US1118682A - Calculating-machine. - Google Patents

Description

E. A. REED, E. L. KELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

' CALCULATING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION P111131) APR.3,1911.

, Patented Nov. 24, 191.4.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 1 E. A. REED, B. L'RELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3.1911.

1,118,682, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

14 sHEETS--SHEET 2 [aw/w A $550, [kw/y Z. 4 54 .4 2,

E. A. REED, E. L. RELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER. CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3, 1911. 1 1 18,682. Patented Nov. 24, 1914. 14 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

E. A. REED, E. LJRELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED APR.3, 1911.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

14 SHEETSSHEET 4.

@M/YA 550, 9

l4 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. A. REED, E. L. RELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

'APPLIOATION FILED 11mm. 1911.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

E. A. REED, E. L. HELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1911.

Patented Nov. .24, 1914.

[om/n4. R550, [am/v1, isum, M4

E. A. REED, E. L. HELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3. 1911.

Patented Nov. 24., 1914.

14 SHEETSSHEET 7.

B. A. REED, E. L. KELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER. CALCULATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.3-, 1911.

1,1 18,682, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

14 SHEETSSHEET 8.

1 B. A. REED, ELL. RELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

' CALCULATING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR.3. 1911. 1,1 18,682. Patented ,Nov. 24, 1914.

14 3HEETSSHEET 9.

E. A. REED, E. L. HELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER. CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1911.

1,1 18,682. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

14 SHEETS--SHEET 10.

B. A. REED, B. L.- RELLBR, W. L. SWIFT &A*. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3, 1911.

1,1 18,682. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

14 SHBETSSHEET 11.

E. A. REED, E. L. HELLER, W. L. SWIFT 61: A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1911.

Patented Nov. .24, 1914.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

FY ,v.

' I mMvLo z 2 /4/ 7 W/ fay/M4 [2:0, [Zn m Z. fuzz/g E. A. REED, B. L. HELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A. J. MEIER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3, 1911.

Patented NW 1914,

14 SHEETS 61511157131 m vA/wbm:

E. A. REED, E. L.,RELLER, W. L. SWIFT & A.. J. MEIER; CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Anna, 1911.

1,1 18,682, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

EDWIN A. REED, EDWIN L. BELL-ER, AND WILLIAM L. SWIFT, OF ST. LOUIS, AND ALBERT J. MEIER, OF GLENDALE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO THE DUPLEX ADDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

CALCULATIN G-MACHINE.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWIN A. REED, ED-

WIN L. RELLER, WILLIAM L. SWIFT, and

I ALBERT J. MEIER residin Uni'ted States Patents Nos. 929,317; 928,873;

and 924,256, granted, respectively, to Adolt phus G. "Meier, Albert J. Meier, and Albert J Meier, and dated, respectively, July 27, 1909; July '20, 1909; and June 8, 1909.

The several objects of the invention are briefly, to provide a calculating machine,

wherein the impression mechanism is locked against actuation to print a total until each of the items to be printed has been added to the accumulator; wherein, in the same connection, the total key and the totalizing mechanism are controlled by the item print mechanisms ing mechanism; wherein the item printing mechanism may be restored without actuating the accumulator; and wherein error keys individual to the respective item printing for permitting restoration thereof are employed.

The invention further comprehends the employment of a particular form of item printing devices, and of improved devices I01 cushioning the return movement of the firstmentioned devices; of an improved cipher printing device associated with the impression mechanism: and of an Improved device for operating the platen and also of improved means or mechanism for insuring a full stroke of this operating device and for preventing its actuation toward printing position until after it has been completely restored to normal position.

The invention still further resides in the provision of an improved form of accumuw lator which embodies printing wheels and .actuating wheels for the same, and actuating members that are operative by the printing means, and, when moved in one direc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1911.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914. Serial No. 618,655. I

tion, are operatively connected with the corresponding actuating wheels, and disconnected therefrom when moved in the opposite direction.

