US945912A - Electric cash-register. - Google Patents

Description

J. P. CLEAL, ELECTRIC CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED PERES, 1907.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

J. P. CLEAL.

ELECTRIC CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.28, 1907.

945,912, Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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ELECTRIC CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION IILBD Inma, 1907.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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UNITED STATEblATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. CLEAL,'OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL CASI-I REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, (INCORPORATED ELECTRIC CASH-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 11, 1910,

Application led February 28, 1907. Serial No. 359.790.

yTo vad whom it lmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. GLEAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Cash-Registers, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to calculating machines and'has for its general object to provide an improved construction whereby machines of the type described may be operated electrically.

It has been heretofore proposed to attach some form of electric driving motor to types forth in appended claims and aJ preferredform of embodimentof'which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical elevation through the key board and devices controlled thereby. Fig. 2 is an. elevation of the distant register and devices for operating the same. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the electric circuit.

In the drawings forming part of this specification is shown only one bank of keys and devices operated thereby but it will be readily understood that a plurality ci banks will in practice be used all of which however are exact duplicates of the one shown. Banks of keys are provided the inner ends of which when depressed are adapted to be in the path of longitudinally sliding bars. The depression of any key of the bank servesto close a circuit through one of a pair of ma nets which serves to drive the longitudina bar referred to in one direction to an extent dependent on the key depressed. When the desired movement has been completed the circuit through the magnet as described is broken and a second circuit made through an additional magnet whichserves to return the longitudinal slide to its normal position when the second circuit is broken in its turn. The movement of the slide in one direction serves to close another circuit for actuatingthe distant computing device. Electrically operated transfer devices will be used to carry'from one denominational element of the computing mechanism to the element of the next higher order.

Referring to 1 it will be seen that there is provided a bank of keys 10 numbered from one to nine inclusive and a release key 11. The keys 10 are adapted to be separately depressed when ins 12 carried thereby serveto move two etent plates one of which numbered 13 is provided with slots 14 for locking the key in depressed position. To this end the detent 13 is mounted on parallel arms 15 pivoted to the key frame and has at its forward end a notch 1G adapted to be engaged by a locking pawl 17 pivoted on a pin 1S and driven by a spring 19 toward locking position. lVhen release key 11 is depressed its pin 20 engages a cam edgeof the detent 17 moving the same forward-ly when springs Q1 and 22 will reversely move the parallel arms 15 and allow the key springs 23 tor'eturn anydepressed key. The second detent 24 is provided with cam slots 25 for the purpose oit' preventing the depression of keys successively in the same bank. .This type of detent is Well known in the art and its operation will be readily understood.. When any key 10 is depressed, detent '13 which as before stated is rocked on the .parallelarms 15 abuts the upper end oft-af vertical plate 31 and de presses the same slightly. This plate is longitudinally 'extended at its lower end as indicated at 32 and is carried -by parallel arms 33 and 3a pivoted at 35 and 3G to a longitudinally sliding; rack bar 37. When the key is depressed the plate 31 will be also lowered and a prciection 38 thereon will be moved from'in front of a slide 39 mounted on pins L1() and. 41. the said pins being also carried by sli-de 3?.

