US3249299A - Totalizer aligning mechanism for cash registers, accounting and like machines - Google Patents

Description

3,249,299 COUNTING H. SCHAAF May 3, 1966 TOTALIZER ALIGNING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS, AC

AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Nov. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG..|

HIS ATTORNEYS May 3, 1966 H. S TOTALIZER ALIGNING MECHANISM AND LIKE MACH CH F 3 ASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING INES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 INVENTOR HEINRICH SCHAAF M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 249 299 TOTALIZER ALIGNING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING AND LIKE MACHINES Heinrich Schaaf, Stadtbergen, near Augsburg, Germany, assignor to The National Cash Register Company,

Dayton, Ohio, acorporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,723 1 Claim. (Cl. 235130) This invent-ion relates to improved mechanism for aligning totalizcr pinions or wheels having approximately the same diameter and mounted on a common shaft, but having .a different number and/or shape of teeth as the accurate handling of numerous currencies requires. One example of such a varying totalizcr pinion requirement is known for sterling currency, where the pence order of currency count has need for a totalizcr .pinion having twelve teeth while the next adjacent and higher order of currency count (shillings) has need for a totalizcr pinion having but ten teeth. With this in mind, it is clear that machines of the present class adapted to handle sterling currency must have both decimal and duodecimal wheels or pinions in the overall makeup of the totalizer employed.

In hitherto practice, special aligners of relatively complicated shape and operation have normally been used for machines having both decimal and duodecimal pinions in the one totalizcr, whereas entirely different and much more simplified aligners have normally been used in machines having decimal pinions only in the one totalizcr. That is, in normal practice the totalizcr pinion aligners employed for pure decimal machines cannot be applied to machines of the decimal and duodecimal type, and vice versa. Contrary to this known and universally followed specialization in totalizcr construction, where entirely different pinion aligners have to be used for machines of the decimal type and for machines of the decimal and duodecimal type, the present invention provides a unique arrangement where one and the same totalizcr aligner can be used for either one and both types of such machinesthat is, employed universally for aligning either one or both decimal and duodecimal pinions, each as the particular makeup of the individual machine embodying same requires. This, in essence, is the primary object of the instant invention.

A further object of the instant invention resides in providing such an interchangeable totalizcr pinion aligner of an extremely simplified construction, being a unitary member appropriately formed so as to automatically align each and every duodecimal pinion and/or each and every decimal pinion provided along a common totalizcr shaft.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes precise features of construction which, in conjunction with known combinations of operating parts, is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cash register or like machine embodying the instant invent-ion, with parts of the right side wall of the machine cabinet brokenaway at those zones of machine elements considered important to a complete understanding of the now presented application;

FIG. 2 is a view in section, as seen from the right, of a typical totalizcr mechanism employing the instant invention, illustrating a decimal pinion of such mechanism in its normal, aligned position;

FIG. 3 is a further view in section, as seen from the right, of the totalizcr mechanism of FIG. 2, but illustrating such decimal pinion thereof as shifted to its differential engaging position;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of an upper fragmentary portion of the totalizcr mechanism of FIG. 2, illustrating both decimal and duodecimal pinions thereof as associated with the instant invention, and including each of the differential racks associated therewith; and

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the instant invention as operated for simultaneously aligning both decimal and duodecimal totalize-r pinions.

General machine description As shown in FIG. 1, the cash register chosen to illustrate the present invention is housed in a suit-able cabinet 10 and has, extending through such cabinet 10, the usual keyboard 11 having a plurality of rows of amount entry keys 12, at least one row of transaction keys 13, and a motor bar 14. Although not illustrated herein, the frame work of such machine includes a base member supporting a pair of upstanding right and left side frames, within which is journaled a main cam line 15. As is known, machine cycling is through depression of the motor bar 14 whenever certain types of machine operations are to General totalizcrarrangement and mode of operation For the purpose of the present disclosure, the totalizcr unit 16 includes in its makeup both decimal pinions 17 and duodecimal pinions 18, mounted in a spaced relationship one from the other along a common shaft 19 (FIG. 4). This overall arrangement, it should be understood, is merely for the sake of disclosure purposes since the particular aligner constituting the instant invention may, in addition to such arrangement, be likewise effective for handling either decimal or duodecimal pinions solely along such shaft 19. As is known, each of the totalizcr pinions 17 and 18 of such shaft 19 is aligned with an associated diiferential actuator rack 20 and 21 respectively, which, during machine operation, are caused to be set at precise digit entering positions corresponding to the amount entry keys 12 previously depressed. In each instance, as can be understood from FIG. 2, the totalizcr pinions 17 and 18 aligned with such actuator racks 20 and 21 are normally maintained out of engagement therewith, and, when so directed by associated totalizcr engaging and disengaging mechanism (not shown herein), are caused to be shifted into engagement therewith at and for a precise time during machine operation for entering digit amounts thereto in the above instance (as set up on the amount entry keys 12) or removing accumulated amounts therefrom (either under control of a unit lock lever 9 in conjunction with the motor bar 14 or under control of selected ones of the transaction keys 13). As is clear from FIG. 2, the pinion carrying shaft 19 is mounted in the overall totalizer unit 16 for up-and-down (vertical) shifting movement to engage and disengage the totalizcr pinions 17 and 18 thereof with and from the associated actuator racks 20 and 21. The actuator racks20 and 21 themselves of course are of that overall number conforming to the capacity of the machine carrying same, and are mounted for substantially horizontal shifting movement during each machine cycle of operation.