In connection with the accumulator, the invention comprehends the employment of an improved carrying or transfer mechanism, associated with the accumulator wheels, of means associated with such mechanism whereby the aforesaid wheels may be divided into separate series, and of means for controlling the operation of the mecha-' nism specified.

In connection with the impression mechanism, which is used in connection with both item and total printing mechanisms, the invention resides in the employment of a platen which is movable into printing position with relation to either of said mechanisms and is cushioned in'either movement.

It also resides in the provision of an improved pressure device cooperative with the platen and of improved controlling means for such device, ther employment of devices or mechanism by means whereof the platen may be rotated so as to expose to view a printed item on the paper thereon.

As further regards the item printing mechanisms and the accumulator, the invention' contemplates certain additional improved devices or means which serve to lock the printing device from subsequent operation until after it has completely returned to initial position; to operate the accumulator for adding an item thereto during the return of the printing devices to initial position, and to prevent the printing of a total while the printing devices are in actuated position.

In the drawings, like numbers of reference denote like-parts wherever they occur, and Figure 1 is an external perspective view; Fig. 2 is'a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a top plan view, after removal of the top plate, of some of the interior mechanism; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4--4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5, Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 66, Fig. 3' Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on the line 7-7, Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on the line 8-8, Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a detail and it contemplates the fur-.

view on an enlarged scale), inside eleva-.

tion, of the ribbon-operating mechanism; Fig. is a bottom plan view of'Fig. 9; Fig. =11 is an elevation, from the inside of the casing, of means for locking the end plates to the casing; Fig. 12 is a top plan view of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a fragmental view (on an enlarged scale) of parts of the accumulator; Fig. 14 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 15' is a right side elevation of the accumulator; Fig. 16 is a detail (on an enlarged scale), in top plan view, of an alternate form of a device connected with the paper feed; Fig. 17 is an elevation of the same; Fig. 18 is an alternate form (on an enlarged scale) of a spring stretcher connected. with the .means for operating the platen; Fi 19 is-a left side elevation of he accumu ator; Fig; 20 is a sentional view on the line 20-20, Fig. 9; and Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the means for rotating the shaft on which the accumulator wheels revolve.

,The casing. 1 incloses nearly all of the moving parts, and internally affords bearings for various shafts and support for other parts and means for binding all the parts of. the machine-together.

As inthemachine shown and described in the above-mentioned patents, the roll 2 of. paper is preferably mounted above the machine on a suitable shaft 3, and the paper 4. feeds through slot 5 to platen 6, and

around same, and out through the same slot to a point adjacent to knife 7, which is mounte on casing 1. Pieces of paper,

bearing separate amounts, tabulations, or

totals. can'be torn ofl strip 4 by pulling said strip against knife 7.

. In order keepthe paper 4 taut, an idler rod 8 is kept pressed against same by the tension of springs 9 onbell-cranks 10,

or equivalent means,said rod 8 being shown in the'drawings as mounted on such bellcranks, which are borne by shaft 3.

The paper 4 is pressed against platen 6 by two pairs of rollers 11, Figs. 3 and 8, a rod 12 extending between. one of said pairs and a rod 13 between the other pair, and each of said rods extending through and beyond its pair of rollers '11. Beyond rollers 11,.rod 12 is journaled in a pair'of members 14, and rod 13 is, in likemanner,

.journaled in a pair of members 15. The

platen 6 is supported by, and adapted to swing with, a pair of arms 16, rigidly mounted on shaft 17 and adapted to be operated thereby. Members 14 are pivoted at 18 toarmslti, respectively, and members 15 are likewise pivoted at 19, respectively, to arms 16. A spring '20 holds one of. the members 14 and its coiiperating member 15 together, and spring'21 does the same for the other member 14 and its corresponding member 15, and thus rollers 11 are held in 1,11e,ee2

7. While passing around platen 6, the

paper is held in contact therewith and di-' fresh rollrected by a pair of guides 25.

