US987149A - Cash-register. - Google Patents

Description

0. A. LUNDGREN.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION nun IA]. 1a, 1903.

Patented Mar. 21,1911.

4 SEEING-SHEET 1.

G. A. LUNDGREN.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1903.

Patented Man 21, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

avwewiloz xi bnmo G. A. LUNDGREN.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1903.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

G. A. LUNDGREN.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION 211,31) JAN. 15, 1003.

4 BEEETBBHEET 4.-

TEEE- Patented Mar. 21,1911,

UNITED sra'rgs i apnnr OFFICE.

CHARLES-A. LUNDGREN,.OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER, COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, (INCORPORATED IN 1906.)

CASH-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented 'Mar. 21 191-1.

To all whom it-may-concem:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. LUND- oxen, a citizen of the United States, residing atlDayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of which I declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in cash registers .and has more particular-relation to improvements in registers of the electrically operated type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved machine in which certain key levers or setting elements are first set fol-operation and subsequently actuated by an electro-magnetic device controlled by certain of the keys.

Another object-is to provide an electric driving device especially adapted for .use with cash registers, calculating or accounting machines .or the like, the driving device including a solenoid with means for energizing the same.

\Vith these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel-few tures of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification: Figure l'represcnts a top plan view of the machine embodying my invention; the cabinet being removed and part of the frame broken away. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of said machine with the cabinet removed. Fig.3 represents a vertical transverse section through the machine on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a similar section with the keylevers broken awayon the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a detail end elevation of the circuit closer and cooperating parts. Fig. 6 represents a detail front view partly broken away and looking slightly upward of the keys and locking plate. Fig. 7

represents a top plan view partly broken away of the locking plate shown in'Fig. 6.

As many of the parts shown in the present application have already been atented to ThomasCarney by Patent #49 ,860, dated May 23, 1893, such parts will not be described in detail but reference may be made to said patent for such further description as may be necessary to a clear understanding of the operation of such parts.

.Described in general terms, however, the machine may-be said to comprise a series of .key levers having initial and final move ments. When one of these levers is given its initial. movement by a suitable key, it moves into a position in which it will become coupled to a common operating frame or coupler, when said frame is elevated. The operation of this frame is effected by electromagnets mounted at one end of the machine and connected to one of the trunnion ends of the common operating frame or key coupler. The key levers when operated effect the usual results in machines of this class, i. 6. :They set the proper indicators,register corresponding amounts into a suitable coun- (er and also print a record of the transaction if the machine is provided with a printing attachment.

The key levers 1 are substantially of the construction shown in the aforesaid patent and are mounted upon a transverse shaft 2 which in turn is suitably mounted in the frame 1 of the machine. These key levers, however, do not immediately become coupled to the key coupler 16 upon being given their initial movements but are simply positioned by said initial movements to bring their coupling noses 1 over the coupling flange 16 of the coupler so that when the coupler is subsequently elevated as hereinafter described, the keys will become cou pled thereto and move therewith in a manner well known in the art and shown and described in the aforesaid patent. In order to permit the initial movements of the. key levers without moving the coupler, each of the same is formed in its upper edge with a recess 18 which accommodates the flange 16 when the key lever is elevated. This construction permits the key lever to be given its initial movement without operating the key coupler. As it is necessary, however, to

have some more positive means than gravity for returning the key lever to its normal position, each of said levers is provided with a pivoted pawl 19 which is normally held against a stop pin 19 by a coil spring 19 which connects the pawl to its lever as shown in Fig. 4. When the pawl is in its normal position shown in this figure, it engages the under-side of the key coupler so that when the key lever is elevated, the pawl will be turned upon its pivot and put its spring 19 under tension. After the key lever has been depressed and the key coupler returns to its normal lower position, the

' spring 19 will exertits tension through the pawl 19 upon the arrested key coupler to force the key lever back to its normal position. Each of the key levers is provided near its rear end with a pivoted vertical standard 7 formed with a lifting shoulder 8 which cooperates with a registering frame 15 to rock the latter according to the value of the key operated and in a manner well known in the art and needing no further description here. The rear ends of the keys also cooperate with indicator tablets 6 to raise the same to their elevated positions in the manner described in the aforesaid patent.

