US773091A - Cash-register. - Google Patents

Description

No. 773,091. PATENTED OCT. 25; 1904. W. H. MUZZY.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1904.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I Smvewtoz 1X bmeooeo No. 773,091. PATENTBD OCT. 25, 1904. W. H. MUZZY.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

W. H. MUZZY.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

no MODEL.

avwemtoz wa [Memes PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

W. H. MUZZY. CASH REGISTER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H0 MODEL.

I in "H a" @l vitmaooco UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM H. MUZZY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWV JERSEY.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 773,091, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed April 9, 1904. Serial No. 202,460. (No model.)

To a. whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MUZZY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in cash-registers, and has more particular relation to improvements in registers of the multiple-drawer type.

One of the several objects of the invention is to provide a cash-register with improved multiple-drawer devices which are not dependent for operation upon the regular operation of the register proper.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved indicating devices. for the respective cash-drawers and also for the clerks or department selecting devices.

A further object is to provide improved keys or controlling devices for the clerks selecting mechanism and the cash-drawer-releasing devices.

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

Of said drawings, Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section through a machine of the type patented to H. S. Hallwood by English Patent .No. 4,543 of 1903, with the present improvements applied thereto, parts of the machine being omitted for clearness. Fig. 2 represents a detail side elevation of the special key-bank and the special indicator and its connections. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation, partly in section, of the devices shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a detail rear elevation of the drawer-key switches, and Fig. 5 represents a detail side elevation of the special combination-indicator.

Described in general terms, the machine to which the present improvements have been applied may be said to comprise a series of operating-yokes 2, mounted upon a main shaft 1, and each provided with a step-frame 3, which cooperates with the ends of the key-shanks to limit the movement of the yokes 2 according to the value of the keyoperated. After the yokes 2 have been released and allowed to descend to positions determined by the previously-operated keys they are returned to their normal positions to effect the registration by an operating-handle 4, which is connected to the main operating-lever 5, journaled on the shaft 1 and arranged to contact with and elevate all of said yokes 2.

As the devices for the clerks key-bank are the only ones illustrated in-the present drawings, the description will be confined to this particular bank; but it will be readily understood that the regular banks of amount-keys and their connections are controlled and operated in a manner well known in the art and shown and described in the aforesaid patent to Henry S. Hallwood.

The yoke 2 of the special clerks key-bank is provided with a lip 6, through which passes an adjusting-bolt 7 to engage with the rear end of a lever 8, mounted on the shaft 1, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. The forward end of the lever 8 is connected to its respective stepsegment 3 by a coil-spring 9, whereby the rear end of the lever is normally held in contact with the bolt 7 as the yoke 2 descends. The forward end of the lever 8 is connected to a rack-bar 10, which meshes with a pinion 11, fast to the special clerks indicator 12, which is journaled upon a transverse shaft 13, as also shown in Fig. 3. By this means the movements of the yoke 2 are communicated to the indicator 12 and the same is moved to a position to indicate a .character corresponding to the character upon the special clerks key 14 which has been depressed. Beside each key 14 is a special drawer-key 15, the two keys together forming a single key in appearance, but as a matter of fact being altogether independent of each other in construction and operation. The shanks 16 and 17 of the keys 1 1 and lie side by side and operate through the spaced guide-plates 18 and .19 of the main frame in pairs, each pair forming in appearance a single key-shank and being surrounded by a coil-spring20, which engages pins 21 and 22 in the respective shanks to return the keys to their normal positions after being depressed. The pins 21 of the keys 14 are arranged to cooperate with hooks 23, formed on a detent-plate 2 1, which is journaled upon the shaft 1, to lock thekeys l iin their depressed positions in a manner well known in the art and shown and described in the aforesaid patent.