Thev parallel arm 34 is bell cranked in form having annpward extension 34* between which and a struck up part of slide 39 is a coiled spring 42 tending to move the slide 39 it'orwardly. llVhen the plate 31 is depressed it moves slightly rearward as will be seen from the direction of the parallel arms 33 and 34 and inally the depending projection of slide 39 passes over the projection 38 of plate 31 and locks the same in depressed position. The extension 32 of plate 31 has a flange 44 on which is mounted a pin 45. ln the normal position as shown in Fig. l the pin 45 engages and sli htly elevates a contact spring 43 and the ange 44 is directly over and slightly depresses a second contact spring 47. A third contact spring 48 is provided directly under the sprin 47 and all of the three springs mentione are insulated from each other and mounted in a standard 49. l.lVhen the depression of the key 10 moves the extension 32 of plate 31 downwardly the spring 47 being under the flange 44 will also be moved downwardly into contact with spring 48 and a circuit will then be closed through driving magnet 51. This magnet is mounted on a standard from the machine frame and attracts an armature 52 pivoted at 53 and carrying on its outer end a sprin actuated pawl 54 and an anti friction rol er 55. The pawl 54 is adapted when the armature 52 is depressed to engage the teeth of a ratchet 56 which is rigidly attached to a spur gear 57 the said 'ear meshing with rack teeth 58 on the slide 37. 'lt will be seen that when magnet 5l is energized the armature 52 will be depressed and pawl 54 will turn the ratchet slightly thereby moving the slide 37 forward slightly. A rheotome device is provided comprising a spring 58 and a stationary contact 59 in the circuit of magnet 51 to provide succession of operations thereof. Vlfhen the armature 52 descends the friction roller 55 will linally engage spring 58 and rock it away from contact 59 thereby breaking the magnet circuit. At this time a flat spring 60 moves over the outer end of contact spring 58 and serves to maintain the same remote from Contact 59 until the armature 52 completely reaches its upper position when roller in turn engages spring 60 and moves it tar enough so that contact spring 58 may again engage contact 59. l't will be seen that this mechanism provides a succcession ot movements of armature 52 thereby rapidly moving slide 37 forwardly. When the ireyslO are depressed their lower ends are in the path ont movement of the slide 39 so that some one of the steps 33 thereof linally engages the depressedlrey. When this happens the next forward movement of slide 37 will not be able to carry slide 39 with it, but the slide will remain stationary so that projection 38 of the extension 32 of plate 31 has a relative movement forward as compared with slide 39. The projection 38 will finally pass forward of slide 39, and spring- 42 will then rock the parallel arms and 34 and as flange 44 will then move upwardly the contact spring 47 will move away from spring 48 thereby finally breaking the circuit of magnet 5 lt will be remembered that contact spring 46 is under slight tension tending to move it downward so that when the pin 45 on flange 44 moves downward the spring 46 will also move but as spring 47 moves downward to the same extent no contact will then take place. When however the plate 3l is raised by contact of a depressed key with slide 39 the spring 47 will also rise under its own tension and be brought in contact with the spring contact 46. lThis closing of contacts 46 and 47 serves to energize a second magnet 71 which is adapted to return the slide 37 to its normal position. 1With this object, mechanism precisely similar to the mechanism described in connection with magnet 51 is provided the same consisting of an armature 72 pivoted at 73 and provided with a pawl 74 engaging with ratchet teeth 75 pointing in the opposite direction :trom those of ratchet 55 and also rigid with spur gear 57. ln the circuit of magnet 71 is a rheotome device comprising a contact spring 78 and a stationary contact 79 adapted to be controlled by a roller 8() mounted on armature 72. A spring 81 is provided for retaining the contact spring 78 away from contact 79 until the armature 72 reaches its upper position. lt will be seen 100 that when springs 47wand 46are brought into contact slide 37 will be rapidly returned to normal position and when such position is reached pin 45 on i'lange 44 will engage contact spring 46 and move it away from 105 spring 47 thereby l'inally breaking the circuit o magnet 71 and stopping the entire mechanism in normal position. lt may here be noted that a spring r0.1 is provided to return the armatures 52 and 72 to upper po- 110 sition, and to prevent accidental movement a detent 102 is furnished engaging a notched disk which is carried rigidly with the spur gear 57. lt will also be seen that the pawls and 74 are normally out of the path of 115 movement of the ratchet teeth so that neither one of the pawls offers any obstruction to the movement of its ratchet in the opposite direction.

'lo transmit the dillerential movement of 120 the various slides 37 to the computing mechanism a series of contacts lll and 112 are provided directly under the flanged lower part of the extension ol plate 3l. rlhese springs 111 and i12 are insulated :trom each 125 other and carried in standard 49 and normally the scallops il.) are entirely above the said springs. When however the arms 33 and 34 are rocked and the plate 3l descends the scallops will be depressed far enough so that the projections thereof will rock the upper end of contact spring. 112 and depress it in connection with spring 111. It will therefore be seen that as the slide 37 moves forwardly a succession of contacts of springs 111 and 112 may be made, depending on which key has been depressed.

