US1753289A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1930. F. L. FULLER I 1,753,289 7 CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 19, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I Indentor I April 8, 1930. FULLER 1,753,289

CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 19, 1918 3 Sheet s-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 'l ivderieli L. Killer BWMM ATTORNEY 1 April 8, 1930. F. FULLER 1,753,289

CASH REGISTER ori inal Filed Nov. 19, 1918 s Sheets-Sheet s RECEIVED 0N ACCOUNT INVENTOR fledet-ien 11.1mm-

ATTORNE Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK L. FULLER, OF ILION, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO'REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CASH REGISTER Original application filed November 19, 1918, Serial No. 283,125, and in Great Britain September 12, 1919. Divided and this application filed April 28, 1926. Serial No. 105,055.

This invention relates to cash registers in general and more particularly to indicating mechanisms therefor.

.This application is a division of the copending application of Frederick L. Fuller,

Serial Number 263,125, filed November 19,

1918 to which reference may be had for a more complete description of the cash register to which the present invention has been ap- 19 plied. However, while the improvements set forth in this application are shown applied to a particular type of cash register illus trated in the parent application, their utility is by no means limited to this'specific embodiment. The improvements are of such a nature that they may be applied in various modifications to many other kinds and principles of cash registers and accounting machines.

Indicators which have been used heretofore are of two general classes, the tablet and the roller type. While roller type indicators have the advantage that they are easily arranged in denominational sections or orders they have the serious disadvantage that the size of characters thereon are limited by the diameter of the roller. The diameters of the rollers are of course, limited in their dimensions by the register itself and the compartment in which the roller indicators are 10- catod. Another objection is that on account of the characters being formed on the pe riphery the upper and lower parts of the characters do not stand out as clearly as possible. To overcome these objections and provide a type of indicator which is suitable for all purposes, tablet indicators have been pro vided.

While tablet indicators have the advantages that they always present a plane surface to the eye, the tablet indicators have one objection, namely, that wherever they are viewed from any direction except normal thereto, one indicator may partially conceal another. This is due primarily to the fact that the keys are arranged transversely of the machine and in order that each key be capable of lifting into view its related indicator, it is necessary to arrange the indicators in a like manner. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that two indicators comprising an amount may be either Widely separated or close together, depending upon the distance between the related keys, and when in the latter condition one indicator may even partially conceal the adjacent one. Such an arrangement prevents the use of indicators hav ing a large amount of character bearing surface and in order to overcome this objection as well as the one just mentioned, tablet indicators are arranged in groups. An improved arrangement for accomplishing this is shown in the illustrative embodiment.

The indicators are arranged in groups, one for each denominational order of amount keys and one for the clerks keys and have characters upon both faces so as topermit front and back indication. Due to this arrangement it has been possible to provide large characters upon the tablets thereby attracting the attention of the bystanders to the amount registered and indicated and permitting the indicators to be visible at a great- ;r distance than has been possible heretoore. i

While the indicators have been arranged in groups and the keystransversely of the machine, a novel arrangement has been em ployed whereby the stem of each indicator rests upon the end of its related key. The indicators have been arranged so as to permit ease of assembly and adjustment and although gravity has been found practical for returning elevated indicators to their con cealed position an additional device has been provided for positively forcing the said indicators to their concealed positions.

It has been found very desirable to conceal indicators either of the tablet or roller type while they are being adjusted and the characters brought to the line of visibility. The mechanism for accomplishing this on the machines now upon the market comprise a metal shield, sometimes painted in a color so as to attract bystanders or else bear a legend reading to the eifect that the sale has not been registered or the like. Upon the completion of an item in the machine the concealing device would be disabled thereby rendering the indicators visible. 1

Registers have generally a set of keys known as the transaction keys designating the nature of the transaction entered in the machine, and for indicating such fact suitable indicators have been provided. Vhen applied to roller indicators it has been necessary to abbreviate such words and while tablet indicators permit the showing of the words in full, the size of the letters are restricted by the amount of space available in the machine, and if the characters are of inordinate dimensions they would conceal the amount indicators. On this account it has even been necessary to abbreviate the Words upon tablet transaction indicators, the serious disadvantage being that not all are familiar with the abbreviations used.

