;

UNITED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN I. TOD, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEXV JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEIV JERSEY.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,189, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed July 10, 1902. Serial No. 115,000.

To all 1071 0171, 710' many concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN 1. Ton, acitizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CaslrRegisters, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in cash-registers, and has more particular relation to improvements in printing devices for the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a cash-register with mechanism whereby only such amounts as are desired will be printed upon the record-strip.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the devices embodying my invention applied to a machine of a type patented to Thomas Carney, No. 683,877, October 1, 1901, the cabinet of the same and the counter being removed. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same with the cash-drawer omitted. Fig. 3 represents a central vertical section through a machine of the class mentioned with my invention applied thereto, )art of the counter being omitted for clearness. Fig. A represents adetail front elevation,partly in section and partly broken away, of the shifting devices and the key-levers which cooperate therewith; and Fig. 5 representsa detail end elevation, partly broken away,.of the counter.

In the aforesaid drawings, 5 represents the frame of the machine; 6, the amount-keys; 7, the special key; 8, the indicators; 9, the typewheels, and 9 the counter-wheels.

In the class of machine to whichI have applied my improvements the keys or key-levers 6 and 7 are pivoted upon a transverse shaft 10 and are formed at their rear ends with hook projections 11, whereby when displaced from normal position they may become coupled to the pivoted key-couplerl2. The rear 15. These segments mesh with the counterpinions and also with pinions 16, mounted upon a shaft 17, and a series of nested sleeves 18, applied over the same. Upon the outer ends of the sleeves and shaft are mounted the printer-wheels 9, which are thus given movements corresponding to the movements of the registering frames and according to the values of the keys operated. The stems 8 of each of the aforesaid tablet-indicators 8 rest upon the rearward ends of their respective keys, so that as any key is operated the tablet-indicator corresponding thereto will be raised to display the amount of the key operated or the designation of the special key operated.

The key-coupler 12 is arranged to rotate a shaft 19 by means of an interposed reciprocating rack-plate 20 and in a manner well known in the art. The outer end of the shaft 19 carries a cam 21, which is arranged to engage a pivoted spring-pressed platen-lever, and thus depress and finally release the same to permit it to make an impression upon the detail-strip from the type-wheels. One trunnion end 22 of the key-coupler is extended through the frame of the machine and is provided with a rigid arm 23, in which is pivoted a strip-feeding pawl 24, the same being spring-pressed to engage a feeding ratchet-wheel 25, fast to the strip feeding roller 26.

The above-described constructions, as well as the inking and alining devices and the remainder of the printer, are substantially as shown and described in the aforesaid patent, and reference is made to the same for any further detail description desired.

From the above description it will be seen that in a machine such as described in the aforesaid patent each operation of the machine will cause the detail or record strip 27 to be fed forward one space. In the present instance, however, this feeding forward of the strip is to be governed by and according to the keys operated, the keys to feed and the keys not to feed beingpredetermined and the machine constructed accordingly.

In the present instance and for sake of illustration I have shown the machine ar- 'in Figs. 3 and 4:.

ranged to print any amount over twenty cents l and any amount at all when the special quartkey is used. To accomplish this result, 1 arrange to throw out the strip-feeding pawl and prevent the operation of the platen-lever in the following manner: The outer end of the feeding-pawl Qet is formed with a nose or lug 28, whereby it may be depressed at its forward end, so that when reciprocatcd by the movement of the key-coupler it will not engage the ratchet-wheel 25, but will play freely under the same. The nose or lug 28 is so located as to be engaged by a hook-pawl 29, which is pivoted upon an arm 30 and is springpressed against the pawl 24. The arm 30 is fast to a rock-shaft 31, which extends transversely through the machine, as shown The shaft is connected at one end to the main frame by a coil-spring 32, which surrounds it and holds it in normal position, but permits it to be rotated or moved longitudinally. The shaft 31 carries a series of rigid arms 33, having beveled upper ends and located under the dollar-keys and also under the special key 7. \Vhen any one of the dollar-keys or the special key is depressed, it engages the bevel-arm beneath it and moves the shaft 31 longitudinally. Those keys the amounts of which are not to be printed when operated alone are arranged, when operated, to engage incline-arms 34, fast on shaft 31, and thus rock said shaft rearward to cause the hook-arm 29 to draw the pawl 24: downward, and thus render the latter imoperative to effeet the feed of the record-strip. \Vhen one of the keys which cooperates with one of the arms 33 is operated together with one of the keys over an arm 34, the shaft 31 is moved longitudinally, so as to move the arms 34k out of alinement with their keys before said keys contact with them. The shaft 31 is thus not rocked and the normal operation of the printer is effected and the amountrecorded. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the hookarm 29 is sufliciently wide at its upper end to prevent it passing out of engagement with the feeding-gawl A even when it is shifted laterally. ln order to prevent the operation of the platen when the shaft 31 is rocked, I provide an arm 35, loosely mounted on the shaft, but splined to the same, so as to follow its rotary movements, but not its longitudinal movements. This arm 35 is pivotally connected to a pitman-rod 36, which in turn is connected to a crank-arm 37, fast to a short shaft 38, journaled in the main frame. The shaft 38 outside of the frame is provided with an eccentrically-n'iounted disk 39, which when the said shaft is rotated with the shaft 31 is adjusted to be struck by a rubber buffer 10 on the platen lever, and thus prevent the platen from making an impression. In the The twenty-five-cent key and all keys between that and the dollar-key cooperate with neither of the sets of arms and their operation will therefore have no effect upon the shaft 31 or the regular printing operation.

