US1070783A - Register for adding-machines. - Google Patents

Description

W. L. DEN OH. .REGISTER FOR ADDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1909. 1,070,783.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES A Home COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CDUWASHING'II'ONY D c W. L. DENGH.

REGISTER FOR ADDING MACHINES. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 8, 1909.

1,070,783. Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES l'zv VLNTOR COLUMBIA PLANUGRAFH co., WASHINGTON. D. c

W. L. DBNGH.

' REGISTER FOR ADDING MAGHlNBS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1909.

1,070,783. Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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WILLIAM L. DENCI-I, OF PELHAM, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIOTT-FISHER, COME PANY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REGISTER FOR ADDING-MACHINES.

Application filed July 8, 1909.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VILLLUI L. DENCH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pelham, in the county of Vest-- chester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registers for Adding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in combined typewriting and adding machines whereby the retractile movement of the carriage necessary after the writing and adding of a number may be varied in extent, in accordance with the requirements of the particular work performed.

It may be stated, by way of premise, that in a certain class of combined typewriting and adding machines, and more particularly the Elliott-Fisher writing-adding machine of commerce, a computing device or register, having a series of number wheels or denominational members, is mounted on the frame of the machine and is operated by an actuator presented in succession to the number wheels by the movement of the typewriter carriage. After a number is written and added the retraction of the carriage effects the resetting of the carrying mechanism of the register. In order to insure proper retraction of the carriage for the resetting of this mechanism, and also to compel the operator to return the actuator to the left of the register after the writing of each number, it has been customary to employ what is known as a letter space lock for dogging the carriage against forward movement until. the specified retractile movement of the carriage has been completed. The letter space lock referred to was invented by me and is disclosed in my copending application No. 58,835. It sometimes happens, however, that with a comparatively wide register in use the numbers to be added have limited denominational values which make it undesirable to retract the carriage as great a distance as is desirable when the numbers to be added taX the capacity of the register.

Considered in a more specific aspect, therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide what may be termed a variable letter space lock which may be set or adjusted to compel the carriage to be retracted a greater or less distance, according to the particular character of the work in hand.

To the accomplishment of this object, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 19,1913.

Serial No. 506,458.

preferred embodiment of the invention resides in that construction and arrangement to be described, illustrated in tho accompanying drawings, and succinctly defined in the appended claims.

In said drawings-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an Elliott-Fisher writingadding machine with parts omitted. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic rear elevation of a portion of the carriage and certain forwardly projecting portions of the register structure in section, the register being indicated in dotted lines and the various parts shown in the positions they assume when the carriage has been retracted after the writing of a number. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions they assume when the carriage moves forward from the position shown in Fig. 2 to its first or highest order writing position. Fig. l is a perspective View of a register equipped in accordance with my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction and mounting of one of the register plate sections, the latter being drawn back to its inoperative position. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the plate section in forward or operative posit-ion. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the lower front corner of the register showing the movable plate sections in retracted position. Fig. 8 is a similar view with certain parts removed and others broken away to more clearly illust'ate the structure. Fig. 9 is a similar view with both the fixed and movable sections of the register plate removed. Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the movable plate sections. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the fixed plate section, and Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention, the modification consisting in constructing the entire register plate of separate adjustable sections each corresponding in width to a single letter space.

Each part is indicated by its appropriate reference character wherever shown.

The EZZi0tt-Fishc7- machine.-The Elliott- Fisher machine includes a flat platen 1 over which a machine frame 2 is mounted to travel longitudinally to space the lines of writing. Mounted to travel on the frame 2 transversely of the platen to letter space the writing is a carriage 3 the upper portion of which is in the form of a casing 4 surmounted by numeral keys 5 and letter keys not shown. The stems 6 of the keys are connected through key levers 7 and drawwires 8 to downwardly swinging type bars 9. The carriage is moved to the right by carriage propelling mechanism including spring drums and tapes, not shown, and such letter space movement is controlled by key-operated escapement mechanism indicated generally at 10, Fig. 1. The described mechanism is operated in a manner usual in typewriters of the downwardly printing stationary platen type.

The adding meehanz'sm.1n addition to the typewriter proper, the machine includes a register 11 adjustably mounted on a guide bar 12 supported by brackets 13 extending rearwardly from the frame 2. The register 11 which is thus adjustable to any desired position transversely of the machine, usually embraces a series of denominational members 14 equipped with suitable carrying mechanism and adapted to be rotated to accumulate totals which are exhibited at the front of the casing.