The present invention contemplates combining the feature of a shield or flash with transaction indicators, the indicators being so arranged that the indication is spelled out in full, and not abbreviated. The transaction indicators in the present instancecombine a plurality of bars for front and back indication and have character bearing faces, one for each of the following transaction keys Paid out,-Received on account,and Charge. The normal indication is Cash and is shown whenever an amount key is operated without a transaction key. The transaction bars are elevated at the same time as the tablet indicators, and prevent the raised indicators from being visible. As the raised indicators are held elevated the transaction bars are lowered. If no transaction keys have been depressed the bars will not be adjusted but will indicate Cash. If, however, a transaction key has been depressed the bars will be adjusted during their return and exhibit the desired indication.

The invention further provides a color scheme for the transaction indicators. Each transaction key has usually associated therewith a particular color of a color system. The bars in the present instance are also colored so that even though the legend upon the transaction bar would not be visible at a distance it would still be possible to discern the color on the face exhibited and from this deduce the type of transaction which has been entered in the machine.

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

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1, is a top plan view of the cash register shown with the improvements applied thereto and showing in particular the arrangement of the keyboard, the associated key coupler,

the tablet and bar indicators and the mechanism for adjusting the latter.

Fig. 2 is an end view showing one of the amount keys, the key coupler, the means for driving the operating shaft, the transaction indicator adjusting mechanism, and the mechanism for holding the tablet indicators in their elevated positions and for releasing them at the proper time.

Fig. 3 shows the mechanism for adjusting the bar indicators in its normal position there by indicating a Cash transaction.

Fig. 4 is a View of the rear of the machine showing the clerks and amount tablet indicators, the method of assembling them in groups so that their respective stems overlie their related keys, and the transaction bar indicators, together with the mechanism for ad'usting them to their proper position.

he various parts of the mechanism are supported by a suitable frame work comprising a base casting and side frames 6, the latter being connected at their upper rear ends by a frame work? utilized to support the tablet and bar indicating mechanism. Further cross connections comprise a front tie bar 8 between the lower front part of the machine frames 6 and atie bar 9 (Fig. 1) across the lower rear part.

The illustrative machine is provided with thirty-one keys, (Fig. 1) there being three groups of amount keys 10; one group for entering amounts from 1c to 99%, one group for amounts ranging from 10 to 90 and the remaining group for ent ring amounts from $1.00 to $7 .00. The fourth group of keys comprises a series of four keys 52 known in the art as transaction keys which denote the nature of the transaction entered in the machine, and have suitable indicating mechanism associated therewith for visibly indicating the nature of the transaction. The two keys 36 shown in Fig. 1, at the extreme left of the keyboard are known as the clerks or classification keys.

The amount keys 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are pivoted upon a shaft 11 extending transversely and ournalled between the side frames 6 of the machine and resting upon their rear ends is a key coupler 12 ournalled on an arbor 13 supported in the side frames. When the outer ends of the keys are depressed the key coupler 12 is rocked clockwise 2), and a nose 131 thereon enters notches 14 formed in the rear ends of the keys. The purpose of such key coupler mechanism is well. known in the art and need not be discussed herein in detail.

Extending transversely of the machine, between the side frames 6 is a shaft 15 designated as a main operating shaft. This shaft is given a complete rotation at each operation of the machine and carries cams and other devices for operating various parts of the mechanism. The mechanism for accomplishing this comprises a vertical reciprocable rack plate 17, (Fig. 2) pivotally connected to the key coupler 12 and provided with rack teeth 18 which alternately mesh with a gear (not shown in the present application) fast upon the operating shaft as the key coupler is operated. In this manner a complete reciprocation of the key coupler 12 will effect a complete rotation of the main operating shaft 15. A ratchet and pawl or other suitable means for preventing retrograde movement may be associated with shaft 15, as more fully set forth in the parent application above identified.

As shown in Fig. 2 each of the clerks and amount keys extend rearwardly of their pivotal point 11 and normally rest with their rear ends resting upon a portion 19 integral with the base plate 5. Each of the keys is provided with a fiat bearing surface 20 underlying the stem of its related tablet indicator. In this manner, when a key is operated the bearing surface 20 will contact with the stem of its related indicator and lift it into view.

a In order to prevent the indicators which have been raised from dropping to their lower or normal position certain mechanism has been provided for holding the indicators elevated, which will be described hereinafter.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the amount indicators related to the different denominational orders are arranged in denominational groups. In order to guide the indicators in their reciprocating movements the indicators have associated therewith at their upper ends guide lugs 21 suitably slotted and attached to the upper portion of the back frame 7. In order to guide the lower ends or stems of the indicators there has been provided a guideplate 22 (Fig. 4) extending transversely of the machine and screwed to the lower edge of the tie bar 9, and is furthermore suitably apertured to receive the stems of the respective indicators.

