US1013670A - Combined type-writing and computing machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. E. MAIN. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING momma.

APPLIOATIOH rILEn HOV. 12, 1810. 1,013,670-

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

4 SHEETS-BEEF! 1.

F. E. MAIN. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

ABPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 12} 1910.

Patented Jan. 2 1912.

4 ennnra-aanin- 2.

fli rrnay :lllllll l F. E. MAIN. A COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 3 0V. 12, 1910.

' Patented Jan. 2,1912.

4 sums-sum a.

v F. P. MAIN. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND GOMPUTING MACHINE.

PPLIQATIOHIILED NOV. 12; 19105 Patented Jan. 2, 1912,

'4 sums-sum 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FEED F. MAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN '1- 4 UNDERWOOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Application filed November 12, 1910. Serial No. 591,973.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED F. MAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Combined Type-VVriting and Computing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to computing machines, particularly to those which are combined withty ewriters; and more especially to cross-adding mechanism.

One of the rmcipal objects of the invention is to facilitate the writing and computation of certain accounts, such, for instance, as the individual depositors accounts kept by a bank.

According to the present improvements, the mechanism automatically computes the cross footings of several numbers written upon one line durin a single run of the carria e in lettereed dlrection. This cross ooting is secured b adding certain numbers together and en tracting one or more other numbers; the addinghead or totalizer, after making each comp tation, returning automatically to begin t e next computation in the same line of Writing. In other words, I employ a jumping totalizer, which when the main carriage is Inoving in letter-feed direction, reciprocates relatively to the usual key-controlled masterwheel element; such reciprocation including a step-by-step movement with the main carriage, and a rapid return movement independently of said main carriage; and the question of whether the machine shall add or subtract or remain neutral in each column being determined automatically. The operator needs only to operate the tabulator keys, and also the type keys to print the numbers in the proper columns, as in ordinary typewriting tabulating work, and the jumping totalizer will, at each column, either add or subtract the number that is written by the operator; not only the reciprocations of'thc totalizer, but also the performance of the operation of addition or subtraction, being effected automatically, so that the operator needs to pay no attention either to the position of the totalizer, or to the position of the shiftable devices whereby the totalizer is set for either addition or subtraction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general, sectional, lon itudmal, central elevation ofa Remington rout-strike typewriting machine provided with the Wahl adding attachment and showing my improvements applied thereto. A machine of the VV-ahl type is illustrated in Patent No. 968,103. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation taken through a bar on the t pewriter carriage which carries the totahzer. Fig. 4 is a part-sectional front elevation of a group of pinions forming part of the adding and subtracting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a lever, whereby the typewriter carriage is enabled to determine whether the computing mechanism shall add or subtract. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bar upon the typewriter carriage which cooperates with the lever seen at Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan of the front part of the main carriage and its appurtenances; and Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation showing particularly a releasable dog connected to the jumping totalizer. Fig. 10 is a perspective front view of the machine, omitting the letter keys.

For convenience of illustration, I have shown my present improvements applied to a Remington front-strike typewriter, equipped with what is known commercially as t e \Vahl adding attachment; but it will be understood that my improvements may be applied to other typewriting machines, and other kinds of computing mechanlsm.

Besides the usual letter keys 1, said machine is-equipped with figure keys 2; all the keys being mounted on levers 3, having con nections 4, 5, to type bars 6, which strike rearwardly against a platen 7. Said platen is mounted on a powendriven main carriage 8, provided with the usual letter-feeding mechanism, indicated at 9. The machine is equipped with a decimal tabulating mechanism, comprising keys 10, decimal stops 11, and connections 12, 13 between said stops and keys; adjustable column stops 14 being providttd upon the carriage 8 to cooperate with said decimal stops. The tabulating mechanism also usually includes a carriagereleasing mechanism (not shown).

rotation.