The computing mechanism is shown in Fig-2 and comprises an operating magnet 132l having an armature 122EL which carries a pawl 123. This pawl is adapted to engagea ratchet 124 of a registering wheel 125 and move the same one step for each reciprocation of armature 1221. It will be understood that although only one magnet 132l is shown and one set of devices operated thereby there will in practice be a magnet 1321 and a register wheel 125 for each denomination of keys. To provide transfer mechanism each registering wheel 1.25 has a disk 126 having a camming projection 127 which is adapted to move rearwardly a lever 128 bell cranked in form and pivoted at 129. When a register Wheel passes from nine to zero, the camming projection 127 will strike the upper end of lever 128 and move the same rearwardly, thereby causing a contact spring 130 to engage a second spring 131. The upper side of lever `128 is slightly scalloped so that the lever will be held in its new position until an armature 122 of a transfer magnet 121 has reached nearly its upper position when the said armature will strike the arm 132 of the i bell crank lever and return the same to normal position.

The closing of contacts 130 and 131 energizes a local circuit including transfer magnet 121v which operates on the next higher Wheel in precisely the man'- ner previously described. The magnets 121 and 132* are shown as arranged on opposite sides of the registering device merely for elearness although this construction might in fact be desirable as saving space. The register wheels 125 are provided with detents 133 of usual construction to prevent reverse motion.

The electric circuitsof the mechanism have been more or less described in connection with the apparatus but they are shown as a Whole in Fig. 3. In this fi ure a battery 151 or'other enerator is provi ed to furnish current for t e system. When a key is depressed springs 47 and 48 are brought into contact as Wi be remembered and a circuit is then made from the battery through wire 152, wire 153, wire 154, magnet 51, wire 155, contact 59, spring contact 58, wire 156, spring'contact 48, spring contact 47, Wire 157, wire 158, back to the generator. This it will be remembered serves to rapidly move slide 37 forward until slide 39 strikes a depressed key. lVhen slide 39 abuts the key contacts 47 and 48 will be broken and contact 417 be thrown into connection ith contact 16, thc returning circuit is then complete as follows; battery 151, wire 152, wire 153, ivire 160, magnet '71. wire 161, contact 71), contact spring 78, wire 162. contact spring 16, contact spring 17, ivire 157. wire 158, back to generator. As the .scalloped plate moves over the contacts 111 and 112 they will be brought together a number of times depending on the key depressed and the register circuit will then be complete as folloivs; generator 151, wire 152, wire 163, spring contact 112, spring contact 111, ivire 1641, magnet 1322*, wire 165, wire 166, Wire 158 back to the generator. This will advance the counter wheel proportionately to the key depressed and if a transfer is required contacts 131 and 130 will be closed by lever 128 and a circuit for magnet 121 made as follows: generator 151, wire 152. Wire 167, spring contact 131, spring contact 130, Wire 168, magnet 121, wire 16), wire 166, wire 158, back to the generator.

It will be seen from the complete description that a mechanism has been provided which requires no work on the part of the operator other than the depression of the proper keys when the apparatus immediately operates and the operation is entirely beyond the control ot the operator. The operation of this device is extremely rapid as well as accurate and may be used in many types ot' computing machines. The release key 11 is shown as a conventional means for retaining the detent in locking position but in practice with a number of banks this will not be used.

The differential mechanism in this device as far as known is entirely novel in that there are no parts whatever in the machine having constant travel. It will be seen that the driving devices are the magnets 51 and 71- and that they operate only such number of times as is necessary to pass the slides 37 a roper distance when the slides immediate y return to normal position independently of each other and any common actuating device. lt is evident that this mechanism tends to rapid operation especially where amounts are registered using figures of low value, for example if 332 is to be registered the apparatus would work in one thlrd of the time that would be necessary for 996 to be added. This `is of course not true with the usual type of Vcomputing machines in as much as they have devices moved by an operating handle or the like which have constant travel no matter what amounts are added to the register.