The detent-plate 2 1 is normally held in its elevated position by a pin 25, mounted thereon and resting upon a shoulder 26, formed on a pivoted lever 27, which is journaled upon a transverse shaft 28 and projects to the rear of all of the key-pins 21. The plate 27 is normally drawn forward by a coil-spring 29, 'which connects it to the main frame. hen one of the keys 1 1 is depressed, its pin 21 contacts with the forward edge of the plate 2'? and forces said plate rearward to move the shoulder 26 from under the pin and allow the detent 24C to drop and latch the key in its depressed position. The detent 24: is subsequentl y operated to release the key 141 through a pendent arm 30, formed on said detent, and which is engaged and elevated by a bar 31. connected to a lever 32, which is mounted upon a transverse shaft 33, and is provided near its rear end with a pivoted pawl 34, having an angular flange 35. This pawl is normally drawn into the position shown in Fig. 1 by a coil-spring 36, which connects it to the lever 32, a stop 37 limiting the movement of the pawl. The lever 5 carries an antifrictionroller 38, which when said lever descends engages the under side of the flange and rocks the pawl 34 upon its pivot. As the lever 5 is returning toward its normal position the roller 38 engages the upper side of the flange 35, and as the pawl 34 again rocks in the opposite direction the rear end of the lever 32 is depressed and the detent 24: thus elevated to release the depressed key.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that any one of the keys 1 1 may be depressed and latched in its depressed position without in any wise interfering with or operating the companion drawer-key 15, or the key 15 may be independently operated to release the desired cash-drawer. In ordinary operation, however, the companion keys 1 1 and 15 are depressed together by a single operation. In such operation the operator places his linger over both keys 14: and 15 and depresses the same simultaneously. This operation, as before explained, causes the key 1 1 to become latched in its depressed position to control the subsequent movement of the The depression of any key 15,

indicator 12.

however, effects the immediate release of its respective cash-drawer. The cash-drawers at) are mounted in a casing or cabinet a1 in any suitable manner, so that they may be readily ejected by springs 12 when released. Each of these drawers is provided upon its rear wall with a beveled latch-bracket 13, which is arranged to engage the vertically-movable latch-plunger 1 1, suitably guided in the main frame and cabinet. The upper end of each plunger 1 1 is formed with an enlarged aperture 15, into which projects the pins 16. These pins 16 are mounted upon a series of levers 457, which are journaled upon the shaft 33, and are provided at their forward ends with antifriction-rollers 18, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each of these rollers 18 is engaged by the cam end of an arm 19, these arms being pendent from the right-hand ends of a series of nested sleeves 50, which are supported upon a transverse shaft 51 and are provided at their opposite ends with a series of curved arms 52, which are arranged to cooperate with the key-pins 22, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and. 3. The arms 52 are of varying lengths and are so arranged that each arm will cooperate with only one of the pins 22, so that when one of the keys 15 is depressed its particular lever 52 will be rocked and by the forward movement of its cam-arm 19 will elevate the rear ends of its lever 17 against the tension of a spring 53, which connects it to the main frame, and thus unlatch its respective cash-drawer. By this means the operator, if he so desires, may open any particular cash-drawer by simply depressing the key 15 pertaining thereto, this operation having no effect whatever upon the machine proper.

Extending across all of the levers 17 is a pivoted yoke 54:, mounted upon the shaft 33 and provided at its rear with a pawl 55, which is limited in its movements in one direction by a stop-pin 56. This pawl 55 cooperates with a pin 57, mounted upon a spring-pressed latch-frame 58, which is journaled upon a transverse rod 59 and is formed with a latchnose 60. A series of spring-pressed plunger-s 61 are mounted in an insulating cross-bar 63 in such manner as to be elevated by the rear ends of the levers 17 when the latter are operated to release the cash-drawers. Each of the plungers 61 is connected by a wire 61 to one of a series of incandescent lamps 65, hereinafter more particularly described. A series of spring-pressed cOntactflungers 66 are mounted in a metallic plate (57, which plate is connected to a main circuit-wire 69, which is connected to all of the lamps 65. Each of the plungers 61 is provided with a head 70, which when a plunger is elevated passes above the pivoted frame 58, so that the latter will support the plunger in contact with the confronting contact-plunger 66 when the lever 417 roturns. \Vhen another lever 17 is operated, the previously-elevated plunger 61 is released and the new plunger latched in its elevated position. Any lamp that is illuminated thus remains illuminated until the subsequent operation of some one of the keys 15.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the lamps 65 are arranged within a circular casing 72, which is mounted rigidly upon the top of the cashregister casing, as shown in Fig. 5. This casing is formed upon each side with a circular opening 7 3, within which operate metallic disks 74, said disks being carried by a hub 7 5, which is journaled in pendent arms 76, secured to the casing 72. The hub carries a pinion 77, which meshes with a gear 78, which gear in turn meshes with the pinion 11 of the special indicator. The gear 78 is suitably journaled in the frame 72 and is cut away, as shown at 79, to prevent the obstruction of any of the lamps 65. Each of the disks M is provided with ten apertures, nine of. which are designated 7 8 and the remaining one 79. The aperture 7 9 of each disk is covered by a plain white glass, while the apertures 78 of each disk are covered by red or other colored glass.

