Description
This class includes machines employed for ascertaining thenumber of movements of various devices or machines; also, indicatingdevices where the purpose is to disclose the numerical extent orquantity of movement of a machine and where the device is separateand independent of the machine whose movements are to be noted;also organized machines, such as, cash-registers, fare-registers,voting machines and calculators having registering or counting devicesas essential or important elements and having in addition certainother features necessary to make up the complete machines for the purposesdesired. In this class are also recording calculating machines,as--recording cash-registers, and recording voting-machines, whichare classified herein instead of in classes providing for the particularrecording means, by reason of the analogy of the machines as entiretiesto other machines (cash-registers, etc.), in this class. Theserecording devices usually, but not invariably, comprise attachmentsfor printing numbers.
Registers, per se, include attachments to machines where thepurpose is to ascertain or count the number of movements thereof,such as engine-counters, counters for printing-presses, etc. Theyalso include devices comprising indicating hands or pointers (orequivalents thereof), whether moved regularly or irregularly, forwardor backward, in cooperation with a scale or index to disclose thenumerical extent of movement.
In addition to registers, per se, the class is subdivided intovarious groups according to the functions of the machines classifiedtherein.
The registering mechanisms employed in cash-registers (withthe exception in Subclass References to the Current Class, below)and calculators are capable of being operated to different extents--thatis, if they comprise drums having numerals from "0" to "9" ontheir peripheries they may be operated one step or more up to thelimit at one operation, dependent upon the key or equivalent actuated.Moreover, any drum or drums (or equivalent) in the set representingdifferent orders, as units, tens, etc., or dollars and cents, maybe operated either singly or together. In these respects the registers aredifferent in their operation from those in the other groups, wherethe actuator is in operative relation only with the wheel or otherdevice of lowest order and moves the same one step at a time, thetens being "carried" as this or any other wheelcompletes its rotation.
Cash-registers, classified in this class, are classified machinesemployed in mercantile establishments for the purpose of keepinga check upon the financial transactions. These machines usuallycomprise keys or equivalents, registering devices, indicating-tablets,or drums to disclose to the purchaser the amount of the sale, acash-drawer, a bell or other alarm, and various subordinate devicesmainly for the purpose of compelling the clerk or cashier to completelyand correctly operate the machine. It also includes machines wherean autographic record of the transaction is made upon a movablestrip of paper, together with means for moving the paper, a cash-drawer,and other subsidiary devices.