Each of the key levers is arranged to be given its initial movement by one of a series of keys 72 mounted in spaced guide plates of the frame of the machine so that their shanks lie directly over the forward ends of said levers, as shown in Fig. 1. These keys have suitably numbered heads or buttons and are arranged in banks representing difi'erent denominations. In the present instance, as shown in Fig. 1, the keys are shown as arran ed in two banks, one of the same including eys from 55 to 95 and the other including keys from $1 to $7. It will, of course, be understood, however, that any desired key arrangement may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention. Each of the key levers as shown in Figs. 3 and 1 is formed with a detent notch 20 and a locking shoulder 20". A series of detent plates 23 are pivotally mounted upon a transverse shaft 24 and are normally drawn down into the recesses 20 of the keys of their respective key banks by coil springs 27 which connect them to the main frame. \Vhen one of the key levers is given its initial movement, the rear wall of its notch 20 forces its respective detent plate 23 slightly forward so that when the said wall clears the detent it will spring rearward over the shoulder 20 and thus latch the key lever in its depressed position. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that there is one of the detents 23 for each bank of keys and that these detents operate independently of the shaft 24 upon which they are mounted, and also independently of each other. In order, however, to release the key levers near the end of the operation of the machine, the plates 23 must. be rocked forward from over the shoulders 20. This re sult is accomplished by pins 25 fast to the shaft 24 and so arranged that when the shaft is rocked they will contact with the plates 23 and force the same forward. The shaft 24 is rocked through the medium of a pendent arm 28 fast thereto near one end and formed with an incline lug 33 having a bevel underface, 33.

The key-coupler 16 which is mounted in the main frame by trunnions 17 and 17 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 30 which is bifurcated at its forward end. (See Fig. 4). A pawl 31 having a bevel end is pivotally mounted in the bifurcated forward end of the arm 30 and is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 31 which extends along the side of the arm 30 and is connected thereto by a coil spring 32 as shown in Fig. 1. When the key coupler is elevated in a manner hereinafter described, the pawl 31 is de ressed and engaging the upper inclined sur ace of the lug 33 is forced to one side when it passes free of the lug when it again assumes its normal sition directly under said lug. As the coup er now returns toward its normal position the forward end of pawl 31 engages the under inclined surface of the lug 33 and thus rocks the arm 28 forward. By the above described means the keys are all released just before the key coupler returns to its normal position.

Each of the key shanks 72 is provided near its lower end with an inclined notch 71, the wall of which is arranged to engage the inclined wall 73 of one of a series. of apertures formed in a sliding detent plate 7 3 through which all of the key shanks pass. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that when any one of the keys 72 is depressed, the detent plate 73 Wlll be moved to the left against the tension of a spring 71" which connects it to a part of the main frame. The oflice of this detent- 73 is to unlock the special contact key 72', the shank of which is formed with the locking notch 72" into which the end of the detent normally projects. When the detent late is movedto the left as before described, it will be withdrawn from the notch 72 and thus leave the special key free to be operated to close the circuit in a manner hereinafter described.

As it is desirable at times to lock all of the keys against operation, a key lock 73 may be employed, the bolt of which 7 3 is so arranged that when shot it will project into the path of the detent 73 and thus prevent said detent from being moved to the left. As before stated, the keys simply give the initial movement to the key levers; the final movements being imparted to the said levers by the key coupler which forms the main operating member. ()ne of the trunnion ends 17 of the key coupler projects through the side frame and supports the lever 37. This lever is further connected to-the coupler. by a pin 38 which passes through an elongated slot 36 formed in the said frame. The forward end of lever 37 is connected to a tie plate 39 by a pivoted link 39"; said tie plate being in turn connected to the solenoid cores 39 of the electromagnets 39. These magnets are wound in the usual manner and are of any well known construction with the exception that the internal stationary pole pieces 39 are formed with conical sockets 39 while the lower end of the movable cores 39'' are conical so that they may readily pass into the recesses 39. This peculiar construction of the pole pieces of the core, enables the pi oper power for the operation of the machine during the entire movement of the cores to be secured. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that while the cores have approximately a movement of a" that they are never separated more than that is, the magnetic influence has only to travel at its greatest span through a distance of i. The magnets are never separated far enough to destroy their effective magnetic relation but at the same time, a degree of movement is obtained which would not otherwise be possible, as for instance if the ends of the magnets were flat.