The so-called VVahl adding mechanism comprises links 15 connected to the fi urekeys, and means for enabling said lin s to impart a swinging movement to' a segment 16, according to the key operated; the type key bearing the numeral 1 giving said wheel a minimum rotation, and that hearing the numeral 9 giving it a maximum Said segment meshes with a pinion 17, to drive the latter always in the ,same direction. In said \Vahl adding mechanism, suitable provision is made for causing said segment 16 to become disengaged from the pinion 17 while the segment makes its return stroke, durin the return of the type key 2 to normal position.

As shown at Fig. 4, the adding mechanism is set for subtraction; a pinion 18, fixed by a sleeve 13 to said pinion 17, being in mesh with a wider pinion 19, which is splined upon a shaft 20, that carries a master-wheel 21; the direction of rotation of the latter being opposite. to that of the pinion 17, as shown by the arrows. The master-wheel is adapted to engage and operate any of a series of computing wheels 22, mounted in a casing 23, said casing also carrying a series of number wheels 24, suitably connected to said computing Wheels. The casing 23, containing the gang of computing and number wheels, may be regarded as a totalizer, and is mounted for movement relatively to the master-wheel, the latter being mounted upon the general framework 25 of the machine. By shifting the three pinions 17, 18. 19, to the right at Fig. 4, the pinion 17 is movedout of mesh with a segment 16, and the' broad pinion 19 is moved into mesh therewith, so that at each drive of said seg ment, the master-wheel 21 is caused to rotate in the opposite direction from that shown by the arrows, whereby addition may be performed. The totalizer 23, upon which is registered the sum of the numbers printed in the columns on the worksheet, or the difference between the amounts written in various columns or at various points along the line, (the computation being made crosswise of the page, instead of vertically) is shown as 1 carried by a bar 26, which is supported upon the carriage 8 by means of forwardly projecting arms 27. The connecting mechanism between the keylinks and the ear is contained in the usual casing 28, Fig. 10. The master wheel 21 registers with a computing wheel 22 each time that a fi ure is printed on the work sheet. As so ar described, the parts are usually employed in said adding mechanism and typewriting machine. The adding head or totalizer 23,

' containing the gang of computing wheels 22. is adjustable along the bar 26, or along the carriage 8, so that computations may be performed at different points in the travel of the main carriage, to correspond with the positions of the columns written side by side on the work sheet. In the present instance, this adjustment of the totalizer is eifected automatically, and at the same time the machine itself determines whether the mechanism shall add or subtract as the various columns are written, so that the operator needs to give no attention to the adjustment of the computing mechanism as he writes line after line. Upon the carriage is provided a rack 29, comprisin a series of notches or catches 30, any one 0 which may be engaged by a spring-pressed dog 31 pivoted at 32 9) upon the case of the totalizer 23. ach notch is abrupt at'its right-hand end and sloping at its left-hand end. Hence the main carriage 8, when traveling to the left, will carry the totalizer along; and the carriage 8 may move to the right independently of the totalizer 23 for beginning a new line of writing; the dog riding freely up the inclined edges of the notches. A spring 33, connected at one end to an arm 33 on the general framework 25 and at the other end to the totalizer, tends always to draw the latter to the right, that is, to return it to start a new computation, this being done several times during the writin of each line across the work sheet.

At t e completion of each individual computation, the dog 31 is automatically disconnected from the carriage, or withdrawn from the catch 30, by means of a fixed trip 34, with which an arm 35 of the dog engages as the totalizer is carried to the left by the main carriage 8. This trip has a sloping bottom face, which cams down said arm of the dog, and lifts the tooth of the dog from the catch 30, and the totalizer, now being free, is rapidly drawn to the right by the spring 33 to begin a new computation; said totalizer coming to rest against a fixed member 36, on the framework, preferably with the master wheel 21 at one side, or out of mesh with, the gang of computing wheels 22, so that computation can not be performed until, during the subsequent 1etter-feeding movement of the carriage 8, the first computing wheel is brought into mesh with the master wheel. The totalizer, when returned by the spring 33, may be arrested either by said stop 36 or by reason of said dog 31 engaging a catch 30 of the rack 29. The trip 34 is in the form of a flexible arm, fixed at one end to bracket 36, on the general framework, and at the other end set by an adjustable screw 36, whereby accurate action of the trip may be secured.

