US1129978A - Adding device. - Google Patents

Description

C. C. HARRIS.

ADDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.15, 1910. RBNBWBD JULY 2a, 1914.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

THE MORRIS PETERS Co Pnom LITHU wAsHlNoroN D C UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL C. HARRIS, OF ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T0 THE ADZIT COMPANY, OF ORANGE, "MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORPORATION OF MAS- SACI-IUSETTS.

ADDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed January 15, 1910, Serial No. 538,216. Renewed July 23, llll. Serial No. 852,765.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL C. Hernals, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Adding Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an adding` device and particularly to that type which is operated by the rotation of a number of small dials and which is designed for use on the desk, or directly on the books or figures to be added, or to be carried in the pocket.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a construction of this character in which the rotating parts shall be of a very simple character so that they can be inclosed in a, very small space between two plates, and manufactured at comparatively small expense; to provide an improved form of carrying device having numerous features of advantage including the provision of means whereby the carrying operation will take place through the instrumentality of a single lever of very simple construction, and whereby it will be practically'impossible to move the dial by accident, as by shaking or dropping the instrument; to provide means whereby the carrying device will be positively prevented from carrying the dial which it operates through more than one step of a revolution, and will cause the carried dial to be moved back to proper position if for any reason it is slightly carried by; to construct the whole carrying mechanism in such a simple way that it will take up no more transverse space than the dials themselves so that it can all be included in any casing thick enough to inclose the dials; to provide improved means for engaging he teeth of the dials in such a way as to hold them in each position in which they are placed so that they will not become displaced accidentally, and to arrange it in such a way that the force required to turn the dials backward will be greater than required to turn them forward in the usual way; to provide an improved construction of cover plate of such a nature that in itself it will assist the operator in finding proper holes in the dials, and at the same time tend to prevent any error by reason of the stylus being located in acute angular position; to

provide very simple means whereby the sums or results will resemble columns of figures or the headings thereof so as to facilitate the use of the device directly on or over the columns of figures being added; and to provide an improved casing which renders the device suitable for carrying in the pocket and convenient for use on the desk. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of an adding device or calculator constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. is a plan of one end on enlarged scale with the cover plate removed showing the right hand dial in position for carrying one to the next dial; Fig. lis a similar View showing the completion of the carrying operation; Fig. 5 is an end View showing the device as used on a desk or the like; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line G-G of Fig. d. Fig. 7 is a plan of a detail of the rear of the casing; Fig. 8 is an elevation of the carrying lever and associating parts, and Fig. 9 is an end view of a modiiication suitable for a desk machine.

in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings a casing 1.0 is provided having a iange 11 entirely around the same provided with a rabbeted edge for receiving the cover plate 12. This rabbeted edge is provided with a wide shelf 13 at the front for the purpose of getting an eXtra thickness of metal, and a longitudinal socket is provided therein for receiving the stylus 14 with which the device is operated. The head of this stylus is received in a notch l5 at the end of the casing, so as to be out of the way where it will not catch in the clothing. In order that the instrument may be used readily on the desk cr table, short legs 16 are pivoted to the back of the rear edge of the device, preferably on horizontal pivots which are adapted to be swung outwardly to permit the device to be set up on a desk as indicated more particularly in Fig. 5. In order that the device may fit in the pocket the legs are adapted to lit into sockets 17 in the back of the casing. It will be seen that by this construction when the legs are brought out the device will readily rest on the desk or table in such position that the face of the same Will be inclined and in most suitable position for operation.

The front plate 12 is provided with semicircular openings 20 arranged in alinement and all drawn on diameters arranged on a longitudinal central line. On the opposite side are openings 2l through Which the sum added by the device can be observed at any time. At the centers of some of the semicircular openings are screws or bolts 22 by which the parts are held together. Arranged around the semi-circular openings are a series of digits from zero to 9, and adjacent to each of the openings 2l are numbers or other characters representing sums of money or any other thing which it is desired to use the instrument for calculating. Curved end lines and vertical cross lines Q4- around the total openings 21 assist decidedly in reading the totals as Well as distinguishing the dials. Upper and lower horizontal lines 24a are fully as important as the vertical lines, and make the area around the total openings resemble they heading of a column of figures.

Another improvement in the cover plate consists in the provision of scalloped edges 23, each scallop being concentric with the proper position of one of the holes in the dial below Which Will be described hereinafter. These scallops consist of a beveling of the edges of one or tivo sides of the semicircular opening on centers corresponding with the centers of the perforations in the dials, and of course, there are a number equal to the number of digits arranged around the edge of the opening. The purpose of this feature is to provide for more readily locating the proper holes in the dials by means of the stylus, particularly if the operator is not directly in line with the dial which he is operating. The scalloped edge also makes it necessary for one to hold the pointer of the stylus in the proper position for Working the device, and prevents the stylus being inclined to such an extent as to cause a tendency of turning the dial farther than the end of the opening Will permit. This is a feature of practical importance as it has been demonstrated in practice that it materially reduces the liability of error, and increases speed of operation. Either one or both edges can be scalloped in this Way.