While the form of mechanism yhere shown and described `is admirably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein'disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims Which follow.

What is claimed is as follows.

l. In a register-in mechanism, the combination with a bank 0% keys, of a differentially moving element controlled by said keys, means for moving said element until stopped by a key, means rendered operative When said element is stopped for returning said element, and a register controlled by said element.

Q. In a registering mechanism, the combination With a bank of keys, of a register, means for causing a differential operation of said register, a motor for movlng said means in one direction, a second motor for moving said means in the o posite direction, and means controlled by tiie keys for successively rendering said motors operative.

3. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a series of manipulative devic, of a register, means controlled by said devices for causing a differential operation of said register, a motor for moving said means in one direction, and a second motor thrown into operation by said first motor for moving said means in the reverse direction.

4. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a registering device, of a differentially movable element having connections for operating said registering device, a series of keys for determining the extent of movement of said movable element, a motor controlled by said keys and having connections to drive said-differentially movable element in one direction, and a second motor also controlled by said keys and having connections to return said differentially movable element to normal position.

5. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a series of manipulative devices controlling same, an element moved at each operation until stopped by a manipulative device, and thereby causing a dierential operation of said register, a motor for moving said element in one direction and a second motor brought into operation when said element is stopped by a manipulative device, for restoring said element in the opposite direction.

6. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a bank of setting keys controlling same, and a differentially movable step by step driving power mechanism for causing operation of said register to an extent depending on said keys.

7 In a registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a series of manipulative devices for determining the movement of same, a differentially movable means for causing operation of said register, a motor mechanism for returning saidB means to normal position, means controlled by the manipulative devices for energizing said motor mechanism. a circuit for sald motor lmechan- -t-he operation of a ism, and means controlled by said motor mechanism for making and breaking its own circuit to cause a step by step return movement of the differentially movable means.

8. In registering mechanism, the combination with a reglster, of a series of keys, an element movable diiiierentially and causing `the operation of said register, motor mechanisms for driving said elements in opposite directions, and circuits for controlling said mechanisms, and themselves controlled by the keys.

9. In registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a series of keys, an element differentially movable and causing 80 operation of said re ister, motor mechanisms for causing sai element to move in opposite directions, a circuit for one of said motor mechanisms closed by the operation of a key, and a circuit for the other motor mechanism closed by the completionof movement of the differential element under control of said iirst motor mechanism.

10. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a series of keys, an element differentially movable under con- .trol of said keys and causing operation of said register, a' motor for moving said element in one direction until stoppe by a key, a circuit controllin said motor closed by e a second motor for returning said element to normal position, and a circuit for said'second motor, closed when said element abuts the depressed key.

l1. In registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a circuit for same,

.a series of Akeys, an element diHerentially movable under control of said keys and serving to close said register circuit, motor mechanisms for operating said element in different directions, and circuits closed successively by said keys for controlling said' motor mechanism.

12. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of a series of keys for controlling same, an element movable differentially as determined by the keys and causing operation of said register, a magnet for moving said element in one direction,

a second magnet for moving said element in the opposite direction, and circuits for said magnets successively closed under control of said keys.

13. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a register, of manipulative devices controlling same, an element differentially movable under control'of said devices and causing a differential operation of said register, motor magnets for moving said elements in opposite directions, a circult for direction. i3 0 14. In la registering mechanism, the com- Said second magnet energized after the first 10 bination with a registering device, of a difmagnet nishes operating.' ferentially movable element having connec- In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature tions for operating said registerin device, in the presence of two Witnesses.

` a series of keys, a magnet energiz by said JOSEPH P. CLEAL.

keys, and havin connections to directly actuate said mova 1e element, a second magnet VVit-nesses:

having connections for restoring said dif- E. MERNER, ferentlally movable element, and a circuit for D. S. TovELL.

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