Mounted 011 the top of the carriage casing 4 is a master wheel or actuator 15 which is movable with the carriage to engage successive denominational members or number wheels of the register and is rotated a clifferent distance by each numeral key 5 for the purpose of moving the engaged member a distance proportionate to the value of the particular numeral key from which the actuator is operated. The actuator 15 is fixed to a shaft 16 adapted to be operatively connected to each of the numeral keys by a series of operating connections one of which is generally shown in Fig. l and indicated by 17. In order to make each of these operating connections capable of connection to or disconnection from the keys, each of said connections includes a swinging link 18 connected to the adjacent key stem by a separable connection 19. Thus when the links 18 are in the position shown in Fig. l and the master wheel or actuator 15 is opposite the register, an operating connection is established between the keys 5 and the adding mechanism. If, however, the links 18 are swung back to break the separable connections 19, the keys 5 are disconnected from the adding mechanism and are unburdened thereby during the typewriting of matter outside of the adding field or column.

For a more complete disclosure of the described mechanism reference is made to Patent No. 829,971 to Laganke and Smith.

The automatic key connecting means-- An adjunct of the Elliott-Fisher machine of commerce is what is known as automatic key connecting mechanism. This mechanism is fully disclosed in Patent No. 868,232 to John A. Smith and a brief description thereof will therefore suflice for the purpose of the present disclosure.

For the purpose of shifting the links 18 a swinging key connecting yoke 20 is mounted in the casing 4 and engages slots in the several links 18. This yoke normally occupies such position that the links 18 will be held back out of connection with the key stems 6. Also mounted in the casing of the typewriter is a yoke operating lever 21 having its rear end bifurcated for the reception of an abutment roller 22 shiftable longitudinally of the lever 21 by mechanism which need not be described, but occupying at one limit of its movement a position above the rear end of an intermediate lever 23 suitably fulcrumed in the casing 4 and hav ing its rear end extended beyond the casing and engaged by the bifurcated end of an arm 24 pivotally mounted on the rear wall of the casing and normally held in its elevated position by a spring 25. Mounted to swing fro-m the fulcrum of the arm 24 is what is termed a key connecting arm 26 resting upon an abutment 27 at the lower edge of the arm 24, the purpose being to allow the arm 26 to swing freely in an upward direction or to depress the arm 24 when swung downward. At its front or left hand end viewed from the rear of the typewriter, the arm 26 is provided wit-h a laterally disposed cam 28 adapted to coact with what is termed the key connecting plate 29 of the register. The plate 29 is ordinarily a mere ledge extending across the front of the register at the bottom, see Fig. 4, and acts upon the advance of the carriage to depress the key connecting arm 26 for the purpose of swinging the arm 24 and the levers 23 and 21 to cause the yoke 20 to swing the links 18 into connection with the key stems 6. In other words, as the carriage advances in the direction of letter spacing, the cam 28 of the arm 26 will engage the end of the plate 29 and being inclined and adapted to yield, said arm will be depressed sufliciently to allow the cam 27 on the end of the plate to ride under the plate 29 in which position of the parts the keys will be connected with the adding mechanism and the carriage will be free to move forward. lVhen the master wheel 15 has moved beyond the register and the printing point of the typewriter has advanced beyond the adding field, the cam 28 will have passed beyond the end of the plate 29 and will be sufficiently elevated by the spring 25 to effect the disconnection of the keys and the restoration of the key connecting arm 26 to normal position. If now, the carriage is retracted, the cam 28 will ride back over the plate 29, since as has been explained, the arm 26 may yield upwardly independently of the arm 24.

The letter space Z0e7c.The mechanism thus far described is that common to the Elliott-Fisher machine of commerce and is disclosed in the two patents hereinbefore identified. In my copending application, also before referred to, is disclosed an improvement whichis now commonly used in the Elliott-Fisher machine and is known as a letter space lock. The improvementresided in forming the upper face of the register plate with ratchet teeth 30 with which the lower edge of the cam 28 will engage during the retraction of the carriage and thus dog the carriage against forward movement until it has been retracted sufficiently to allow the cam 28 to drop from the right hand end of the register plate 29 viewed from behind the machine.

The amiable letter space Z0'c7c.-The structure thus far recited is all old, as heretofore recited, but a brief description thereof has been necessary in order that the construction, operation and purpose of my present invention may be fully understood.

\Vhere, as heretofore, the plate 29 has been of sufficient length to dog the carriage against forward movement until the master wheel has actually been withdrawn beyond the left hand side of the register (looking from the front) the retraction has been considerably in excess of the requirements of a column of numbers of low denominational;

value. It sometimes happens that a wide register, for instance one having nine or more number wheels, will be in use, whereas the numbers to be totali'zed will be of low place value, for instance not exceeding hundreds or thousands. My present inven- 3 tion, therefore, has for its object to render the register plate 29 variable as to length so that the key connecting arm 26 may drop from the end of the plate and thus permit the readvance of the carriage after the latter has been retracted a sufficient distance for all practical purposes.

