US1208810A - Indicator mechanism for cash-registers. - Google Patents

Description

n. A. MARTIN.

JND'ICATOR MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION FlLED IAY 15' NH.

v 1,208,810. 7 .Patented-Dec.19,1916.

Qwwutoz A. MARTIN. INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1914.

Patented De0.-19,1916

53 62' 7 a suzzrsfsusn 2.

H. A. MART-IN. INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPUCATION FILED IAY l5. 1914.

3 SH EETSSHEET 3- I. I 20 43 19 I? '18 3g 214 4 I J H 2g 9 11a 50 X 1110.211 tom WWW 4m Q mall 1mm! M 6 g m W UNITED STATES nmox a Man-rm. or narrow, 01-110, assr'enon To run NA'iIONq casn momma comramr, or DAYTON, 01-110. A conroao'rrou or omo; mconrona'mn IN 19013.)

mmca'ron MECHANISM- ron casn-nnorsrnns,"

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,735. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAAKON A. MAn'rIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery andv State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator Mechanism for Cash-Registers, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to accounting machines and the like, and more particularly to the indicating mechanism thereof. I

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary indicating mechanism so that the digits or characters to be displayed may be made larger than those on the ordinary forms of rotary 1nd1cators, without the necessity of making the drums or rollers larger in diameter.

.The principal objection to the ordlnary form of roller or drum indicators heretofore known is, that because of the limited surface available on the peripheries, unless the indicators are made unreasonably large in diameter, the characters or digits for a bank or denominational section of the machine are smaller than desired. This objection has been overcome by providing an indicator comprising two members for each denomination, one member belng mounted within the other. Part of the digits of one denom nation are arranged on the periphery of one member in the form of a drum. The other member which bears the remaining digits has but a partial periphery or flange formed concentric to saiddrum, which second member will be hereinafter referred to as the partial drum. By distributing the characters or digits on two members, instead of one, the indication is made clearer, and at the same time, because one member, the drum, is within the other, more space 1n the machine for the indicating mechanism 18 not required.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

Of said drawings: Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section taken through a machine,

having the present invention applied 'thereto. Fig. 2, is the detail front view of the improved indicating mechanism, the dollars and tens-of-dollars indicating members being shown in cross section to expose their construction and arrangement more clearly to view. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of one of the partial indicating drums, bearing the digits of higher value, and also shows an actuating segment gear for the partial drum in the zero position. Fig. 4 is a detail in left elevation of. one of the differential elements and some of its connections. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 and in addition to this shows the relationship of the controlling keys to said mechanism. Fig. 6 illustrates the positions assumed by the various parts of the key bank and differential mechanism when a key is depressed and the machine operated far enough to disconnect the differential arm from its driving device.

Described in general terms, the invention struction, except that the digits 0 to 6 incl:

sive, instead of the digits 0 to 9, are equidistantly arranged about its peripheral flange or cylindrical surface. This drum, which will be called herein the inside or complete drum for convenience, is positioned to rotate within another member having a peripheral flange or surface just sufiiciently long to bear the digits 7, 8 and 9. The preferred arrangement of the digits, as shown in the drawings, is for illustrative purposes only, as it is evident that the series of digits may be differently distributed over the peripheries of the two members, if it is so desired. The actuators for the two members are rigidly connected together and operated by a common differentialmechanism. The actuators are so constructed that the partial drum either remains in or is moved to its non-indicating osition when one of the digits on the insi e drum is to be displayed. When the partial drum is moved to display one of its digits, the inside drum is also rotated, but as the peripheral flange of the partial drum moves before the sight opening in the cabinet of the'machine, it conceals the digits on the inside drum.

In the accompanying drawingsthe invention is shown applied to a machine having key controlled differential mechanlsm sub- ',"stantially the same as is fullyshown and described in a co-pending application No. 718,065 filed in the United States Patent Office on August 31, 1912 by H. A. Martin,

This difierential mechanism has been shown in the present application as, an illustration of one form of the present applicant.

difierential mechanism with which the imroved indicating mechanlsm of the present invention may be used, and it is not 1n tended to limit this invention to use with this particular difierential mechanism. The above mentioned application may be re- 1 ferred to for a detailed description of the difierential mechanism and the keyboard, shown-in the present a plication, it being considered necessary on y to describe these parts generally here.