When it is desired to place a 2 of paper on shaft 3, and on some other occasions, it is convenient to be able to release the pressure of'rollers 11 from paper 4, and for this purpose button 26 is provided. Its shank 27 is adapted to engage projection 28 on one of the members 15 and to depress. same, thus forcing said projection into contact with the heel of its cooperating member 14, by which movement said members 14 and 15 are caused to rock on their pivotal points, whereby the rollers are spread apart, and paper 4 freed from their pressure. v

A knob 29 on the end of platen-shaft 3O enables the rotation of platen 6 for any necessary purposes, such, for instance, as when it is desired to feed the paper forward to a certain position where a particular item or total will be presented in such position that it can be torn off by knife 7 or when a new roll of paper has just been placed on shaft 3.

To make a particular item printed on paper 4 visible when desired, mechanism is provided, which is controlled by a lever 31 that protrudes through slot 32 in casing 1. Said lever 31 as shown in Fig. 5 is borne by member 33, which is loosely mounted ion shaft 17, a segmental rack 34 beingformed thereon. When lever 31 is pushed in the direction away from where the operator normally stands in front of the machine,

member 33 rotates on shaft 17, causing 40, operated by the finger pieces 41. The

engagement of wedges 35 with plate 36 forces hub 37, hearing arm 42, in the direction of the platen and against the pressure of spring 42,- Fig. 6, which returns said plate when the lever 31 is returned to its initial position. The upper part of arm 42' is notched or cut away so as to enable it to fit into a collar being shdably mounted on shaft 30. The pinion 46 is carried with collar 45 into the plane of travel of the segmental rack roove 44 in collar 45, said 34 upon member 33. The relation of wedges 35 to the actuation of arm 42, collar 45, and

pinion 46 is such that pinion 46 will be in thereafter, to retract the paper, which, however, leaves the paper loose between guide wing 22 and rod 8. Naturally, it will be unnecessary to feed the paper by means of lever 31 farther forward than to display to the operator the last item printed, and,

' therefore, a device is provided which autoits initial matically limits the forward feed of the paper to the extent just mentioned and which, likewise, determines the return of the paper to its original position from which it was moved, both operations being governed by lever This limiting device consists of the following parts: A pin 48 is adapted to strike arm 19 on one side thereof when the platen 6 is traveling in one direction far enough to expose to the operators view the last printed item, and upon the other side of said arm when the movement of lever 31 in the opposite direction has caused segment 31 to rotate pin-v ion- 46 in the reverse direction, so as to restore paper 4 to its former position. Platen 6 can not travel in either direction, by actuation of lever 31, after said pin 48 strikes arm 49. Pin 48 is mounted on arm 50, which is fixed to hub 51 loosely mounted on shaft 30. Pin 52 projects from the opposite side of arm 50, and is adapted to enter between two teeth of gear 53, which is fixed to collar 15 and slides and rotates -therewith. Thus, when collar 45 is rotated by pinion 46, gear 53 is, also, rotated in the same direction, and causes pin 48 to move as hereinbefore described. Spring 54, which encircles hub 51, tends to return arm 50 to position as soon as the engagement of pinion 16 and rack 34 ceases, and

thus pin 48 is normally held against arm 19,as depicted in Fig. 6.

v The normal paper-feeding operation, which follows each printing impact upon paper 4, is produced by the actuation of shaft 30 by means of ratchet 55, which is actuated by pawls 56 and 57, best shown in .Fig. 17. Both these pawls are, from time to time, so actuated as to drive ratchet 55 forward and with it platen 6, so as to feed the paper 1, and both pawls 56 and 57 are in constant engagement with ratchet 55, so as to prevent its retraction, said pawls being held in said engagement by spring 58. The paper 1 is fed orward by degrees, each movement of same occurring immediately after the platen'6 has been swung toward the type-faces. The operation of swinging platen 6 toward the type-faces is as follows.