The more important features of the inven tion relate to the mechanism contained Within the casing. As is usually the case in this class of instruments the bottom plate is provided With a plurality of fixed cylindrical studs Q5 spaced at equal distances apart near the central longitudinal line thereof. These project up substantially into Contact With the top plate and serve as shafts or bearings to hold the cover plate in proper position on the device. On each of the studs is rotatably mounted a disk or dial 26. These disks preferably are identical and are in the same plane. Each is provided With a series of ratchet teeth 27, twenty in number being shown, arranged in a plane and held up from contact with the back of the casing by a central boss 27a, under each dial and by a circular semi-circular projection E28a under each opening 20. Each of these teeth is arranged a certain distance from a hole or cavity on the front face of the dial. Arranged also to register With these holes or cavities is a double series of digits from zero to 9 as shown. These are concealed by the front plate, eX- cept that one which comes into registration With the perforation 21, While ten of the holes in each dial are exposed by the semicircular opening 20. The edge of the perforations 2l are beveled so that the digit under it can be distinguished at any angle.

In order to distinguish the different dials which represent columns of figures, I prefer to provide some distinguishing characteristic on the faces of the dials concentric with the holes or depressions 28 so as to be seen through the openings 2O and 21. This preferably consists of an annular ring 29 of a contrasting color. When the device is to be used for counting in dollars and cents the two right hand dials will be provided With a ring of one color, for example, red; the neXt three dials which represent units, tens and hundreds of dollars will be provided with rings 30 of another contrasting color, as for example, green; and the others at the left which represent thousands and above, With rings 3l of a color contrasting With that of the rings 80, as for example, red or blue. In this Way there is no possibility of an operator becoming confused as to the column even in an instrument having a large number of dials.

Although each dial has been spoken of in the singular, I prefer to maire each dial of tWo parts, the lower or rear part being in the form of a disk provided with teeth 27 as described, and the upper part which is firmly fixed on it being provided with all the elements on the face which have been described. Both of these parts of the dial are shown as constructed of thin material, as for example, sheet brass, although they may be integral and on the upper part are shown tivo carrying teeth 35 arranged opposite each other and facing in a direction opposite to that in which the other teeth 27 face. These teeth 35 are arranged in definite position on the circumference and lie over several of the teeth 27. it is not necessary to have any space between the tvvo sets of teeth. Tivo of these teeth are shown but it will be understood that there is one to every ten'teeth 27.

The way in which a single dial is used to add will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and especially if reference is had to my prior Patent No. 935,365 granted Sept. 28, 1909. That device however had no automatic carrying arrangement. In the present case the carrying is accomplished by the teeth which are arranged to operate at the time the 9 passes from the opening 21 so as to bring the Zero into position therein. The carrying device is very simple and comprises a stud mounted on the back plate of the casing, beyond the circumference of the ratchet disks or dials, and preferably in the angle between two adjacent ones, and having pivoted thereon a lever 41 provided with a slot 42 through which the stud passes. This lever is located in the plane of the teeth 27 and is provided with an offset tooth 43 which projects up over the teeth 27 and into the path of the teeth 35. It will be observed that the radial edge of the tooth 35 is the advance edge thereof and that the edge of the tooth 43 which is parallel thereto is at the rear so that these two parallel edges come into contact as the dial rotates in the usual way in the direction of' the arrow.

On the lever is a projecting tooth 44 in the plane of the tooth 27 of the next dial.

This is adapted to engage one of them and move it forward one step whenever the right hand dial moves into position to carry one. Also located on the lever in the same plane is a projecting arm 45 adapted to cooperate with a fixed stud 46 on the back plate. A stop stud 47 is mounted between the dials against which the lever engages when in normal inactive position as shown in Fig. 3. Both the studs 46 and 47 are fixed to the casl ing and are independent of the ratchet disks or dials. On this stud 47 is freely mounted to swing the eye 4S of a light spring 49. This spring passes over the lever 41 adjacent to the pivoted end of the spring and then passes down into the plane of the next lever 41 to the left, and engages that lever in the notch between the tooth 44 and the arm 45. The stud 47 has a shoulder 47a to keep the eye end of the spring 49 out of contact with the lever 41. When the pair of dials are made separate they preferably are held together by an integral projection 45' on one entering a hole or cavity in the other.

Because the pivot stud 47 of the spring 49 serves as a stop for the lever 41 in its retracted position, the direction of action of the spring is not parallel to the plane of the base-plate, but slightly inclined. The shape of the spring is not in itself of prime importance, but the relative location of the stud 47 on which it is pivoted and the point at which the tooth 44 engages one of' the teeth 27 of' the next dial relative to the point at which the teeth 35 and 43 engage each other is a matter of importance. The ratio of the distance from the pivot stud 40 to the point of engagement of the teeth 35 and 43 and to the point of engagement of the teeth 27 and 44 is such that the motion of a carrying dial from one position to the next shall move the lever 41 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 directly toward the center of the left-hand disk or dial and also move the next dial slightly more than a full space or position and the distance of a complete tooth 27. The slot 42 in the lever 41 is such as to allow the lever to be out of contact with the left-hand dial when not carrying, and when carrying to allow the motion in the direction of said arrow necessary to transmit the desired extent of rotation to the left-hand dial. 1t is located on a line parallel to that bisecting the angle between the line 'connecting the studs 95 and 40 and that connecting the stud 47 at the right and arm 45. This gives the proper motion with a minimum of friction. The proper lever ratio is provided to give a slight amount of excess motion to the carried dial so that no matter how many are carrying at once, all will work properly. As many dials as are placed in proper position will be carried and no dependence whatever is placed upon the spring 49 to assist in the carrying operation.