Asusual there are nine amount keys 1 in a bank for each denomination represented in the machine. These keys are slidably mounted inways cut in a supporting frame 2 supported by two cross rods-3. The keys areprovided with pins 5, normally in position to engage the upper ends of slots 6,

adjacent the pins, and formed in a plate 7.

this arm 12 is a zero stop pawl 14, pro

vided with a projection 15, which normally projects into the path of a shoulder 16 on a pawl 17 formed with a hook 18. The raising of the plate 7 upon depression of a key,

through the link 11 and arm 12, rocks the pawl 14 to move its projection 15 out of the path of movement of the shoulder 16.

Detent means for locking the keys in de pressed positions are not shown in the drawings, as any one of the well known forms of mechanisms performing this function may be employed. It is also to be under stood that the usual springs, coiled about the shanks of the keys, but not shown in the drawings, are employed to restore operated keys to undepressed positions when released.

The pawl 17 is pivotally mounted at v19 on a differentially movable arm 20 loosely mounted upon a stud 21 projecting laterally from the plate 4. The forward hooked portion 18 of the pawl 17 is normally held in front of a roller 22 by a spring 23, connect ing the pawl and the arm 20. The roller 22 projects from a link 24 and normally .24, at its rear end, is pivoted by a pin 26 rests a recess 25 formed in the forward end 'of-the difi'erentially movable arm 20 and. is normally prevented from moving out of said'recess by the hook 18. The link to an-arm 27 loosely mounted on the stud 21. Each of these arms 27, there being one arm for each of the arms 20, is pivotally connected at 28 to a corresponding link 29, through the lower end of which passes a tie bar 30. The tie bar 30 is supported by the forward ends of two arms 31 mounted to rock on a cross rod 32. Each arm 31 carries a roller 33, which projects into a groove 34 formed in a corresponding disk 35, rig- 5 idly mounted on a shaft 36, there being two of said disks 351 The shaft 36 is given one complete rotation at each operation of; the machine 1n the direction of the arrow by means of a crank handle or other suitable .3 3 means, not shown in the drawings. The cam grooves 34 in the two disks 35 are so designed that during one complete rotation of the shaft 36 the arms 31 and, through the links 29, thearms 27 will be oscillated first in a counter clockwise direction, and then in a clockwise direction to normal position. This movement will be transmitted to the arm 20 through the medium of the link 24 so long as the hook -18.remains in the path of roller 22 thereby maintaining a rigid connection between arms 20 and 27. When the arm 20 is so moved, the shoulder-16 of the pawl 17 clearsthe ends of the undepressed keys in its bank, but engages and is 1;) arrested by the end of any key which has been depressed. This engagement moves the pawl 17 away from in front of the roller 22, thus freeing this roller for movement away from the stud 21, and permitting the 1. 5 roller to ride outward into the correspondng one of grooves 38 properly positioned 1n the key frame for this purpose. The positions of the parts at this point in the operation are as shown in Fig. 6. In this mannor, the differentially movable arm 20 is arrested by the key depressed, furtblmove ment of the arm 27 causing only the idle movement of the link 24 and arm 27 as a toggle without further driving the arm 20. During the return movement of the arm 27, the roller 22 is again moved into the notch 25 in the arm 20, and the latter is returned to normal position with the arm'27. It can be seen that the zero stop pawl 14 is provided so that, if no amount key is depressed, the arm will be arrested in its zero position, the roller 22 being forced into the zero groove 39. 1

A link 41 is pivoted at 42 to an arm 43, which is rigidly secured to the side of the differentially movable arm 20. The rear end of the link 41 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 45 which, at its opposite end, is pivoted to a rearwardly ex- 1 gear 47 loosely mounted on across rod 48.