As premised hereinbefore the indicators associated with a particular order are arranged in groups, and in order that they may be lifted by their related keys which extend transversely of the machine the lower ends of the stems of certain indicators are offset transversely. The particular arrangement illustrated; whereby the indicator stems are aligned with the keys will now be explained; attention being directed more particularly to the tablet indicators associated with the cents bank of amount keys shown in Fig. The stems of the nine indicator tablets are divided into three The three stems 23 are substantially central of the tablet indicators and are integral with the tablets bearing the indicia .04, .05 and .06. The stems of the .04 and .06 indicators are offsetto the left and right, respectively. to overlie their respective keys. The .05 indicator being directly over the ocents key, its stem is substantia-lly straight. The stems 2 10f the indicators .01, .02 and .03 extend from the left side of the indicators, and are suitably "offset to overlie the corresponding keys. Similarly the stems 25 ofthe .07, .08 and .09 indicators are brought into proximity with the proper keys by being placed near the right side of the indicators, and each is correctly ofiset for engagement by the proper key. By 'dis-.

with the cents bank, it will be understood that this same arrangement has been used for the indicators related to the dimes and dollars bank.

Means are provided for holding the tablet which has been raised by a depressionof a key in its elevated position so that the indication made thereby will be visible until another item is entered in the machine. For this purpose all the tablet indicators have been provided with lugs 26 (Figs. 2 and 1) integral with the respective indicator stems and arranged adjacent to each other so that they will not interfere. (lo-operating with the lugs 26 is a transversely extending bar 27 of a bail whose downwardly extending arms 271 i are pivoted at 28 to the back frame 7. Pivotally attached to one of the arms 271 is a link 29 (Fig. 2) bifurcated at oneend for support by the main operating shaft 15, and'provided with a roller 30 co-operating with a box cam 31 fast to the shaft 15.

From the above it will be clear that whenever a key is depressed the flat bearing surface 20 thereof will contact with the stem of its related indicator and elevate it to its up- 7 permost position. During the time that the key was being depressed the coupler 12 was being re'ciprocated, thereby rotating the shaft 15 and box cam 30 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2. At substantially the time the lug 26 reaches the underside of the supporting bar 27 the box cam 31 will move the supporting bar 27 rearwardly permitting the lug 26 to pass up over the bar 27 VVh'en the lug 26 of the raised indicator passes above 7 the supporting bar 27 the cam 31 will move the supporting bar 27 slightly forward and as the raised indicator drops slightly lug 26 will contact with the upper edge ofthe'supporting bar 27 holding the indicator in its elevated visible position. In the samemanner all the indicators which have been raised by their keys will have their lugs supported by the supporting bar '27 until released during a subsequent operation ofthe machine.

7 It will be understood that when the machine is operated and the supporting bar first moved rearwardly, the movement of the supporting bar 27 will be sufficient to disengage the upper edge thereof from the lugs of the previously raised indicators thereby permitting these indicators to fall to their lowermost or concealed position.

In order to permit ease in assembling and disassembling the parts the box cam 31 is provided with a cutout portion 32, and to prevent the supporting bar 27 from moving too far rearwardly when the roller 28 co-operates with the cutout portion 32 one of the arms 271 is provided with a downward projection or tail 33, adapted to engage the frame bar 9, thereby limiting the rearward movement to the supporting bar 27.

In order to insure the return of the elevated tablets inthe event that they should stick in their guide members 21 and 22 a bail 34 (Figs. 2 and 4) resting on the lugs of the elevated tablets is provided. The bail 34 extends transversely of the machine and is pivoted at 35 to the side frames 6. \Vhenever an elevated indicator is released by the rearward movement of bar 27, the bail 34 contacting with the lug 26 of such indicator will by virtue of its weight assist in lowering the indicator to its concealed position.

The clerks keys 36 comprise a group of two keys situated at the left hand end of the keyboard (Fig. 1) and are in all respects similar in construction to the amount and transaction keys. vEach clerks key has associated therewith a totalizer so that the items entered in the machine may be classified and entered in the totalizer appropriated to a clerk. These keys may also be used for classifying items for different departments, for cash and credit transactions, or in general, to make any desired segregation of the transactions. The means whereby each clerk controls his totalizer is shown and described in detail in the parent application to which reference may be had for a full description thereof.