Upon the paper carriage 8 is a bar 37 formed with depressions 38 connected to ele-' H and the totali'm-r fifiwillheaw-nmulatml Inihotoializer 23.

catches 30,- to determine whether the totalizer 23 shall add or subtract when the dog 31 engages any of said notches 30. The rack bars 29 and 37 are detachably secured to the machine, by screws 29 and 37, so that they may be replaced when desired by racks 1 or bars having other notches or other cams having a roll 44 to run upon the cam track 37, and the other arm positively connected to and actuating an endwise shifting rod 45, which is usually connected to the pin ions 17, 18 and 19, said rod having an offset '46 connecting said rod to the pinion 19.

This rod 45 is movable endwise to shift the pinions to the right from the position atig. L, to a position where the segment 16 will act directly upon the pinion 19 instead of the pinion 17, so. that addition may be er-forined. A loose connection is provided etween said rod and said lever 41 said arm havinga pin or stud 47 that extends through a slot 4'? in the end of said shifter rod. The oscillations of the arm 41 up and down by the cams 40 and by a returning spring 50 cause corresponding oscillations of the hanging arm of the lever in a horizontal direction, to accomplish the shifting of the set of pinions as already described. It will be seen that the lever 41 will be vibrated to and fro several times during each run of the main carriage S in letter-feeding direction,

with correspondinf, changes in the operations of the computing mechanism. It-will be understood that the elevated portions of the bar 37 are intended to secure addition, and the depressed portions to secure subtraction. ()f-course, any depressed portion or any elevated portion may be of sufficient length to cause either subtraction or addition to he performed on several consecutive columns written on the work sheet; and. hence there may be fewer depressions or elevations in said bar 37 than there are notches 30 in the ha r 2f).

In operation. a tahnlator key 10 is first nporalwl. lu-inginu the typewriter carriage 225 into position to begin writing and (-ompntin n the first wide column upon the work sheet 51. At this time. the numbers written by lhe keys 2 The tahulator to) is then ulwlull'tl again. and the carriage .s' pl'm'emls' In a position to write in the next column. During this last movement. of the rarriagenthe totalizcl' 23 is p ipped, and its sprin 33drives it back, and

the dog 31 engages the succeeding notch 30 in the rack 29. A number is then written in this second column on the sheet, and the sum of the two numbers appears on the totalizer.

During the two computing operations just described, the shifter arm' ll has been running upon the elevated portion of the cam bar 37, so that addition has been performed. The tabulator key is again operated to bring the carriage to position to write in the third column on the work sheet 51; and during this run of the carriage, the totalizer 23 is again tripped, and again returned by the spring 33. During this movement of the carrmgeB, the arm 41 is dropped by the spring 50 into the first depressed portion 38, thus shifting the pinions to cause subtraction to be performed. The number written in the third column is therefore subtracted from the sum of the numbers written in the first two columns. The tabulator is again operated, and the carriage-8 thereby positioned for writing in the fourth column on the work sheet; the totalizer 23 being again tripped- -and returned by its spring, so as to be in position-to compute the number written in said fourth colunin. During this movement of the carriage 8, the arm 41 is driven up by a cam 40 and caused to ride on the elevated portion 'of the bar 37 so that the number written in the. fourth column is added.

to the result previously obtained The tabulator is again operated, and the parts thereby moved to position for writing and computing in the fifth column; the arm 41 dropping into the second depression on the bar 37, so that at this computing operation the machine, will subtract. The operator now writes in the fifth column the number which is displayed by the totalizer, and at the same time t is number is of course subtracted, this bringing all the computing wheels to zero. Other uses of the mechanism will be apparent. The notches 30 may-be so -disposed (as by omitting one of said notches) that the totalizer 23, after one or more columns have been written and computed, will remain motionless with the master wheel out of mesh with the computing wheels, during the writing of figures in one or more columns on the work sheet; and if desired, so that the totalizer will thereafter again be picked up.bv the carriage 8, for further computation in the same line of writing.

- Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus describediny invention, I claim:

1. The combination of types, a platen, a carriage, an adding and subtracting mechanism constructed to perform cross-computaperformed at successive runs of single direction, and comprising a set of computing wheels and a'single master wheel therefor, shift-able means or determining whether the computation performed by said mechanism shall be addition or subtraction,

shiftable means. a

2. The combination of types; a adding and subtracting mechanism, including as one element a gang of computing wheels and as another element a masterwheel; means, including letter-feeding de vices, for automatically reciprocating one of said gang and master-wheel elements relatively to the other, to enable crcss-computa-r tion to be performed; and meansconnected to,said reciprocatin means for determining automatically whet ier addition or subtraction shall be performed at successive runs of the letter-feeding element.

3. The combination of types; a platen; a carriage; adding and su tracting mechanism, including as one element a gang of computing wheels and as another element a master-wheel; means associated with said carria eand including. letter-feeding devices,- or a'utomatieall y reciprocating one of said gang and master-wheel elements relatively to the other during the run of said carriage in letter-feeding direction, to enable cross-computation to be performed; and means connected to said reciprocating means for determining automatically whether addition or subtraction shall be said recipand automatic means for operating said roosting element.

4. The combination of key-operated types, a platen, a letter-feeding carriage, adding and subtracting mechanism including as one element a gang of computin wheels, and as laten another element a master wieel, means for causing one of said elements to travel with said carriage while the other of said elements remains stationary at the letter-feeding operation, and for causing said traveling element to return after a number is computed and again travel withthe carriage as the latter continues its own travel in letter-feeding direction, so that cross-computation can be performed, and means for determining automatically whether addition or subtraction shall be performed at suecessive runs of said traveling element in letter-feeding direction.

5. The combination of types; a platen; a letter-feeding carriage; an element consisting of a master-whee element; one of said gang and master-wheel elements being connected to said carriage for a letter-feeding movement relatively to the other; means for automatically disconnecting said connected member and automatically, re-connectin it at another-point to t e carriage, so t lat com: putation can be efl'ected in respect to another gang of' computing wheels; a'

a shiftable device for determining whether addition or subtraction shall be erformed on said gang of computing wh means connected to said carriage for ooh-l trolling said shiftable device.

6. The combination of types, letter-feeding carriage, tracting mechanism including as one ele ment a gang of computing wheels, and as another element a master-wheel, means for causing one ofsaid elements to reciprocate during the travel of said carriage, each reciprocation including a ste -by step movement with said carriage an a rapid return movement independently of said carriage, a shiftable device for determining whether addition or subtraction shall be performed by said mechanism, and automaticall operating means for moving said shifta le device from one position to another position and back during a single run ofthe carriage in letter-feeding direction.

7. The combination of types a platen, a letter-feeding carriage, an adding and subtracting mechanism including'as one eleanother element a master-wheel, mean'sfor causing one of said elel during the travel of said carriage, each reciprocation 'including a step-by-step movement with said carriage and a rapid return movement independently of said carriage, and means dependent upon the movement of said carriage during a single run thereof in letter-feeding direction forsettin said still another operation thereof.