When the finger piece or finger pieces 41 have been pulled down so as to set the desired item type 60, the handle 61 is depressed, carrying with it pin 62, the movement of which is limited by slot 63 in easing 1. This movement of pin 62 causes same to rock member 64, to which it is attached. As shown in Fig. 4. member 61 bears an arm 65, which pulls spring 66 connected thereto and, also, connected to arm 67 on which is loosely mounted on shaft 39. lVhen member 6% is rocked toward the operator, plate 68 is similarly rocked, and on said member is caused curved flange or lip 69 to move across the path of travel of projection 70 on member 33, thus preventing, for the time being, the use of lever 31 and the accompanying movement and exhibition of printed items. In the alternate form shown in Figs. 16 and 17, member 61 and plate 68 are shown made in one piece, thus obviating the necessity of using the spring 66. Simultaneously with the operation thus described, which renders lever 31 temporarily inoperative, the aforesaid movement of handle 61 causes segmental rack 71 on plate 68 to actuate rack 72 on bar 73. This movement of segmental rack 71 causes bar 7 3 to travel in the direction away from the operator, thereby stretching spring 74, Figs and 5, one end of which spring is fastened to said bar 73 and the other to an arm 75 of bell crank 76, which is pivoted at 77 to one side of the casing 1. Said bell crank 76 is, during the first part of movement of bar 73, held stationary by latch 78, which is pivoted at 79 to one side of casing 1. Spring 80 holds the toe 81 of latch 78 normally in the path of travel of bevel 82 on operatplate 68,

of latch 78 in engagement with projection 84 on yoke 85, as shown in detail in Fig. 18. Prior to the release of yoke 85 and of hell crank 76 from the retention of latch 78, however,'the movement of the bar 73 releases the return book 86 from being held by pin 87, said pin being borne by arm 88, which is loosely mounted on shaft 17 and which is, also, provided with the arm 89. To said arm is pivoted at 90 an arm of plate 91, the latter being pivoted at 92 to the bell crank 76. The link 93 is, also, pivoted at the same point to bell crank 76, and, in its upper part, encircles shaft 17, the interior of its encircling opening being provided with cam slots 94 and 95, in which pins 96 and 97 ride, said pins being borne by yoke 85. Said yoke 85 is fixed to shaft 17, and acts, by means of said pins 96 and 97, as a lever to rotate the same. handle 61 has caused bar 73 to travel so far that bevel 82 thereon engaging the toe 81 of latch 78 causes its notched end 83 to WVhen the movement of release the projection 84 'onyoke 85, the spring 74, being under tension, drives arm 75 of bell crank 76 backward,'which depresses the other arm of said bell crank, pulling with it link 93, whereby pin 96 is pressed downward by the side -of slot 94 in link 93, with the result that yoke 85 is tilted or moved in such manner as to rotate shaft 17 and with it plates 16, thus rocking platen 6 toward the type-faces 60. At the same time that link 93 is drawn downward by bell crank 76, plate 91 is, also, carried downward, with the effect that arm 88, which is in pivotal connection with plate 91, is carried to such position that pin 87 on said arm 88 is put inieadiness to engage with hook 86 on the return of the operating bar '73 to its initial position. The rocking of the platen as just described causes an impact of paper 4 against type-faces 60 and consequent printingthereon of the last item set by means of the finger pieces 41. When the printing operation has been completed, as just described, handle 61 is released by the operator, and, thereupon, spring 98 exerts its force to return operating bar 73 to its first position, said bar being guided by pins 99 passing through slots 100 in said operating bar 73. The return movement of bar 7 3 to its original position causes reverse movement of yoke 85, with the result of rocking platen 6 back to its initial position.