' The link141fis curvediintermediate its end to fit aroundlth'e stud 21. When the indicating mechanism of a denomination is to be moved from a lower to a higher indicatingposition, the link 41 engages a collar 411 on the stud 21 and moves the segment gear 47 rearward for this purpose. When the indicating mechanism, however, isto be moved from a higher to a lower indicating position, movement of the arm 20 does not carry the link 41 against the collar 411. A roller 50 on the link 29 is provided for this purpose, as the roller during the-raising of the link 29 moves the link 41 against the collar-411, and thereby moves the .segment gear 47 forward to move the indicating mechanism to the desired lower indicating position. -The roller 50, of course, engages the link 41 at every operation and remains in engagement until after the indi-' cator drums are alined in their set posi tions as will be described later.

The indicating mechanism for each denomination comprises the two members 51 and 52. The drum 51 is ofthe ordinary construction, and-has digits 0 to 6 inclusive, arranged equi-distantly .on its peripheral flanged portion 53 which forms a complete cylindrical surface. The partial or outside drum 521m a peripheralflanged portion 54 which is just long enough to bear the three digits 7 8 and 9, which are preferably of" the same size as the digits on the complete or inside, drum 51. The peripheral portions of the two members are concentric, the peripheral portion 54 of the partial drum being constructed to project over and in the opposite direction from that of the drum 51. It can, therefore,.be seen that the drum 5.1.

isJnounted to rotate within the partial drum 52, the digits on one section or the other being viewed through the sight opening 56 (Fig. 1) in the front of the cabinet of the machine, and the sight opening 57 in a plate 58 extending across the front of .the indicators fastened to the cabinet of the machine and so constructed that only one digit ata time can 'be-viewed.

, As best shown in Fig.1, the drum 51 is rigidly connected by pins 59 to a pinion 60 loosely mounted, on a cross rod 61 extending I across the machine. The partial or outside drum 52 is connected in a like manner to a pinion 62, Fig. 2, also loosely mounted on the cross rod 61. The pinions 60 and 62 respectively have oppositely extending hubs 63 and 64, and these hubs, together with the small spacing sleeves 65 inserted between the pinions 60 and the pinions 62for the partial drums of next higher order serve to prevent movement. of the drums longitudinally of the cross rod 61. The actuating segment gear 47 meshes with the 'pinion 60, which segment' gears are rigidly connected together by a sleeve encircling the cross rod 48. One tooth of the pinion 62 is cutaway at 68 to form a curved locking surface, which is A seg-' adapted to coiiperate with the curved edge or periphery 69 of the segment gear 66, and thereby lock the partial drum against rotation, except when the segment 66 is moved so that its teeth 67 mesh with the complete teeth of the pinion-62. The gear ratio between the segments and gears is such that seven steps of movement of segments 47 will effect one complete rotation of pinions 66 and drums 51.

From the above description it can be seen that, when the seven rearmost teeth of the actuating segment gear 47 are giving the inside drum 51 one complete rotation the circular edge 69 of the segment gear 66 will be in sliding engagement with the locking portion 68 of the pinion 62 to lock the partial or outside drum against movement. During this movement of the inside drum,- without movement of the outside drum, the digits 1, on the former can be seen through the sight openings 56 and 57. After the segment gears 47 and 66 have been moved forward sufficiently tocarry the teeth 67 of the segment gear 66 into engagement with the teeth of the pinion 62 both members of the indicator are rotated together, but as the peripheral flanged portion 54 of the par-- tial drum is moved before the sightopening to display the desired digit thereon, the

complete or inside drum is concealed from view. v

In order that the teeth 67 of the segment gear 66 will engage with the teeth of the pinion 62 and not idly pass under the locking surface 68 of the cut away tooth when this segment gear is moved rearward, it is necessary slightlyvto move the partial drum as the inside drum moves past its 6 indi cating position when a higher digit is to be indicated. To accomplish this purpose the free end of an arm'72 which is fastened to the inside drum by one of the pins 59, as

' best shown in Fig. 2, projects into the path of movement of the free end of an arm 71 which is fastenedto the partial drum in a like manner. During rotation of the complete drum in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1)

.past its 6 indicating position the arm'72 engages the arm 71 just as the peripheral surface f69,-of the segment gear 66 slides out of engagement with the locking surface 68 of the pinion 62 so that the partial drum and pinion 62 are slightly turned by the locking surface 68 of the pinion 62 is again in locking engagement with the cooperating periphery 69 of the segment gear 66.