8. The combination oftypes, a platen, a letter-feeding carriage, an adding and subtracting mechanism, including as .one ele ment a gang of computing wheels and as another element a'master wheel, releasable 'means for connecting one of said elements feeding direction for returning said element after its release and automatically reconnecting it to the carria e to perform another computation a .shi table device for determining whet er addition or subtraction shall be performed by said mechanism, and means controlled b said carriage for shifting said shiftable device repeatedly to cause the action of said mechanism to vary at successive computations. i 1

9. The combination of;types, a platen, aletter-feedin trzicting mec anism a gang of computing wheels and as another element a master-wheel, releasable means eels, and

carriage, an adding and subs. including as one elelneng column or number written on a work sheet a platen, a" an adding and sub-j j ment agang of computing wheels, and as ents to reciprocate mechanism for addition at one operation of said traveling element, and subtraction at another operation thereof, and addition at to said carriage to travel therewith in letter-1 to perform a computation, means for automatically disconnecting said,

connected element from said carriage, means.

for connecting'one of said elements to said carriage at a predetermined series of intervals in the travel of the carriage, to perform a succession of computations, said connecting means including a dog and a rack or series of catches, means dependent upon the movement of said carriage for releasing said dog from said catches one after another, a spring tending to return said connected element to normal position; said adding and subtracting mechanism including a part shiftable for determining whether addition or subtraction shall performed by said mechanism; and a seriesiof cams or devices associated with said carriage, for shift ing said shiftable part to cause the action of said mechanism to vary at successive computation's.

10. The combination of types, a platen, a letter-feeding carriage, an adding and-subtracting mechanism including as one element a gang of computing wheels and as another element a master-wheel, one of said elements adjustable along said carriage and connected to travel therewith in letter-feeding direction, means dependent upon the movement of the carriage for causing said element to shift to different positionsalong said carriage, to perform a "series of computations during a single run of the car,- riagc,,and means also d pendent upon the movement of the carriage for determining at each computation whether said mecha nism shall perform addition or subtraction.

11. The combination of types, a platen, a letterfeeding carriage, a bar extending along said carriage and connected thereto to travel therewitina computing mechanism including as one element a gang of computing wheels and another element a master wheel, one of said elements adjustable upon said bar in the direction of the ruh of the carriage,n1eans for connecting said adjustable element to said bar at ditierent points along the latter, said connecting means in eluding a dog or pawl and a rack or series of catches, means dependent upon the I11()"9- ment of the carriage for releasing the dog from the catches seriatim, a spring to move said element along the bar to enable said dog to engage. the next tooth or catch in the rack, and means also dependent upon the movement of the carriage for determining, at each computation, whether said computin mechanism shall perform addition or su traction.

' 12. The combination of types, a platen, a letterfeeding carriage, a bar extending alcmg said carriage and connected thereto to travel therewith, a computing mechanism including as one element a gang of computing wheels and as another element a masterwheel, one of saidelements adjustable upon said bar in the direction of the run of the carriage, means for connecting said adjustable element to said bar at different points along the latter, said connecting means includin a dog or pawl and a rack or series of catc es, means dependent upon the movement of the carriage for releasing the dog from thecatches seriatim, a spring to move said element along the bar to enable said dog to engage the next tooth or catch in the rack, a series of cams or devices at intervals to correspond with the positions of said catches, and ashiftable part controlled by said cams or devices and controlling said computing mechanism, to determine whether addition or subtraction shall be performed thereby at successive computations.

13. The combination of types, a platen, a letter-feeding carriage, a .bar extending along said carriage and connected thereto to travel therewith, a computing mechanism including as one element a gang of computing wheels and as another element a master- 'wheel, one of said elements adjustable upon (said bar in the direction of the run of the carriage, means for connecting said adjustable element to said bar at ditferent points along the latter, said connecting means including a dog or pawl and a rack or series of catches, means dependent upon the movement of the carriage for releasing the dog 'from the catches seriatim, a spring tomovesaid element along the bar to enable said dog to engage the next tooth or catch in the rack, a series of cams or devices mounted upon said carriage at intervals to correspond with the positions of said catches, a mem bermovable by said cams, and means connecting said member to a shiftable part of said computing mechanism, to shift the same to adding and subtracting positions. FRED F. MAIN. \Vitnesses v K. Fnamgron'r, C. RIPLEY.

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