hile the platen 6 is rocking to printing position, the pawls 56 and 57 ride over the teeth of ratchet 5:), so as to be advanced one notch or any other desired distance thereon. While the above-mentioned return movement of the platen to its first position is taking place, the pawls 56 and 57 press against the teeth, of ratchet 55 and cause same to rotate forward a predetermined dislance, with the result of feeding the paper 4 forward. Pawl 56 Fig. 17 is mounted on plate 103, and pawl 57 is mounted on plate 104. said plates being loosely mounted on v the hub of ratchet 55 that is loosely mounted on shaft 30. and said pawls are actuated by pin 105, which is stationarily attached to one of the side walls of easing 1 and extends through slot 1.06 in plate 103 and slot 107 in plate 104. The pawl-carrying plates are, therefore, caused to bear the relation of rotation to platen 6 when same is swung back and forth, thus causing pawls 56 and 57 to travel relative to the teeth of ratchet 55. To prevent forward feed of the paper during the time when the platen is being rocked toward printing position, an additional pawl 108 is provided. same being borne by plate 109. which is pivoted at 110 to plate 103, said plate 109 containing a slot 111 through which, also, pin 105 passes. Said pawl 108 coacts with a ratchet 112, and is normally held out of engagement therewith by the engagement of pin 113 begins to move toward the printing position, 3

pin 114 becomes disengaged from pm 113,

with the result that pawl 108 on plate 109 is.

allowed to swing into restraining contact with ratchet 112, being induced thereto by spring 115, said ratchet 112 being loosely mounted on shaft 30 and fastened to the hub of ratchet 55. This retention continues until the rotation of plate 104 around shaft 30 has brought pro'ection 116 into engagement with the beve ed toe 117 of pawl 118 Fig. 17, and causes same to' ride thereover, said pawl 118 being pivoted at 119 to plate 109, the action of said pawl 118 in riding over projection 116 lifting pawl 108 out of engagement with-ratchet 112, by reason of the engagement of pawl 118 with pin 120 on pawl 108. Apin' 121 projects from pinion 46 into aperture 122 in ratchet 55, and, when said ratchet is rotated in the direction to cause the paper 4 to feed forwardly in the manner hereinabove described, said pinion is caused to rotate, and with same shaft 30, thereby rotating platen 6 and causing paper 4 to move forwardly to allow the next item or total to be printed.

As hereinabove stated, the release of hair dle 61 by the operator causes the return of platen 6 to its non-printing or initial position, this being due to the pull of spring 98.

In the forward movement of bar 73, produced by the depression of handle 61, hookits beveled part 125 rides underneath pin 87 thereby disengaging the hook proper from said pin and causing a projection 126 thereon to pass underneath pin 127 which projects from one side wall of the casing 1. While projection 126 thus underlies pin 127, during which time hook 86 is not held by pin 87 the rocking of the platen to printing position occurs. A slight further movement in the same direction by bar 73 completing the rocking of the platen causes projection 126 to pass beyond pin 127, whereupon spring 123 immediately exerts a pull upwardly on book 86, which throws the hook portion thereof into such path of travel that it will be caught by pin 87 when it moves in the reverse direction with bar 73 under the impulsion of spring 98. During the return movement of bar 73, the engagement of hook 86 with pin 87 causes the latter to rock plate 88 toward its initial position, whereby arm 89 is raised and with it plate 91, which causes link 93 to rise, thus producing a movement of pin 96 in cam slot 94 and consequent rotation of yoke 85 and shaft 17 trolled by the total key 129.

and, therefore, of arms 16, which are fixed to shaft 17. By this means platen 6 is returned to -its first position.

The description of the rocking of the platen up to the present point has been of its movement for the purpose of printing items on paper 4. At any time, however, it maybe desirable to print the total of a series of items, and for this purpose mechanism is provided for rocking the platen 6 to printing engagement with the total type 128, Fig. 8. The printing of totals is con- The mechanism for rocking the platen 6 to print totals is locked against movement by the depression of one of the finger pieces 41, and remains so until after the item set by said finger piece has been printed. It will be perceived that the item-printing motion of the platen 6 is controlled by handle 61, and the total-printing movement of said platen by total key 129. a

The total for the machine at any particular time will appear on the type-face on wheel 130 located at the point at which one particular total type-face is marked 128. It will, of course, be understood that there are on said wheel 130 a plurality of such typefaces, but that the total at any particular time appears at that particular point, where it is most convenient to impact by the paper borne by platen 6. The mode of reaching such total will be hereinafter described, but, for the time being, the description will be confined to the rocking of platen 6 to printing impact with said particular totaltypeface 128.