With the above described construction it can be seen that the principal object of the invention is accomplished by providing two drums 51 and 52, instead of a single drum, for one denomination series of digits. Tn this way the digits can be made much larger, and at the same time, as the diameter of the outside drum 52 is preferably not any larger than that of the single drums heretofore employed, the indicating mechanismof the present invention does not require more space in the machine.

For the purpose of alining the indicator drums in their proper indicating positions alining pawls 75, one for each drum, are provided. notches 7 61 in their lower ends, the notches being designed to engage over the teeth on the pinions 60 and 62. The pawls are rigidly mounted on a shaft 76, which also has rigidly mounted thereon a rearwardly projecting arm 77. A pitman 78 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 77, and at its lower end is. bifurcated to straddle a shaft .79. A roller 80 on the pitman projects into a cam groove 81 formed in the face. of a disk 82, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 79. T he shaft 79 is given one complete rotation at each operation of the machine, and the shaft receives its rotation from the shaft 36 through themedium of the gear 83, fast on the shaft/T9, the intermediate gear 85, and the gear 86 fast on the shaft 36, the pitch lines of these gears being indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. l. The form of driving mechanism and connections for the shafts 79 and 36 form no part of the present invention, and are, therefore, not shown in detail in the drawings. It is merely necessary to be understood that each of said shafts receives one complete rotation at each operation of the machine. The cam groove 81 is so designed that at the very beginning of the operation of the machine, the shaft 76 is rocked to raise the pawls out of engagement with the pini'ons 60 and 62. After the, arms 27 have completed their upward movement, and before. they begin their return movement to normal position, the cam 82 rocks the pawls 75 back to alining position. This is efiected just at the time that the roller 50 is holding the curved portion of the link 41 against collar 411.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the present invention is adapted These pawls 75 have ll-shapedi ,aos,s to

for use in a printing mechanism and the like. With such a construction of the printing wheels larger characters could be printed without the necessity of making the printing wheels or drums any larger in diameter than the printing wheels or drums of an ordinary construction. It, therefore, is not intended to limit the use of the present invention to indicating mechanism as itis equally as well adapted for use in a printing mechanism and the like.

While 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 conline the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Tn a machine of the class described, the combination with two accounting elements each bearing a part of the digits or characters of a series and so constructed that any digit or character on either element may be brought to a common efi'ective point, and differential mechanism for operating the same.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accounting element bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second accounting element bearing the remaining digits or characters of the series, and differential mechanism for operating said accounting elements so that but one digit or character of the series is brought into effective position.

3. In a machine of the class described, the

differential mechanism common to the two indicator elements for operating the same.

5. In a machlne of the class descrlbed, the

combination with two rotary indicator elements, one positioned within the other and each bearing a number of digitsor characters of a series, and differential mechanism for rotating the indicator elements to bring any digit or character on either indicator element to a common reading point.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partial indicator drum brought to a common reading point, and

bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or charactersof the series and positioned within the partial drum, two actuators, one for each drum, and differen- -tial mechanism common to both actuators not actuated when the digits or characters pinion connected to the-partial drum having on'the second drum are being displayed.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partial indicator drum bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of the series and positioned to rotate within the partial drum, and actuating mechanism for the indicator drums so constructedthat the partial drum is not actuated :when the second drum is displaying its digits or characters.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partial indicator drum bearing part of a series ofdigits or charac-v ters, of a second drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of the series, and actuating mechanism for the indicator drums constructed to lock the partial indicator drum against movement when the second drum is displaying its-digits or characters.