The clerks or identifying indicators 37 are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The stems 38 of these indicators are offset to engage the proper keys in a manner similar to that shown in connection with the amount keys, and each stem has integral therewith a lug 39 co-operating with the indicator supporting bar 27 to hold the raised indicator in its upper position. From the above it is evident that whenever a clerk depresses his key the correspond ing indicator will be lifted and held in its elevated position after the end of the registraclerks group of keys. These keys are respectively the Paid out,Received on account,-Charge,and No sale. The No sale key is only. operated to release the cash drawer to make change, etc.

As indicated in the foregoing, the transaction indicators are of the bar type and extend transversely of the machine. A plurality of these indicators are provided so as to give a front and back indication and are further so constructed and located with respect to the clerks and amount indicators as to perform the function of a flash, i. e., to conceal the tablet indicators while they are being raised to their uppermost position. When tablets which have been selected have been raised and held in their elevated position, the transaction indicators are lowered and set so as to exhibit indicia to designate the nature of the transaction.

The description of the improved form of indicator for indicating transactions will now be given. Slidably mounted at each end of the frame 7 so as to be capable of being reciprocated in a vertical direction is a pair of plates 40. As shown in Fig. 2, each plate 40 is guided in its reciprocating movement by a vertical slot 411 formed in one side of the frame 7, each plate 40 being provided with a tail 41 1 and 2) resting upon the nose 131 of the key coupler 12. From the above it will be obvious that when the key coupler is reciprocated by an operation of the keys the nose 131 contacting with the tail 41 will raise and lower the plates 40.

The upper ends of the plates 40 are bifurcated to form arms 42. The two transaction indicators 43 are carried on shafts 44 which are journalled in corresponding arms 42. Each of the indicator supporting shafts 44 has secured thereto a pinion 45 which is in continuous engagement with a gear sector 46 rotatably mounted upon the inner side of the left plate 40, and is provided with a stud 47 From the above it is evident that any desired indication on the indicators 43 may be exposed by the proper movement of the gear sector 46.

In order to give the indicator frame sufficient strength and rigidity and to insure the side plates receiving an equal lifting movement the following mechanism is provided. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the forward edge of each plate 40 is formed with teeth 48. Journalled in upwardly extending cars 49 of the back frame 7 is a transverse shaft 50 which is secured at its ends by pinions 51 meshing with the rack teeth 48. From the foregoing it is evident that if the indicator frame be lifted by a key or keys located at one end of the machine a simultaneous and equal lifting movement of the other end of the indicator frame will be effected through the connections just described, and that this result will be secured without a torsional strain on the key coupler 12 or other associated parts.

The indicator bars may have any desired number of faces provided with suitable indicia. The drawings illustrate indicator bars having four faces bearing respectively the words Cash;lteceived on account Charge ;--and Paid out. The words are so arranged on the face of the bars that the same indication is simultaneously visible; thus the indication is readily seen from the back as well as from the front of the machine. It has been found desirable to coin struct the indicator bars with concave faces, so that the words at the top and bottom of the bars may not be readily seen. However, flat or convex faces may be used, and the number of faceson the bars may be changed at will.

In order to display any desired indicator under control of the transaction keys 52 it will be necessary to properly position the gear sector 46. For this purpose there have been provided three vertical slides (Figs. 2 and 4) 58, 54, and55 of different lengths relating to the Paid out,Charge,and Received on account keys respectively and located in the same group as the A and B indicator tablets. The slides 53, 54, and 55 have their stems'olfset to overlie the rear ends of their respective keys and are guided at the top by guide members 21 and at the bottom by the guide plate 22 which is suitably apertured to receive the said stems. Each slide is furthermore provided with a slide supporting lug 56, and an indicator adjusting shelf 57 co-operating with the stud 47 hereinbefore mentioned. A spring 58 interposed between the side frame 6 and the gear sector 42 tends to rotate the gear sector until a stud 59 to which the spring 58 is attached bears against a stop surface 60 integral with the left side plate 40.

r In order to explain the operation of the above to the best advantage a description will be given stating how the bar indicators are adjusted to indicate: the varioustransactions. IV hen the amount keys are depressed for a Cash operation, the indicator frame and attached parts are elevated by the motion of the key coupler so that the transaction indicators 4-3 will conceal the amount indicators during the time they are raised to their uppermost position. When the keys and coupler are returned ,to their normal position the indicator frame bars and attached parts descend by the action of gravity and the force exerted by the spring 58 and will thereby render visible all the tablet indicators which have been raised. During the reciprocation of the indicator frame the stud 59 will hear at all times against the stop surface 60 (as shown in Fig. 3) and since no transaction slides have been elevated the bars will expose Cash on both sides of the register.