Journaled between the above-mentioned right and left side frames included in the general framework of the instant machine is a totalizcr engaging shaft 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Pinned to each end of such shaft 22, in the vicinity of the right and left side frames, is an actuating arm 23 which, in conjunction with a further arm 24 connected thereto by way of a rock shaft 25, forms what may be called a toggle lever for lifting and lowering the totalizer pinions 17 and 18 in to and out of engagement withtheir associated differential actuator racks. Although not illustrated in such FIGS. 2 and 3, the rock shaft 25 extends along the full length of the pinion shaft 19 so as to interconnect the several sets of arms 23 and 24that is, each set mounted adjacent the machine framework right and left side frames. Each of the further arms 24 of such toggle lever construction are rotatatably mounted on a totalizer shifting shaft 26, which in turn extends between a pair of spaced-apart outer totalizer frame 27one again in the vicinity of each of the framework right and left side frames. It is the upper end portions of such spaced-apart outer totalizer frames 27 which support the pinion carrying shaft 19 mentioned above with respect to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower ends of such totalizer frames 27 are bifurcated and engage over the totalizer engaging shaft 22. Although not illustrated herein, the upper ends of such totalizer frames 27 are slidably mounted in appropriate guides maintaining same continually vertically but permitting same to be shifted with respect to the engaging shaft 22. Adjacent each of such outer totalizer frames 27 is an inner totalizer frame 28 likewise having its lowerend bifurcated for embracing the totalizer engaging shaft 22 and having, spaced thereabove, an elongated slot 28a through which the totalizer shifting shaft 26 slidingly extends. An oblique slot 28b in each of such inner totalizer frames 28 has slidingly mounted therein the rock shaft 25 mentioned above, so that, whenever the totalizer engaging shaft 22 is caused to be rocked counter-clockwise from its position of FIG. 2 to its position of FIG. 3, the straightening of the toggle lever (consisting of arms 23 and 24) thereby shifts the outer ttalizer frames 27 in an upward direction under control of the interconnected shifting shaft 26 being then moved upwardly within the slots 28a of the inner totalizer frames 28. Such shifting of the outer totalizer frames 27 of course carries the shaft 19 therewith, whereby the various pinions 17 and 18 thereof enter into engagement with the associated differential actuator racks 20 and 21 (FIG. 3). The timing at which such totalizer engaging shaft 22 is so rocked counter-clockwise is, as is known, dependent upon the type of machine operation being performed. Return rocking of the engaging shaft 22 to home (FIG.

. 2) disengages such pinions 17 and 18 from the differential racksall being done through lowering the outer totalizer frames 27 in a manner reverse to that just described for raising such frames 27. While the precise means for rocking the totalizer engaging shaft 22 first counter-clockwise and then clockwise back to home is not included in the instant disclosure, same of course receives its driving force from the above-mentioned main cam line 15 of the instant cash register (FIG. 1).

As is apparent to those versed in the art, it is essential that each of the totalizer pinions 17 and 18 along the shaft 19 be maintained in proper alignment whenever same are positioned out of engagement with the respective actuator racks 20 and 21 (FIG. 2) and be released from such alignment whenever same are moved therefrom to an engaging position with respect thereto (FIG. 3). It is such alignment of the pinions 17 (decimal) and of the pinion or pinions 18 (duodecimal) which is the crux of the instant invention, all being done by an improved aligning member 30 as now described.