10. In a machine of the class described,

' the combination with a partial indicator the series and positioned to move within the drum bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of partial drum, and actuating mechanism for the indicator drums and constructed to lock the partial indicator drum against movement when itsdigits or characters are not passing or in indicating position.

11. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a partial indicator drum bearing part of a series of digits'or characters, of a second indicator drum hearing the remaining digits or characters of the series, pinions rigidly connected to said drums the pinion connected with the partial drum having a locking surface, and an actuating segment gear for each pinion, the ac tuating segment gear for the partial drum.

having a locking surface for cooperating with the locking surface of the corresponding pinion when the partial indicator drum is out of indicating position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partial indicator drum bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of the series, pinions rigidly connected to said drums the pinion connected with the partial drum having a locking surface, and rigidlyconnectedactuating segment gears, one for each pinion, the actuating segment gear for the partial drum having locking surface for cooperating with the locking surface of its pinion when thepartial drum is out of indicating position. 7

13. In a machine of the' class described, the combination with a partial indicator drum, bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters, pinions rigidly connected to said' drums, the

pinion.

.14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a differentially adj ustable element, of a plurality of accounting elements each bearing characters representing a part of the positions of said adjustable element and movable to bring any desired character on any accounting element to a common position where the character will be effective, and operating connections between the accounting elements and the differential element.

15. In a machine of the, class described,

the combination with a bank of keys, of a v plurality of accounting elements each bearing characters representing a part of the keys and movable to bring any desired character on any{ element to acommon a position wherethe character will be effective, and

devices connected to the accountingelements and controlled by. the keys for differentially operating the: elements.

16, In a machine of the combination with a pluralitysof rota- 1 reading oint common to the elements, and differential mechanism common to ments for operating the elements. f.

the class describedf. table indicator elements each bearing apart ;1 20 i of the digits of a denominational order and movable to bringzany. desired digit" to "a,

the e1e- J 3" 17. In a machine of the class described,-- 1 the combination With two indicator elecommon to the elements, of indicator actuating devices common-to the elements and v devices.

.19. In a machine of the class described,

. difi'erentially movabledirectly and in either direction from one position to another, and

manipulative devices for controlling the direction and extent of movement of the actuating devices.

"18. In a machine of the class described, the combination With two indicator elements each bearin a part of the digits of a denominationa order and adjustable to bring any digit on eitherelement to a position common to the elements, of indicator actuating devices common to the elements and differentially movable directly and in either direction from one position to another, and a series'of keys for controlling the direction and extent of movement of the actuating the combination With a plurality of indicator elements each bearing a part of the digits of a denominational order and adjustable to bring any digit on either ele ment toa position common to the elements, otindicator actuating segments common to the elements and movable as a unit directlyand in either direction from one position to another, and manipulative devices for controlling the direction and extent of movement of the segments. 20. in a machine of the class described, the combination With a plurality of indicator elements each having a part of the digits ofa denominational order and'operable to dlsplay any desired character onany tandem element of indicator actuating segments common to the elements and movableas a unit directly and in either direction from one position to another, and a series of keys for controlling the direction and extent of movement of the segments.

21. In a'machine of the class described, the combination With a plurality of rotatable indicator elements, of an actuating segment for each element, the segments being rigid together and arranged to start their elements at 'difie'r'en't points in the unitary movement of the segments, a differentially adjustable member,

a beam.

pivotally connected at one end to the actuating segments and at the other end to, the

difierentially adjustable member, and means whereby a ointintermediate the ends of the beam wlllf'begiven a constant position at each operation'thereby eflecting difierential movement in either direction of the dicator actuating segments.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of nested rotary indicators each bearing a part of the digits for a denominational order, of means for operating the indicators to display any desired digit thereon at a point common'to allot thedigitsand manipulative devices controlling said operating means.

In testimony whereof i afix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

. nannies n'nnrn Witnesses: I

- F. E. Hairrnroir, J, B. Rron'nrrs.

Images