The operation of the bars is substantially the same whenever a No sale key is depressed with the exception that no amount keys are operated and no amount indicators will be exposed. Thus, while there is associated with the No sale key no indicator bearing the specific words No sale, a no sale transaction is shown by the appearance of Cash on the indicator bars 43 in conjunction with the absence of an amount indication.

Upon a paid out transaction the depression of the Paid out key raises the key coupler 12 and the slide 53 associated there with, the said slide 58 being held in its uppermost position by the supporting bar 27 (Fig. 2). When the indicator frame descends the pin 47 carried by the gear sector 46 will strike the shelf 57 integral with the elevated slide 53 and upon a further descent of the indicator frame the gear sector 46 will be rotated 27 0 in a counter clockwise direction (Fig. 2) so that both transaction indicator bars expose the indication Paid out.

The length of the slides 55, and 54; and position of the supporting lugs 56 associated with the Received on account and Charge keys are such as to position their respective shelves 57 so as to rotate theindicator bars 90 and 180- respectively from the normal (cash) position. Fig. 4 shows the slide 55 related to the Received on account key elevated, and the transaction bars moved to exhibit the proper indication.

The operation of each part of the mechanism having. been described in connection with the mechanism itself a summary thereof is thought unnecessary.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and. described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood. that the invention is not limited thereto, as it. is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms, all coming 1within the scope of the claims which fol- What is claimed is 1. In a cash register, the combination with a plurality of amount keys, indicators therefor, a series of special keys, each operable in conjunction with a plurality of said.

amount keys, and a plurality of indicators tioned keys, indicators capable of obscuring and exposing the first said indicators bearing indicia corresponding to the special keys and means under control of the special keys for causing the second mentioned indicators to designate which special key has been operated during the time the secondmentioned indicators expose the first said indicators.

4. In a cash register, the combination with a plurality of keys, indicators therefor, a seriesof special keys, slides operated by the special keys, a plurality of bars for obscuring and exposing the first mentioned indicators bearing indicia corresponding to the special keys, and means controlled by the op erated slide for adjusting the bars to indicate which special key has been operated.

5. In a cash register, the combination with a plurality of keys, indicators therefor, series of special keys, a plurality of slides lifted by the special keys, devices for equalizing the lifting movement imparted to the slides, a plurality of indicator bars related to the special keys for obscuring and exposing the first mentioned indicators and journalled between the said slides, and means operated by a special key for adjusting the indicator bars to indicate which special key has been operated.

6. In a cash register, the combination witl a plurality of keys, tablet indicators therefor, a plurality of adjustable indicator bars having a normal position and capable of reciprocation for obscuring and exposing the tablet indicators, special keys related to the said indicator bars, and means controlled and operated by the special key for permitting the indicator bars to be moved from any position to which they have been adjusted to normal position and then adjusting them to designate which special key has been op erated.

7. An indicator for registering machines provided with operating keys and a key coupler, a reciprocable frame liftable by said coupler, a rotatable indicator bearing a plurality of indicia carried by said frame, means for causing the descent of said frame, adjustable stops set by keys and means co-opcrating with said stops and said indicator for turning the said indicator to expose the index corresponding to the selected stop when the frame returns to normal position.

8. A transaction indicator for registering machines provided with amount indicating tablets, a pair of rotatable indicators extending across the machine to the frontand rear respectively of said tablets and normally lying below the indicia of the exposed tablets, a frame in which said rotatable indicators are mounted, means for lifting said frame when the keys are d pressed, whereby the rotatable indicators are lifted to conceal the tablet indicator thereby performing the function of a flash, means for causing the descent of said frame, adjustable stops set by keys and means co-operating with said stops and said indicators for turning said indicators to expose the index corresponding to the operated key when the frame returns to normal position.

9. An indicating device for registering machines, comprising a rotatable indicator, a reciprocable frame supporting the indicator, a movable means carried by the frame and connected to the indicator, a spring for holding the movable means normally against a fixed stop on the frame, means for lifting and lowering the frame and adjustable stop means limiting the downward travel of the movable means and thereby determining the position of the indicator when the frame has returned to its lowest position.