Improved totalizer pinio'n aligner Looking again to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen that the aligning member 30 extends across the upper edges of the inner totalizer frames 28, and is actually interconnected thereto by means of a lower extension 30a thereof being embraced by a hooked portion 280 of such frames 28. Hence, it is clear that such aligning member 30 will be moved along with the inner totalizer frames 28. As understood from FIG. 4, the aligning member 30 is of that length to extend across each of the totalizer pinions carried by the shaft 19, being thus substantially of the same length as the shaft 19 so as to align each and every totalizer pinion caused to be mounted thereon. A spring 31 interconnects such aligning member 30- and is effective to continually pull same toward the inner totalizer frames 28-that is, so as to yieldingly maintain the lower surface thereof in constant abutment with the upper edge of each of the totalizer frames 28.

Looking now to FIG. 5, Where the improved totalizer aligning member 30 hereof is shown associated with axially aligned totalizer pinions of different tooth count, such, for example, as the above-mentioned decimal pinion 17 and the above-mentioned duodecimal pinion 18, it is seen that the cross-sectional configuration of such aligning member 30 defines a unitary angle block having an upper and centrally disposed V-shaped groove 30b extending longitudinally therealong with a pair of opposing slopes 30c extending laterally from the upper extremities of such groove. As is illustrated, the longitudinal groove 30b of such aligning member 30 is effective for tangentially engaging each of the side edges of one tooth of the decimal totalizer pinion 17, while, at the same time, the several lateral slopes 300 of such member 30 are effective for tangentially engaging opposing side edges of several alternate teeth of the duodecimal totalizer pinion 18. That is, it is to be understood that maintenance of each decimal pinion 17 at a set position when not engaged with its associated actuator rack 20 is effected by a single tooth thereof coming to rest in the groove 30b with adjacent teeth thereof remaining free and clear of any contact with the lateral slopes 300', while maintenance of each duodecimal pinion 18 at a set position when not engaged with its associated actuator rack 21 is effected by several alternate teeth thereof coming to rest against the lateral slopes 30c with the intervening tooth thereof at such time positioned free and clear of any contact with the groove 30b.

In applying the just-defined configuration and operation of the aligning member 30 to the totalizer unit 16 of FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen that each and every totalizer pinion 17 and each and every totalizer pinion 18 along the shaft 19 will be thereby positively held in its previously set position when not engaged with the associated differential actuator racks 20 and 21, and will be thereby permitted to be rotated freely when caused to be shifted into engagement with such racks. During this latter time-that is, during totalizer engagement with the machine carried differential mechanism, the engaging shaft 22 directed movement of the rock shaft 25 Within the oblique slots 28b is effective to likewise raise the totalizer inner frames 28 to some degree, so that such aligning member 30 will remain in engagement with the shaft 19 carried pinion 17 and 18 until same actually enter into engagement with their associated racks.

Although the present invention is herein disclosed for use with a totalizer unit of the combined decimal and duodecimal type, it is axiomatic that such invention can be embodied in various other totalizer units having pinions of approximately the same diameter but with several shapes or number of teeth, all without any substantial change in configuration, mounting, and mode of operation. Also, slight changes may of course be made in the present invention without actually departing from the overall scope and spirit thereof. Hence, it is intended that the limitations to such invention be only those which may be imposed by the following claim.

What is claimed is:

In a machine of the class described having both decimal totalizer wheels and duodecimal totalizer wheels 0f approximately the same diameter supported rotatably on a common shaft, a unitary aligning member extending along the shaft and adapted to simultaneously align all of the said totalizer wheels thereon, comprising a length of material having a central longitudinal groove therealong for tangentially engaging opposing side edges of one tooth of each decimal totalizer wheel mounted on the shaft and having those surfaces adjacent said groove opposingly sloped laterally for tangentially engaging at the same time one side edge of each of several alternate teeth of each duodecirnal wheel mounted on the shaft, the intervening tooth of each such duodecimal Wheel being positioned within said longitudinal groove free and clear of any engagement thereby.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,555,154 9/1925 Poole 235 131 1,931,113 10/1933 Muller 235 130 2,113,352 4/1938 McClure 235-202 2,285,825 6/1942 Moriarty 235-211 2,322,569 6/1943 De Lancey 74-405 X 2,633,669 4/1953 Churus 74-405 X 2,679,357 6/1954 Rosenburger 235 91 3,003,692 10/1961 Heuer 235 144 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, W. F. BAUER, Assistant Examiners.

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