It follows from the above that any sale involving amounts of live, ten, fifteen, or twenty cents will not be printed unless combined with the operation of the special quart-key or one of the dollar-keys. The designation of the special key is arbitrary, and itmay represent any character, quantity, or similar designation desired. It is also obvious that when the sales involving the above-named amountkeys are not printed, yet the operation of these amount-keys will nevertheless raise the indicators to view and will also operate the registering mechanism. In order that the operation of this special key may leave a record of its designation upon the detail-strip in connection with the amount registered, 1 have provided an auxiliary printing wheel 11, which in the presentinstance is provided with the characters Qt,corresponding to those upon the special key. This printing-wheel is fast upon a sleeve 42, which is mountedv upon the outer sleeve 18 and is provided at its inner end, as best shown in Fig. 3, with an arm 43, formed at its lower end with a segmental rack. This rack meshes with a similar rack formed on an arm H, which is journaled upon a transverse shaft 45. The arm 4 1 is fast to an arm 4L6, which at its lower end is formed with an angular slot 47 for the reception of a pin 48, projecting laterally from the special key 7. The operation of this special key will therefore set the special typewheel to print the character designating said key.

As it is desirable at times to so adjust the parts that any of the keys when operated will cause a printing operation, .l provide means for moving the shaft 31 to the right and holding it in this position irrespective of the operation of the keys. This means comprises a suitable thumb-nut 1-8, mounted in the frame near the right-hand end of the shaft and provided at its inner end with an eccentrically-mounted disk 19. This disk cooperates with a stud 50, mounted in the shaft, so that when the thumb-nut is rotated the shaft will be moved to the right to its inoperative position and so held until the thumb-nut is again turned to its normal position. (Shown in Fig. 4.)

This machine is intended principally for restaurant or bar use and in such cases where it is not desired to print the smaller amounts. If the proprietor should leave for a time, however, he can adjust the machine so that all the amounts of sales made during his absence will be printed. .It will of course be understood that a suitable locked door is provided in the cabinet whereby the proprietor may reach and operate the thumb-nut at will.

' and operated to throw out the pawl 2A before the key-coupler has been operated sufficiently to cause said pawl to turn the ratchet-wheel.

If so desired, the machine may be provided with a series of special keys similar to key 7 and representing the special transactionssuch as i Charge, Paid out, Received on account, &c.so that when any one of the same is operated its character will be printed in connection with any amount, whether the latter is on a cut-out key or not. This is necessary where it is desired to keep track on the detail-strip of all special transactions. I also contemplate omitting the paper-feeding pawl 28 and operating the paper-feeding roller directly from the pawl 29. In this application of my invention the arms 34 would be placed under the keys representing the amounts that were to be printed. The arms 33 would be omitted altogether. In this construction the cam 39 would be positioned to normally prevent the operation of the hammer and would be moved by the rocking of the shaft 31 to permit such operation. In such a construction as above contemplated the keys which are to be cut out would have no efi'ect upon the shaft 31 at all.

I do not care to limit my invention to a keyoperated machine such as shown in the ac companying drawings, as the invention is also applicable to machines in which the keys simply act as stops, and some auxiliary means is employed to effect the registration and set the type-carriers according to the values of the keys operated.

It is customary in caslrregisters as developed in the present state of the art to have the keys perform several functionssuch, for example, as registering, indicating, and printing either by their own operation or by the actuation of an operating member, and it is to be understood that the scope of my invention is not limited to constructions in which the printing mechanism is disabled, as heretofore described, but also include constructions in which any other of such functions is prevented from being performed, and when in the appended claims I make reference to mechanism controlled by the keys for performing certain functions it is to be understood that reference is made to such functions, as above mentioned, which are customarily performed by the keys in cash-registers as at present developed. 1

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 operating mechanism, including a series of amount-keys, of printing devices, and means controlled by said amount-keys whereby when certain of the amount-keys are operated the printer will be actuated and when certain other of the amount-keys are operated the printer will not be actuated.

2. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys and a special key, of printing devices, and means controlled by said keys for preventing operation of the printing devices when certain of the amount-keys are operated, but not preventing such operation when certain other of the amount-keys or the special key is operated.

3. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer including a platen and a strip-feeding device, and means controlled by said amount-keys whereby when certain of the keys are operated the platen and strip-feeding device will be rendered inoperative. I

4:. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer including a platen, means whereby when certain of the keys are operated the platen will be rendered inoperative, and devices for rendering said means inoperative irrespective of the regular operation of the machine.

5. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer including a movable platen, and means controlled by said amount-keys whereby when certain of the keys are operated the platen will be rendered inoperative.

6. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys and a special key, of a printer, means for preventing the operation of the printer when certain of the amount-keys are operated but not preventing such operation when the remainder of the amount-keys or the special key is operated, and devices for rendering said means inoperative irrespective of the regular movements of the machine.

7. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a register, operated by said keys, a printer also operated by said keys, and means operated by a number of said keys for rendering the printer inoperative in connection therewith without affecting the operation of the register.

8. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer including a platen and a strip-feeding device, a shaft carrying arms arranged to be engaged by said keys and thereby operated, and means mounted on said shaft for rendering the platen and stripfeeding device inoperative.

9. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer having a stripfeeding roller, a feeding-pawl for said roller, and means operated by a number of the keys for throwing the feeding-pawl out of operative position.

10. In a casl1-register,the con'ibination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer having a movable platen, means operated by a number of the keys for rendering the platen inoperative and 7 arranged in relation to the remaining keys so that when operated thereby said means will be moved out of operative relation with the first-mentioned keys.

11. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer including a pivoted platen-lever, a stop device arranged to be moved into the path of said lever, and means operated by a number of the keys and connected to said stop device.

12. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, indicators coacting with said keys, a printer including a movable platen, means operated by a number of the keys for rendering the platen inoperative without affecting the indicators.

13. In a cash-register the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer, a transverse shaft arranged to be moved longitudinally by a number of the keys, and rocked by other keys, and means for controlling the printer from the shaft.

14. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a series of amount-keys, of a printer, a transverse shaft arranged to be moved longitudinally by a number of the keys and rocked by other keys, means for controlling the printer from the shaft, and means for locking the shaft in its longitudinally-adjusted position.

15. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of printing devices, means controlled by a number of said keys for preventing the operation of the printing devices when said keys are operated alone and other means controlled by the remaining keys for preventing the operation of the first-mentioned means whereby when the first of keys is operated in connection with the second set the printing devices will be operated.

16. Ina cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, printing devices connected with said keys for printing the designations thereof, and controlling means for the printing devices operated by certain of the keys when said keys are operated without any of the remaining keys.

17. In a cash-register the combination with a series of keys, printing devices, means operated by certain of said keys for controlling the printing devices and means for rendering the controlling means inoperative at will upon the operation of the machine.

18. In a cash-register the combination with said keys, a printer also controlled by said keys and means operated by a number of said keys for rendering the printer inoperative withoutal'l'ecting the operation of the register.

19. In a cash-register the combination with a series of amount-keys, of a register, a printer and means operated by certain of the keys for throwii'ig out the printer.

20. In a wish-register, the combination with a series of keys arranged in groups, of printing devices, a member common to and moved by any of the keys of certain of said groups, with provisions cooperating with the keys of one group for preventing the operation of said printing devices, and provisions cooperating with the keys of another group for permitting the operation of the printer regardless of the operation of the former group.

21. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys arranged in groups, of printing devices, and a common member given a certain movement by the keys of one group and a different movement by the keys of another group, with provisions whereby one of said movements will disable the printing devices and the other of said movements will prevent the disabling of the printing devices.

2 In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys arranged in groups, meehanism controlled thereby for performing certain functions, means controlled by the keys of one group for preventing the performance of one ofsaid functions while permittingthe performance of the remaining functions, and means controlled by the keys of another group for preventing the operation of the first-mentioned means, when keys of both of said groups are used conjointly at one operation of the machine.

23. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys arranged in groups, mechan ism controlled thereby for perfm'ming certain functions, means actuated by the operative movement of the keys of one group for preventing the performance of one of said functions, while permitting the performance of the remaining functions, and means actuated by the operative movement of the keys of another group for rendering the first-mentioned means ineffective, when keys of both groups are simultaneously operated.

24;. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys arranged in groups, mechanism controlled thereby for perforn'iing certain functions, means controlled by the keys of one group for preventing the performance of one of said functions, means controlled by the keys of another group for rendering the first-mentioned means ineffective, and hand-manipulative means for permanently rendering the li rstmentioned means ineffective.

25. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of a rock-sha ft having a lateral movement, aset of projections formed on said a series of keys, of a register controlled by l shaft and arranged to be engaged by certain of 3 the keys to rock the shaft; a set of beveled projections formed on said shaft and arranged to be engaged by other keys to shift said shaft laterally, type carriers connected with the keys, a platen, a stop projection for the platen, connections between said rock-shaft and said stop projection, a feeding device for the detailstrip, and connections between said rock-shaft and said feeding device.

26. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys divided into groups and a printer mechanism cooperating therewith, of

means controlled by the keys of one group to' prevent the operation of said printer; and means controlled by keys of another group to disable said preventing means when keys of both groups are used conjointly, whereby in JONATHAN I. TOD.

WVitnesses:

JAs. W. DUNCAN, CORNELIUS BARRY.

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