US853651A - Account-register. - Google Patents

Description

m. 853,651. z PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

' A. STAPLES & aw. POTTER.

ACCOUNT REGISTER.

J .APPLIOATION FILED IEB. 26, 1906.

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' PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

A, RSTAPLES & G. W. POTTER.- ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APILIOATION I'ILBD FEB. 26. 906.

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5 255,a i m m UNETED PATENT fif hftjl li ALBERT r. STAPLES, or BROCKTON, AND CHARLES w. rorrn or WAL- THAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE MOCASKEY REGISTER CQMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

sooounr-nsossrss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14,1907.

Application filed February 26, 1906. Serial No. 302,879.

To all whom it nutymmccrn:

Be it known. that we, ALBERT F. STAPLES and CHARLES W. POTTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Broekton and Waltham, respectively, in the counties of Plymouth and Middlesex, respectively, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Accountltegis tors; and. We do hereby declare the f ollow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in account registers.

The object of the invention is to produce an improved account register for use inconnection with the system of accounting in which bills or charge slips containing the several accounts to be kept are filed in compartments of a bill file or register, and the invention consists in a bill file or account register, of the form in which the bills are secured to a number of pivotally mounted frames, embodying certain improvements in construction and operation hereinafter pointed 'out in connection with the description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inventiompartly in section and Fig. 3 isa similar view on a smaller scale showing the position of the parts when the register is in use. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section with .35 the frames removed, and thefront cover drawn down. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the devices for connecting the frames .with a lll'OlJlUIPOOIIhI'OlllDQI mechanism. Figs. 5 andv 6 are detail views of the electric contact device.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a number of frames provided with clips for holding bills, a casing in which the frames are 'mountedand are inclosed when not in use, and mechanism within the casing for controlling the motion of the frames when they are open or shut. to facilitatc the, use of the device and to prevent jar in opening and closing the frames.

.flhe frames 1 are constructed of metal and provided with marginal flanges 2 to secure the necessary stiffness. They may also be j provided with flanges 3 as shown in Fig. 4 to divide them into separate compartments for The the bills and to further stiffen them. frames are provided. with clips 4 of ordinary form for holding the bills on opposite sides of the frames. The frames are not hinged or pivoted to a supporting member, as is usual in devices of this character, but are fastened together by hinges 5 at the bottom, the hinges being located at the junctures be tween the bottom flanges of the frames, and the frames are all of the same size. The frames are thus hinged together in series and owing to this construction when folded together i'nake a body of compact form as shown in Fig. 1, the fram being all parallel and none ofthem extending beyond. the others. In this form, the frames may conveniently removed from their casing as is sometimes desirable in order to put them with the bills contained tl'ierein in a safe or' vault when not in use. 1 Since the frames are lunged together in .the manner above described, a single support for the bottom of the body of frames sufficient, it being unnecessary to support each frame separately in the casing. fore is provided with pivotal supports in the casing while the remainder of the frames, being supported at the bottom by the front frame, are left freeat the bottom. and are ,inerely supported at the top to maintain them'norma'lly in upright position. When one or more of the frames is drawn forward and down to permit access to the bills, the frames drawn down assume the position The first or front f ramethereshown. in Fig. 2, remaining still paralleh' while the remaining frames are raised and the bottoms drawn forward.

ln order that the tops of the frames remaining upright may be moved forward, when some of the frames are drawn down, to the same extent asthe bottom of the upright framos,means are provided to move the tops of the frames forward as the bottoms are moved forward and raised so that the-u right frames are brought to a position para] el to their original position and the foremost upright frame is always at the same angle with the eye of the person using the device. To this end, the last frame is provided with rollers'50 ionrnaled -to the upper. corners of the frame on a rod 6 fixed to the top of the frame, These rollers engage metal strips'7 may be made upon the bills and also as a provided with a springcatch 17 which eno3 having screw threaded shanks 24 entering 'the horizrn'ital, the tops of the frames are fixed to the lower side of a cover 8 forming part of the casing; The cover 8 is hinged at .l to the back it) of the casing, and when the i register is in use the cover 8 is swung upward i to the position of Fig. 2, being retained in this position by metal links 11 pivoted at their upper ends to the cover 8 and. having slotted portions engaging screws 12 in the sides 12% of the casing. As the frames are turned down the remaining upright frames, owing to the hinged arrangement of the frames are always raised and drawn forward through substantially the same distances, whatever may be the number of frames turned down, and.thus by arranging the cover 8 at an angle of substantially 45 with moved forward by the rollers 50 through the same distance. it should be noted that by this construction not only are the upright frames kept always substantially at the same angle but also they are brought forward, no matter how many frames are turned down,- so that the front frame of those remaining upright occupies always substantially the same position at the front ofthe cabinet and this facilitates the use of the register since it obviates the necessity of reaching into the casing as in previous account registers. i

The front cover 14 of the casing is hinged at 15 to the front of the casing so that it may be swung down into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which it is retained by chains 16 fixed to the cover of the casing. In this position it serves as a desk upon which entries support for the frames which have been turned down. The index of the accounts is also mounted upon the inner surface of this cover so that when the cover is turned i down the index is presented to view and when the cover is closed the index is concealed within the casing. The cover 14; is

a catch 18 on the cover 8 when the covers are both closed and serves to hold the covers closed. By means of a button 19 the catch can be released to open the covers.