It will be seen from the above description that when the special indicator 12 is rotated the disks 7 1 will be correspondingly positioned. This movement of the disks 7 4 brings the apertures 79 opposite the lamp 65, which is connected to the cash-drawer pertaining to the particular clerk who has operated the machine. If this clerk has properly operated his drawer-key 15, the particular lamp opposite the apertures 7 9" will be illuminated and a white light will be shown from both sides of the machine. This white light will be an indication to the clerks and proprietor that the machine has been properly operated and that a cash-drawer has been opened corresponding to the clerks key 14 which has been depressed. Should a clerk, however, after pressing his particularclerks key 14 open the cash-drawer of another clerk, a lamp would be'illuminated opposite one of the apertures 78 and a red light would thus be shown, which would indicate to the clerks and proprietor that the machine was being improperly manipulated. If so desired, the aperture 7 8 may be altogether omitted, and the absence of any light at all when the machine is operated would convey the same information as the red light described above. As the red and white signals are so well understood by every one, I prefer to employ disks 74, having ten apertures, as described, with the red and white glasses or other transparent material.

The casing 7 2 is preferably arranged upon the cabinet so that the light will be visible to each side of the machine rather than to the back and front of the machine, whereby the clerks may discern. the colors of the signals displayed even when they are at a great distance from the machine. It will of course be understood that the indicator 12 when set is held in its set position by any suitable detent means, but as such means forms no part of the present invention it has not been illustrated. Such holding devices, however, are fully described and shown in the aforesaid patent to Hallwood.

In order to prevent the possibility of the light from one lamp illuminating an aperture 7 8 or 79 adjacent theteto, I prefer to provide radial partitions 80 in the casing 72 between the respective lamps. As the customers or purchasers may also be interested in the meaning of the special light-indicator, I have provided the casing 7 2 with a series of characters located adjacent to the respective lamps 65. The illumination of any aperture 79 or 78 in proximity to any one of these characters will form an indication of which cash-drawer was opened for the preceding operation. The clerks will also become accustomed to the location of the different lights about the circular casing 72. and will be able to ascertain at a distance just what cash-drawer has been opened. This will prevent one clerk operating the clerks key and opening the cash-drawer of a companion clerk when the latter clerk is far enough away from the machine to be out of hearing of the special alarms, which are applied to the cash-drawers in the usual manner to inform the listener by audible signal as to which cash-drawer is being opened.

While the form of mechanism here shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to any form of embodiment of the invention here disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

' 1. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks setting elements, a special signaling device controlled thereby, a series of cash-receptacles, means controlling said receptacles, and special drawer-signaling devices governed by the drawercontrolling means whereby the two signaling devices coact to produce a single intelligible signal.

2. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a plurality of cash-receptacles, clerks controlling elements, and independent signals representing the cashreceptacles and the clerks controlling elements, and coacting to produce a single intelligible signal. I

3. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of clerks controlling mechanism, a series of cash-receptacles, and independent signals representing the clerks selecting mechanism and the cash-receptacles,

and coacting in such manner as to produce a single intelligible signal.

I. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a series of cash-receptacles, a series of keys controlling said receptacles, and independent signals for the clerks keys and receptacles, coacting in such manner as to produce a single intelligible signal.

5. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a series of cash-receptacles, a special indicator, a special signal connected to the indicator, and independent signals for the cashreceptacles; said signals coacting to produce a single intelligible signal.

6. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a special indicator controlled by the same, a rotary signal connected to said indicator, a series of cash-receptacles, and independent signals representing said receptacles; said signals coacting to produce a single intelligible signal.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a series of cash-receptacles, and a series of receptacle-keys located immediately adjoining the corres wnding clerks keys whereby a clerks key and a receptacle-key corresponding thereto may be operated by the pressure of a single finger.

8. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a series of cash-drawers. and a series of independent drawer-release keys located immediately adjoining the clerks keys whereby corresponding clerks and drawer keys may be simultaneously operated by one linger.

9. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of cashreceptacles, aperturcd key-guides, and a series of controlling elements mounted in the respective apertures in said guides and each comprising a clerks key and a drawenrelease key sliding against the same, and guided by said clerks key.

10. In acash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a clerks controlling mechanism, a movable member formed with an aperture and connected to the controlling mechanism whereby the aperture may be positioned according to the operation of said controlling mechanism, a series of cashreceptacles, and signals representing said receptacles and located at the dili'erent points to which the aperture may be brought.

11. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a clerks selecting mechanism, a movable aperturcd member controlled by said selecting mechanism whereby the aperture may be brought to different positions, a series of cash-receptacles, and a series of signals representing said receptacles and occupying the different positions to which the aperture may be brought.

12. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, an aperturcd disk controlled by said keys whereby the aperture may be brought to different positions, a series of cash-receptacles, means for opening said receptacles, a series of signals occupying the different positions to which the aperture of the disk may be brought, and means for bringing the signals into operation according to the cash-receptacle opened.

13. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, an aperturcd disk controlled by said keys, a series of cash-drawers, a series of signals, and means for bringing the signals into operation according to the cash drawer opened.

let. In a cash-register,the combination with, an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, an indicator controlled by said keys, a series of cash-drawers, a series of drawer-release keys, a rotary disk provided with signal-apertures and connected to the indicator, and a series of signals controlled by the drawerrelease keys; the aperturcd disk and signals coacting to produce a single intelligible signal.

15. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a series of drawer-keys, an indicator controlled by the clerks keys, a series of cashdrawers released by the drawer-keys, and inpendent signals controlled by the drawer-keys and the indicator and coacting to produce a single intelligible signal.

16. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a clerks setting mechanism, a movable member controlled by the clerks setting mechanism and formed with a series of apertures covered by transparent colored material, a series of cash-receptacles, a series of signals positioned back of the movable member, and means for bringing the signals into operation according to the cash-receptacle opened.

17. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism and connections, of a special rotary indicator, an aperturcd disk connected to said indicator, a series of lights occupying the different positions'to which the aperture of said disk may be brought, a series of cash-receptacles, and means for bringing the lights into operation according to the cashreceptacle opened.

18. Ina casl'rregister, the combination with an operating mechanism, of two spaced rotary disks connected thereto and formed with apertures, a series of cash-receptacles, and a se ries of lights located between the spaced disks and arranged to be thrown into operation according to the receptacle opened to display the signal from each side of the machine.

19. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of two spaced rotary disks connected thereto and each of the same formed with a series of apertures covered with transparent colored material, lights located between said disks, a series of cash-receptacles, and means for bringing the lights into operation according to the receptacle opened whereby a colored signal is displayed at both sides of the machine.

20. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a series of clerks keys, a signal-operating member controlled by the same, a series of cash-drawers, drawerrelease devices, a series of illuminated signals controlled by the drawer-release devices, and means for retaining the illuminated signals in operation after one drawer-release device is actuated until another drawer-release is subsequently moved.

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

' WILLIAM H. MUZZY. Witnesses:

MILDRED MONFORT, WM. 0. 'I-IENDERSON.

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