Located above the magnet coils is a switch 40 of any suitable construction by means of which the current may be thrown on or off in order to protect the machine against accident. The wires of the coils are connected as shown in Fig. 1 to the respective contact pieces 10 and 48' which are mounted upon an insulating block 47 fast to the main frame. The contact 48 is bifurcated at its upper end to receive the pivoted arm 48 carrying a pivoted contact piece 45 at its forward end. A spring pressed plunger 50 is mounted in the standard 48 and is arranged it with the main frame.

to engage suitable notches l9 and 49 formcd in the arm 48 to hold said arm in its different adjusted positions. (See Figs. 3 and The arm 48 is further provided with an upward extension (35 carrying a stud (36. A lever 60 is journaled upon the trunnion end 17 and projects forward under the stud (36 being normally held in a position shown in Fig. 5 by coil spring 60 which connects The shaft 2 acts as a stop to arrest the lever 60 in this normal position.

The main rotation shaft 64 of the machine carries a cam (33 which is arranged to contact with the rear end of the lever 60 and depress the same, thus elevating the forward end of said lever, and through the pin 66 and arm 65 operating the contact arm 48 to elevate the same. This upward movement of the contact arm withdraws the contact block 45 which is pivoted to its forward end out of contact with the contact block 46 aforesaid. and moves it into the position shown in- Fig. 3. When the arm 60 is released and allowed to return to its normal position, the arm 48 remains elevated and is held in this elevated position by the spring pressed plunger 50.

The contact lever 48 is depressed to complete the circuit by means of a pivoted pawl which is mounted in the rear bifurcated end of an arm 52 and is held to its normal position by a coil spring 56 mounted in a socket in said arm and engaging a nose 55 formed on the pawl. The pawl 53 is provided with a stop shoulder 54 which abuts against a lug 54 formed on the arm 52 to arrest the pawl in its normal position shown in Fig. 5. The arm 52 is suitably pivoted upon the main frame and is held in its normal position by a coil spring 52 which surrounds its pivot pin and bears withits opposite ends against the arm 52 and a stationary pin 52 mounted on the frame. The arm 52 is depressed against the tension of this spring by the special contact key 72 which is mounted in the main frame similar to the keys. The key shank of this key carries an anti-friction roller against which the upper end of the arm 52 normally abuts. When the key 72 is unlocked by the .operation of one of the amount keys as above described, it is depressed and forces the arm 52 downward thus causing the pawl 58 to depress the contact lever 48 and bring the contact pieces 45 and 46 together to complete the circuit.

A lever 61 is pivotally mounted at its upper end on the shaft 24 and engages a pin 59 mounted on the pawl 53. This lever is in turn engaged by the forward end of the lever 60 in such manner that when the lever 60 is operated as before described, the lever 61 will be forced forward and thus disengage the lower end of the pawl 53 from the forward end of the contact arm 48. This action leaves the arm 48 free to be. returned to its normal position independently of the pawl 53 or its arm This construction prevents any fraudulent manipulation of the machine such as might. be possible if the contact key 72 could be held in its depressed position and thus hold the contact pieces 45 and 46 together. The contact is automatically broken by the machine irrespective of the movement of the contact key 7 2*. If the operator holds the contact key depressed until the end of the operation of the machine it will rise upon being released because of the spring 52. In so rising, the pawl 53 will wipe by the end of the lever 48 and assume its normal position, above said lever, as will be readily understood.