Within the lower part of the casing mech anism is provided for controlling the motion of the flill'l'lOS so as to facilitate turning them down and also to prevent them from jarring when quickly opened or closed. A rock shaft 20 is journaled transversely of the casing, and is provided with depending arms 21. to which springs '22 are attached. The springs are adjustable being secured to eyes nuts in the back of the casing. The shaft 20 carries an arm 26 to the lower end of which is pivoteda link 27 having across pin 28 at its upper end. The cross pm 28 engages notched lugs 25) fixed to the bottom of the last frame and held in engagement with the lugs by a hook 3U pivoted to one of the i ribs 3 of the frame as shown particnlm'ly in Fig. l. The springs 2. {end constantly to swing the arms upward whereby the eight of the frames is partly counter-lmlanced by the springs and less effort is required to draw the frames forward and down :n'd; As more and more of the frames are drawn forward, or as the frames in abody are drawn further and further forward, the arm ac swings farther upward and the springs 22 in contracting diminish their tension, so that by properly proportioning the springs and the incchanisn'i connecting them with the frames, the counter-ha]ancing effect of the spring. is made to diminish substantially in proportion as the necessity for the counterbalancing decreases as the frames are turned downward.

To prevent jarring when the frames are tipped back into the easing {lie arm 26 is onnccted with a piston rod 31 carrying a. piston 32 which HIOVOS in a cylinder .lf-l journaled in brackets 34 in the casing. The piston is provided with a cup leather 5-15 \\'lll( h allows air to pass freely as the piston moves Iowa rd the open rear end of the cylinder but prevents air from escaping as the piston is moved in the opposite direction. An adjusting screw 36 with a slotted shank provides an adinstable leak to permit the air to csca pc slowly from the cylinder. Owing to the relative position of the cylinder and the arm 26 the piston moves from right to left during the first part of the movement of the frames and opposes no resistance to the movement of the frames, but after the arm 26 is swung beyond the position in which it is in line with the pivotal supports of the cylinder 33 the direction of motion of the piston is reversed and it then acts as a check upon the movement of the arm 26 and of the frai'ncs so that by the cushioning effect of the air the frames are preventcd from falling heavily upon. the cover 14. A similar result is sernrcd in returning the frames to the casing, the piston first moving from right to left and then moving in the opposite direction and preventing the frames from striking heavily against the back of the casing. As a further precaution against iarring rubber buffers 51 are fixed in 4110 back of the casing in position to; engage the'flangcs on the edges of the back frame, and rubber buffers or abutmcnts 38 are fixed to car-h of the frames so that they do not jar against each other. I

In order to provide an alarm to indicate the fact that the account register has been opened an electric contact device is mounted within the case. This contact device coinprises a flat metal spring SRpivotally mounted at its rear end in a reccssin the side of the casing and tending normally to engage a contact piece 39 on the asing. The forward end of the spring 58 is provided with a beveled lugao adapted to engage a lug all on the edge of the front frame. /Vhile the front frame is closed the spring held inward away from the contact piece 31-) and the electric circuit is open. When the front frame is opened the spring 58 closes the electric circuit. An electric battery 42 locateril within the casing and connected in a circuit with the contact making; device, as shown in. Fig. 3, thereupon causes a bell located in any convenient position to ring, the bell being connected with wires 43, Fig. 3, which pass out through the back of the casing. By this arrangement an alarm is given in case of any unauthorized tampering with the register. To prevent the bell ringing continuously while the register is in use the spring 58 may be swung upward out of contact with the contact piece 39 after the first frame has been opened.

As it is desirable to have the frai'nes readily removable from the casing so that they may be put into a vault or safe when not in use, the pivotal supports for the front frame are made in the form of bearing blocks 44 fixed to the sides of the casing and having deprecsions in their upper sides loosely engaged by pins 45 projecting from the lower corners of the front frame;- VVhen it desired to remove the frames from the casing they are drawn down upon the cover 14 and disengagcd from the link 27 by disengaging the hook 3O from the pin 28. then be lifted free from the blocks 44 and removed front the casing.

vided with a lug 46 adapted to engage a pin 47-lixed to the arm 26, and a spring 48 mounted on the arm 26 engages the link-27 and tendsto swing it downwardly until the lug engages the pin. The piiiis so adjusted that when the frames have been removed as above described the link 27 is held by the pin'and the spring 48 in the correct position to be engaged again by the devices by which it is con-- ncctcd with the frame, so that in inserting the frames again. it is necessary merely to in sort-tho pins 45 in the notched blocks 44 and then press down the hook 30 to secure the pin 28 inthe lugs-2!).