When total key 129, Fig. 7, is pressed, it rocks, shaft 131 by means of'arm 132, fixed thereto, the shank of total key 129 being pivoted at 133 to said arm 132, and spring 134 normally holding total key 129 in its upper position. Shaft 131 is j ournaled in the side walls of easing 1. The rocking of shaft 131 by the depression of total key 129 rocks arm 135, Fig. 5, which is pivoted at 136 to link 137, and draws said link 137 towardthe operator. Notch 138 in the upper surface of link 137 loops over pin 139, which projects from link 93. Forward movement of link 137 will, therefore, rock link 93 forwardly, said link 93 being pivoted at 92. with the result that cam slot 94 moves away from pin 96 while, simultaneously, cam slot 95 moves into engagement with pin 97, which tilts or rotates yoke 85 when link 93 is pulled downwardly by the arm of bell crank 76. when printing handle 61 is depressed, said tilting of yoke 85 on shaft 17 being in the direction opposite to that in which it is tilted or rotated when platen 6 is to be moved toward the item-printing typesfaces, and, as yoke 85 is fixed to shaft '17 and arms 16 project upward from shaft -17and support platen 6, the'latter is rocked with a spring toward the total type-printing face 128. In order that this operation may be carried out, the total key 129 must be kept depressed during thetime when the handle 61 is being pressed down. The return of the platen to the intermediate or non-printing position is accomplished as follows: When handle 61 and the total key 129 are released, same return to their initial positions under the impulsion, respectively, of springs 66 and 134. The movement of total key 129 to its initial position rotates shaft 131 forwardly, which, by means of arm 135, causes link 137 to travel toward the rear, thus rocking link 93 in such manner as to cause pin 97 to ride out of cam slot 95 and pin 96 to ride into camslot 94, said link 93 being simultaneously raised by the action of hook 86 actuated by operating bar 73, as hereinbefore described, by which means yoke 85 causes shaft 17 and platen 6 to move away from the total type printing face 128.

In order that a total may not be printed until the last registration, by means of a finger piece 41, has indubitably been added in the accumulator and printed in the list of items, the depression of a finger piece 41 to any extent locks the total key 129 until after the item has been printed. In case of accidental or erroneous depression of one of the finger pieces 41., the use of one of the error keys 140 will not release the total key 129, but such release can be effected only by the depression of the printing handle 61 and consequent movement of conne ted parts.

Each error key 140 Figs. 4 and 6' is loosely mounted on the shaft 141,'is spaced apart on said shaft by collars 142, and is provided 143 which not only holds it in its normal position but returns it thereto after operation. The movement of each error key in either direction is limited by a pin 144 resting in a notch 145 in said key,

ios

said pin projecting from a spacing plate 146 located between finger pieces 41. \Vhen a finger piece 41 is depressed, the internal segmental rack 147 rotates gear 148, loosely mounted on shaft 149, said gear carrying with it ratchet 150, over which latter, in this direction of rotation, finger piece-retaining pawl 151 freely rides. Saidpawl operates, however, with said ratchet 150' to prevent the return of its finger piece 41 untilafter the item designated thereby has been printed. Retaining pawl 151 is loosely mounted on shaft 152, and is provided with an. arm 153, which extends into contact with beveled shoulder 154 011 its respective error key 140. When error key 140 is pressed inwardly, shoulder 154 presses against the rounded heel of arm 153, and moves pawl 151 out of engagement with ratchet 150. which allows finger piece 41' immediately to return to its initial position under the impulsion of its respective spring 155, each finger pieces 41 to their initial finger piece 41 being provided with such a spring. After an item is printed by the depression of handle 61, each finger piece 41 that is depressed is released in the manner hereinafter described, and is returned to its initial position, during which return movement each of said'finger pieces actuates its accumulator wheel 130, in order to add the item in the accumulator. If it is desired to remove an item from the machine before being printed and thus prevent it from being added in the accumulator, the error key 140 of each depressed finger piece 41 is pressed inwardly before the handle 61 is depressed, for the reason that such actuation of said error keys at this time allows each of said finger pieces to return to its initial position without actuating its accumulator wheel 130.