The rotary shaft 64: before mentioned receives its movement through a pinion 83 fast thereto and arranged to be alternately engaged by racks S1 and 82 formed on the arms of a rack plate 80 which is slotted as at 80 and mounted to slide upon a pin 80 fast to the frame. The upper end of the plate is provided with a projection 85 which cooperates with the stationary flange 86 to hold either one or the other of the racks to engagement with the pinion. The plate is shifted at the opposite ends of its strokes by a coil spring 84 which is connected to main frame and to said plate. This spring is attached to the plate at such a point that when the plate is raised and lowered the tension of the spring will be exerted alternately above and below the pin 80. The plate is given its vertical movements by pin 36 mounted upon the key coupler and projecting into a horizontal slot 89 formed in the plate 80.

The operation of the racks in connection with the pinion is old and well known in the art and will be understood without further detailed description here. The key coupler It; is returned to its normal position, after being elevated either by gravity or by suitable springs such as 16".

The registering frames 15 carry suitable segmental racks 15 which cooperate with the counter pinions as shown in Fig. l but as this construction is old and well known it is not thought necessary to give a detailed description .of the same in this specification.

By reference to Fig. l of the drawings, it will be seen that there is provided a single key marked Void, which key is to be used when the machine is operated for making change or for any other transaction in which the amount keys are not included. This key serves merely to move the detent 72" and thereby to release the motor starting key.

The ends of the solenoid cores have been described as conical and the stationary pole pieces with conical sockets, but it will be readily understood that any corresponding form of socket and solenoid may be employed, such for instance as a socket having a single inclined face and a solenoid having a corresponding single inclined face, or the end of the solenoid and the socket may be wedge-shaped without in any wise departing from the spirit of my invention.

The detachable handle 1 may be secured in any desirable manner .to the lever 37, so that the machine may be operated manually if there is a failure of the electric currentfor any reason.

lVhile the form of mechanism herein 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.

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 a series of setting elements, of a common operating member, an accounting device, and an electrical operating mechanism for the common member comprising a magnetic coil, a stationary core and a movable solenoid core.

2. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a key coupler, an accounting device, and an electric mechanism connected to the key coupler and comprising a magnetic coil and a solenoid core.

3. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a key coupler, an accounting device, a magnetic coil, a reciprocating armature cooperating with said coil and means connecting the armature and key coupler.

4. In a cash register the combination with a series of setting elements, of a common operating frame, an accounting device, a magnetic coil, a reciprocating armature for said coil, means for closing the circuit through the coil and means operated by the common member for breaking the circuit.

In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a key coupler, an accounting device, a magnetic coil, a reciprocating armature for said coil, means connecting the armature and key coupler, devices for closing the circuit through the coil, and means operated by the key coupler for breaking the circuit.

6. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers arranged to have initial and final movements, a common operating frame for the key levers, an accounting device, means for giving the levers their initial movements, a magnetic coil, a reciprocating armature for said coils and means connecting the armature to the common operating member.

7. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a series of setting keys, a key coupler for operating the key levers. a magnetic coil, a reciprocating armature for said coil and means connecting the armature and key coupler.

8. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of an oscillatory key coupler for operating the same, an accounting device, a reciprocating electrical motor and means for converting the reciprocating movements of the motor into oscillatory movements of the key coupler.

t). In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a key coupler for operating the same, a series of keys for setting the key levers for operation, an accounting device, and a reciprocatingelectric motor connectedto the key coupler.

10. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a key coupler, an accounting device, a magnetic coil, solenoid cores operating in said coil, means connecting said cores to the key coupler, an electric switch, a key for operating the switch, and means operated by the key coupler for operating the switch independent of the switch key.

11. In a cash register the combination with a series of key levers, of a key coupler, an accounting device, an electric motor for operating the key coupler, a hand operated switch and means operated by the key coupler for rendering the switch inoperative by hand.

12. In a cash register the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of setting elements controlling the same, an electric motor, a switch for said motor, means for operating the switch and devices connected to the operating mechanism for rendering said switch operating means inoperative in relation to the switch.

13. In a cash register the combination with the operating and accounting devices, of an electric motor comprising a magnetic coil, having a stationary core formed with a conical socket and movable a solenoid core having a conical end arranged to enter said socket.