10. An indicating device for registering machines comprising a frame, a rotatable indicator, a gear segment carried by the frame and in mesh with a pinion on the indicator, a spring for holding the segment normally against a fixed stop on the frame, means for lifting and lowering the frame and adjustable stop means limiting the downward travel of the segment and thereby determining the position of the indicator when the frame has returned to its lowest position.

11. In an indicating and registering device a plurality of banks of spaced operating keys provided with tablet lifting extensions, a plurality of series of reciprocable indicating tablets, one series for each bank, the tablets of each series being grouped one behind the other from front to back and provided with properly offset stems co-operating with said extensions, said stems being provided With projections co-operating with a back rod for supporting the tablet lifted by the key, and a bail of the full extent of the indicators lying above said projections for returning said indicators to normal position when released by the back rod.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an indicator, amount keys for causing said indicator to be bodily raised and lowered, special keys, and means controlled thereby for adjusting said indicator during one of its movements to designate the special key depressed.

13. In a machine of the class described, the

"combination of a pivoted indicator comprising a bar extending transversely of the machine and capable of being bodily raised and lowered, means for raising and lowering said indicator, and means co-operating with said indicator for rotating said indicator during the time it is being lowered. i

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of indicators, a piv oted indicating member comprising a bar extending transversely of the machine and capable of being bodily raised and lowered to respectively obscure and expose the first-mentioned indicators, means for raising and lowering said indicating member, and means co-operatin g with said indicating member for rotating the same during the time that it is being lowered to expose the first-mentioned indicators.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of indicators capable of being raised and lowered during every operation of the machine, keys, stops actuated by said keys concurrently with the raising of the indicators, and means for bold ing a stop in actuated position whereby cooperation of the actuated stop with the indicators as they are lowered will adjust them to indicate the key depressed.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an indicator having a reciprocating movement of invariable extent and a rotary movement of differential extents, means for effecting a reciprocating movement of said indicator, a plurality of keys, and a differential mechanism under control of said keys for effecting a differential rotary movement of the indicator during its reciprocating movement to designate which key has been operated.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of keys, indicators associated therewith, a series of special keys, special indicators associated with said special keys and normally occupying a visible unobscuring position but capable of movement to obscure said first named indicators.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount keys, indicators therefor, a series of special keys each operable in conjunction with a plurality of the amount keys, and a plurality of reciprocable indicators operable by said special keys for obscuring and exposing said first mentioned indicators and designating which special key has been operated.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of keys; indicators therefor; a plurality of special keys; means movable to and from a position for obscuring said indicators, said means bearing indicia corresponding to said special keys; and means under the control of said special keys for adjusting said first-mentioned means during the movement thereof away from indicator-obscuring position for causing said first-mentioned means to indicate which special key has been operated.

20. In a cash register, the combination with a plurality of indicators, means normally indicating a cash transaction, but adjustable to furnish other indications and capable of movement for obscuring and exposing said indicators, a series of special keys, and means controlled and operated by said special keys I for adjusting the first-mentioned means to indicate which special key has been operated.

21. In a cash register, the combination with a group of keys spaced transversely of the register, indicators associated therewith grouped one behind the other and provided with offset stems so that each indicator cooperates with its respective key, the stems of the indicators being sub-divided into laterally spaced sets each containing a number of stems which is a sub-multiple of the total number of the indicators in the group.

22. In a cash register, the combination with a group of keys spaced transversely of the register, indicators associated therewith grouped one behind the other and provided with stems co-operating with the respective keys, the stems of the indicators being subdivided into sets, each comprising stems in substantial alignment with each other and spaced from the stems of the other sets.

23. In a cash register, the combination with a group of keys spaced transversely of the register, indicators associated therewith and grouped one behind the other, said keys being provided with stems co-operating with the respective keys and the stems being'subdivided into sets; one of said sets comprising stems extending from the right hand portion of the respective indicators, another of said sets comprising stems extending from the left hand portion of the corresponding indicators, and a third of said sets comprising stems extending from an intermediate portion of the indicators associated with that set.

24. In a cash register, the combination With a plurality of keys, indicators therefor, a series of special keys and means operated by any one of the special keys for obscuring and then exposing the said indicators during a single operation of the machine and designating which special key has been operated.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.

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