The normal operation of finger pieces 41 is that they are pulled down the desired disstance in the manner and for the purpose described in the above-mentioned patent to A. G. Meier, No. 927,317, and that the retaining pawls 151 hold same in the position to which same are thus moved until after the item-printing operation has been performed. When the printing of an item has been completed, spring or springs 155 tend to return each finger piece 41 to its initial position. To save jar upon such return, a projection 156 Fig. '6 strikes a buffer 157 made of felt or other resilient material located in cup 158, each projection 156 being borne by an arm 1590f sector 40. The cup 158 extends from one side wall of casing 1 to the other, and is supported by the plates 146, which separate the finger pieces 41,

said plates being themselves supported by shafts 160 and 161, which are borne by the side walls of casing 1. Each sector 40 bears a pin 162, which fits into a sl0t'174 in the upper end 163 of a member 164, Fig. 8 which is pivoted on shaft 101. Said member 164 has two arms, ward a dash-pot 166, the piston 167 of which is actuated by a piston rod borne by said arm 165. When a finger piece 41 is pulled forward and, after the item has been printed, released, the dash-pot 166 absorbs part of the jar arising from the spring return of posltions. Spring 155 is attached at one end to the other arm 168 of the member 164, and at the other end to finger 169, which is pivoted to rod 170, that connects the two embers 171 located on opposite sides 0 the machine. A plate 172 is received in the slotted ends of members 171, and an adjustable screw 173 for each of the plurality of fingers 169 allows of the suitable adjustment of the tension of each spring 155. When a sector 40 is pulled down to register an item, pin 162 travels with it and pulls the hooked or slotted end 163 of member164 with it, necessarily rocking member 164 on shaft 101 pawls 178 one of which 165 extends to-.

and raising piston 167 in dash-pot 166 and distending spring 155. Due to the path of travel of pin 162, it slides upward in slot 174 in member 164, but never becomes disengaged therefrom. Whenever retaining pawl 151 is released, either by the use of an error key 140 or by the operation of printtive finger piece 41, each finger piece 41 must be retained in its depressed position until the item that it has been depressed to indicate has been printed, and such retention is performed by the retaining pawl 151. The mechanism for releasing pawl 151 after the performance of the item-printing operation is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and is as follows: As operating bar 73 travels forward to actuate the item-printing mechanism, lug 175 borne by said bar 73 moves from underneath trigger 176, which is pivoted on shaft 152, thus allowing spring 177 to pull pawl 178 into engagement with ratchet 179, due to the movement of plate 180 out of contact with said pawl 17 8, said plate 180 extending from one side of the machine to the other and engaging all the and being supported by arms 181, one of which is integral with trigger 176. The engagement of said pawls 178, of which there is one for each ratchet 179, and one x such ratchet 179 for each-of the finger pieces 41, results in preventing further downward movement of the finger pieces after the movement of the printing handle 61 has been commenced'for the performance of the item-printing operation. Further move ment of plate 180 away from pawls 178 toward retaining pawls .151 disengages said pawls 151 from ratchets 150, such movement taking place-after theprinting operation, and being caused by the further travel. of operating bar 73. During this movement of bar 73, a pin 182 thereon is caused to ride on the beveled surface 183 on trigger 176 Fig. 4, which rocks trigger 176 on shaft 152 and thus pulls arm 181 farther toward pawl 151. This release of ratchets-150 from the detention of their respective retaining pawls 151 allows finger pieces 41 to return to their normal position-under the impulsion of their respective springs 155. Pin 184, borne by a pawl 185, which is pivoted on shaft 131, drops in front of pawl 151 when the latter is moved out of engagement with ratchet

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