14. In a cash register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a key coupler, and an accounting device, of an electric motor connected to said key coupler, a switch, means for manually actuating said. switch and devices driven by said coupler for positively withdrawing said switch operating means'from operative relation with said switch.

15. In a cash register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a key coupler, and an accounting device, of an. electric motor connected to the key coupler, a switch, means for manually actuating said switch, and means driven by said key coupler for positively rocking an element of said switch actuating means out of operative relation with said switch.

16. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an acfor driving the same, a motor circuit, a circuit closin device, and means for maintaining said circuit closing device in either position of adjustment for open or closed circuit.

18. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of a reciprocatingelectric motor i'tr driving the same, a motor circuit, a circuit closing device, a key for operating said circuit closing device, and means acting independently of said key for holding said circuit closing device in either closing or breaking position. v

19. In a cash register, the combination with a series of keys, and a reciprocating key cou ler, of a reciprocatory electric driving device connected to the coupler to raise the latter when the driving device is energized.

20. In a cash register, the combination with a series of keys, of a key coupler for operating the same, an accounting device controlled by the keys, and a reciprocating electric driving device connected to the key coupler.

21. In a cash register, the combination with a series of setting elements, of a common operating member, an accounting device, and an electrical operating mechanism for said common member comprising duplex magnetic coils and duplex solenoid cores therefor having common connection to said operating member.

22. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism,of a reciprocatory electric motor connected thereto, a circuit closer, means for operating the circuit closer at will. and devices for preventing a second operation of said circuit closer operating means during the same operation of the operating mechanism.

23. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating niechanism,of a reciprocatory electric motor connected thereto, a circuit closer, means for operating said circuit closer, and means for returning saidfl cuit closer to a normal position and for automatically disengaging the circuit closer from the circuit closer operating means.

24. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of an electric driving device therefor, a circuit closer, means for operating said circuit closer, and means connected with said operating mechanism for actuating the circuit closer to open the circuit and also disable said circuit closer operating means.

A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of an electric driving device therefor, a circuit closer for said device, a manipulative means for operating said closer, and means connected to the operat ing mechanism for positively destroying the control of the circuit closer operating means over the circuit. closer.

26. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of a reciprocating electric driving device therefor, a circuit closer for said device, a manipulative device and connections for operating said circuit closer, and means operated from the operating mechanism for moving the said connections from operative relation with the circuit closer.

27. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of a reciprocating electric motor therefor, a circuit closer for said motor, a key and connections for operating said closer, and provisions by virtue of which the movement of the operating mechanism positively disables the said connections and opens the circuit closer.

28. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of an electric motor for same, a circuit closer for said motor, a key and connections for operating said circuit closer, means operated from the operating mechanism for moving said connections, and opening said closer irrespective of the position of said key.

29. A machine of the character described comprising the combination with an accounting machine, having a main operating mechanism, of an electric motor for driving same, a motor circuit with means for closing it, means for operating said closing means, and means actuated by said operating mechanism for positively destroying the control by said operating means over said closing means and returning said closing device to breaking position.

30. In an accounting machine, the combination with a main operating mechanism, of an electric driving device therefor, a circuit closer for said device. a depressible key eontrolling the operation of the circuit closer, and means operated by the operating mechanism for disabling the control of the key while it is in a depressed position over the circuit-closer.

31. In an accounting machine, the combination with a main operating mechanism, of an electric driving device therefor, a circuit closer for said device, a depressible key controlling the operation of the circuit closer, and means operated by the operating mechanism for disabling the control of the key while it is in a depressed position over the circuit closer and for opening the circuit closer.

82. In an accounting machine, the combination with a main operating mechanism, of an electric driving device therefor, a circuit closer for said device, a depressible key c0ntrolling the operation of the circuit closer, and a lever operated by the operating mechanism for disabling the control of the key while it is in a depressed position over the circuit closer, and for opening the circuit closer.

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

CHARLES A. LUXDGREN.

\Vitncsses \VM. II. Muzzy, L. E. RICHARDSON.

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