29', 29 and 29 The section 29 is stationary and is toothed, as heretofore described, while the sections 29 29 and 29 nected during the travel of the printing are in the form of sliding blocks, each having a width corresponding to the letter space movement of the carriage, and having its front end portion beveled, as indicated at 31, to form a ratchet tooth. The several blocks or sections 29*, etc., are slidably retained between the bottom of the register casing and a keeper plate 32, the latter being slotted, as indicated at 33, to accommodate lugs 34 depending from the sections 29", etc. These lugs 34 constitute stops limiting the movement of the plate sections and also facilitate the adjustment of the latter. To retain the several plate sections in their active positions when adjusted thereto, each is provided with a kerf 35 engaged by a spring-urged detent plunger 36 movable in a socket'37 in the bottom wall of the register casing. It will now be seen that if the To accomplish I this end I form the plate 29 in sections 29, I

character of the work to be done taxes the capacity of the register, the several movable sections of the plate 29 may be moved forward so that their front ends will constitute a continuation of the series of teeth 30 formed on the stationary member 29 of the plate. If, however, numbers of low place value are to be added, as for instance numhere not exceeding thousands in value, any or all of these movable sections may be moved back out of active or operative position, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to materially shorten the length of the plate 29. hen the register plate is thus shortened, the carriage need only be retracted until the cam 28 drops from the plate 29, the master wheel at this time being disposed opposite the number Wheel of highest order, assuming a nine wheel register to be in use. The carriage may then be advanced and as soon as the cam 28 has been depressed by the plate 29, see Fig. 3, the master wheel will be opposite the thousands wheel of the register and the adding mechanism will be in condition for use.

I In Fig. 12 I have shown a modification of the structure illustrated in the preceding figures, such modification consisting in making the entire register plate in movable sections 29 each one letter space wide. By means of this arrangement the plate may be shortened from either or both ends, or withdrawn entirely from the path of the cam 28, the latter condition being probably desirable only to place the register entirely out of commission without operating the setting means of the key connecting mechanism. In other words, while the register may ordinarily be placed out of commission by setting the key connecting mechanism so that the keys will not be connected, even though the cam 26 is depressed, the same result may be attained by adjusting all of the plate sections to their inoperative positions so that the cam 28 will not coact there with, the keys therefore remaining disconpoint across the column and of the master wheel across the register.

It is thought that from the foregoing, the construction, operation and advantages of the mechanism described will be clearly comprehended, but I wish to be distinctly understood as reserving the right to effect such variations of the illustrated structure as may come fairly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is 1. In a key operated machine, the combination with a carriage and keys, of a variable mechanism arranged to lock the carriage against forward movement until a predetermined retractile movement is completed.

2. In a key operated machine, the combination with a carriage and keys, of a vari-' able pawl and ratchet mechanism arranged to dog the carriage against forward movement until a predetermined retractile movement is completed.

3. The combination with a typewriter in cluding a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of variable means operative during a predetermined retractile movement of the carriage to prevent the advance of said carriage until the latter has been retracted to machine, the combination with a typewriter including a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of adding mechanism normally disconnected from the keys, and automatic mechanism operative to connect and disconnect the keys and adding mechanism and including variable means for determining the duration of such connection.

6. The combination with a typewriter including a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of adding mechanism normally disconnected from the keys, and automatic mechanism operative to effect the connecticn and disconnection of the keys and adding mechanism, said automatic key connecting mechanism including two coact-ing elements, one of said elements being variable to determine the duration of said coaction.

7. The combination with a typewriter in cluding a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of adding mechanism normally disconnected from the keys, and automatic mechanism OPGI'LtlX'Q to effectthe connection and disconnection o-f-the keys and adding mechanism, said automatic key connecting mechanism including two coacting elements, one of said elements being composed of relatively adjustable sections.

8..The combination with a typewriter including a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of adding mechanism normally disconnected from the keys, and automatic mechanism operative to effect the connection and disconnection of the keys and adding mechanism, said automatic key connecting mechanism including two coacting elements, one of said elements having the form of a sectional plate.

9. The combination with a typewriter including a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of a register, a variable register plate carried thereby, and an element movable relative to and coacting with the plate to dog the typewriter carriage.

10. The combination with a typewriter including a carriage, keys and printing mecha nism, of a register adapted to be operated from the typewriter keys, register operating connections normally disconnected from the keys, and automatic key connecting mechanism including a variable register plate associated with the register and a member coacting therewith.

11. The combination with a typewriter incl uding a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of adding mechanism including a register and operating connections therefor normally disconnected from the keys, and automatickey connecting mechanism including means mounted on the register and variable to determine the point in the carriage travel relative to the register at which the connection of the keys and adding mechanism will be effected.

.12. In a key operated machine, the combination with a carriage, keys and printing mechanism, of an adding mechanism under the control of the keys, the denominational relation of the keys and adding mechanism beingcontrolled by the carriage, and variable means operative during a predetermined retractile movement of the carriage, to prevent the advance of said carriage until the latter has been retracted to one of several predetermined points.

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

WILLIAM L. DENCH.

Witnesses:

LOUISE MAIER, H. P. SHIPMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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