The hinged arrangement of the frames and their normally parallel position have several important advantages. By this arrangement the maximum capacity provided in a inininuun hulk, a feature which is especially important when the framcsareto be stored in a safe. Another advantage resulting from this consl ruction the fact that when several frames are drawn down there is no relative motion between the frames, and the bills held between them are therefore subjected to no danger of injury such as might occur in other forms of account registers when the luantilfv of hills contained between the framesv is suliiricnt lo ca se the hills on the adjacent surfaces of the frames to be in contact. it should b; no-lcd that owing to tho hinged arrangement ol the lramcs the weight The frames may is claimed is:

1. An account register, having, n combiof the frames remaining vertical, so far as it isnot conntcr balanced by the col'inter-balancing devices above described, has a tendency to can so the return of each horizontal frame to upright position, as soon as the frame is swung upward slightlyabove horizontal position, s0,that the raising of the frames is facilitatedto the same extent as if each frame were provided with springs to raise it, as in previous account 'registersfi This constructionis much simpler than the previous construction since this effect results from the weight of the frames alone and no springs are necessary for this purpose.

Any convenient number of frames may be used, and the use of count'er-balancing and checking mechanism. for the frames, or other motion controllingdevices, is not essential to the invention in its broader aspects, although such devices contribute to the utility of the invention.

The invention is not, in general, limited to the details of construction and operation of the illustrated eml'iodiment, but may he em-' bodied inother forms broadly defined in the claims.

l-lavmg new described the invention, what nation, a plurality of pivotally mounted. frames, means for supporting the frames norm ally in upright position and means acting,

The link 27 is promove the remaining frames forward to a position substantially in the plane norm ally 00- cup'i ed by the first frame, substantially as d'e-f when one or more frames are drawn down, to

scribed.

3. An account-register, havmg, 1n combination, a plurality of frames hinged together at the bottom, meansfor holding/the frames, normally in upright position, and means acting, when one or more of the frames are drawn down, to move the tops of the rem a1ning fraines forward substantially the same distance that the bottoms are moved forward,substantially as described. I

3. An account register, baving, combination, a ph'rahty of flBJDGS'PlVOCflllY connected together at the bottom, means for supporting the frames norm ally in upright position, and inclined guides co-operating with the last frame so as to cause the top of said. frame to he moved forward [as it is raised, suhstantially'as descrihi-zd. l

4. An account register, having, in combination, a plurality of frames hinged. togetherat the bottom and provided with abutments holding the frames normally in substantially parallel position, pivotal supports for the first frame, means for holding the frames normally in upright position, and means for moving l he tops of the frames forward as the bottoms are moved forward in turning down the frames, substantially as described.

5. in account register, having, in. comb i-.

- of the frames or partially counter-balancing their weight,substantially as described.

6. An account register, having, "in combi nation, a plurality of frames hinged together at the bottom, means for normally isuprmrting the frames in upi'igbtposition, pivotal supports for the first frame, and a counterbalancing device connecting with the last frame and subjecting the frames to a counter-balancing force diminishing substantiallyin proportion to the number of frames turned down, substantially as described.

7. An account register having, in combination, a plurality of "pivotally mounted frames, and a casing, in which the frames are normally supported in upright position, provided With a cover pivoted at the rear and having means for limiting its upward motion so as to act as a guide for the tops of the frames by engagement with. the last frame when. one or more of the frames are turned down, substantially as described 8. {in account register having, in combination, a plurality of frames hinged together, a casing provided with loose pivotal supports for the front frame arranged to permit the frames'to be readily inserted therein and removed therefrom, and a motion-control]ing device located in the casing and detachably connected with the frames, substantiall as described.

9. An account register having, in combination, a plurality of frames hinged together .in series, a support for the frames, and a single counter-balancing means for the frames connected with one of the terminal frames, substantially as described.

10. .An account register having, in combination, a plurality of frames hinged together in'series, a pivotal support for one terminal frame, and counter-balancing means connected with the other terminal frame at its hinged edge, substantially as described.

11. An account register having, in combination, a plurality of frames hinged together one of said frames being pivotally mounted in said pivotal supports and supporting the other 'frai'nes, all of the frames when uprightbe'ing" inclined to loan by gravity toward the back of the case.

l3. An account register includiin a case having a back, a pair of pivot: 1 supports in the case, a plurality of bill-holding frames hinged to each other, the foremost one of said frames being pivotally mounted in said pivotal supports and supporting the other frames, all of the frames when upright being inclined to lean by gravity toward the back of the case, and compensating paralleling apparatus in the case acting, when one or more of the frames are drawn dovrn, to assist. in moving the remaining frames forward to positions approximately parallel to the plane normally occupied by the forei'i'iost frame.

14. ln account registers, the coml'iination with a cabinet case, and a plurality of billholding frames hinged one to another and collectively forming a connected portable grmip of frames, of a pair of pivotal supports mounted in the case and pivotally supporting theforward part of the forward one of the frames and thereby supporting the group of frames, the frames being movable se 'iaratel in succession to either upright or reclining positions, and means in the case to be en,- gag'ed by the rearmost frame for holding it upright when bodily elevated and a forward frame reclines.

In testimony whereof We allix our signatures, in presence of two ivitncsses.

ALBERT F. STAPLES. CHARLES W. POlTTlC' R. Witnesses:

Fannnn F. Donsnr, ALFRED ll. llnpunrn.

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