It will be understood that it is important in the carrying operation for the lever 41 to move longitudinally in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 before it swings on its pivot. This is brought about very simply by the use of a single spring 49 by locating the pivot stud 40 in such a position that with the distance from the stud 40 to the points of contact of the two sets of teeth proportionately correct as stated above, the point of contact between the teeth 35 and 43 will be above a straight line drawn between the pivot stud 47 and the point of Contact of the spring 49 and lever 41. This line indicates the line of direction of the force of the spring 44. On account of the spring acting in this direction the first motion of the lever will always be in the direction of the arrow, and when in position to carry, the slot 42 having reached its limiting position, rotation of the lever will necessarily take place so as to swing the end of tooth 44 on an arc substantially tangent to the circle of the left-hand ratchet teeth until the tooth 44 is disengaged from the tooth 27. This motion so far is caused positively by the contact of the tooth 35 with the tooth 43 and there is no possibility of motion in any other way than that described, but at the time that this motion is completed the tooth 35 passes the tooth 43 and the spring tends to move the j lever 41 back straight toward the pivot stud 47, which would return the lever directly to its normal position, giving the dial to the left a full space rotation corresponding with one tooth if it were not for the position of lli) the stud 46. On account of this latter construction the carrying lever 41 cannot free itself from the dial to the left until after the carrying tooth 44 has moved back on the arc of a circle guided by the arm 45. On account of this construction, if by the rapid motion of the right hand dial the left hand dial should have the tendency to move farther than one step during the carrying operation, the stud i6 serves as a positive stop for the lever, and if the tooth 27 which is carried thereby moves slightly after the lever stops, the backward motion of the lever will cause the tooth #il to engage the next tooth Q7 to the rear and bring it back to normal position. As this motion takes place instantaneously after the tooth passes the tooth 43 it gives a retarding effect to the dial being carried. The stop stud 46 does not in any way prevent the lever ll from turning unless the normal amount of rotation is exceeded, and its principal function is for retarding the forward motion of the left hand dial or moving it back to normal position if it exceeds the ordinary amount of rotation, as described. It will be seen therefore that all of these 'functions are secured by the employment of only two moving parts beside the dials, namely, the lever and the spring, and both of them are of very simple construction, and of such form that they can be included in any space in which the two dials can be received.

As is usually the case means is provided for holding the dials in proper positions at all times so that they will not stop between two normal positions. This is advisable of course in order that the holes or depressions 28 may always come opposite the several digits on the cover plate and come centrally with respect to the scalloped edges of the openings 20. Some improvements, however, are introduced in this feature as follows: 'ffl'iis device is shown herein as comprising an arm iliivoted on a stud and operated by a light spring to force the roller on the end of the arm into position between two teeth 27. This arm obviously yields readily to permit the device to be turned, but the roller is always ready to be forced back into place, and to stop and hold the dial in a definite position. 0n account of the roller construction the friction is greatly reduced, and also on account of this and the location of the pivot 5l another result is accomplished as follows: This pivot is located in a position between the center of the casing and a line drawn normally to the line which would bisect the angle between the back of one tooth and the front of the neXt forming the notch in which the roller is located. The spring normally tends to force the roller almost normally with respect to the gradually inclined advancing face of the tooth which is about to come into contact with the roll and almost parallel with the resisting face of the next forward tooth. On account of this construction the dials will rotate more freely in the direction of the arrows, that is, the forward direction, than in the reverse direction. This difference in freedom of rotation ca'n be increased by moving the pivot 51 toward the center of the dial, while if moved away it will be decreased. parts the chances of accidentally revolving the dials backward is greatly reduced, and this assists very materially in preventing a mistake. If the dials could readilyY be revolved backward without presenting enough. resistance to notify the operator that he was making a mistake, it would be possible for an unaccustomed operator when commencing the motion of the device to get the dial out of position without knowing it. But as the normal direction of rotation is relatively easy, if he starts to move in the right direction, he can be expected to bring the dial around to the proper position to add the number into which he has placed his stylus. A row of small numerals 55 are shown along the inside edge of the openings 20, in reverse order. These are used in subtracting in a well known way. That is instead of subtracting the desired number by turning the dials backward, the small figures are used in the same manner as when performing addition with the large lower figures.

In Fig. 9 a form of invention is shown having a comparatively heavy base 60 provided with a ruling edge 6l and a socket G2 for the casing l() or for directly receiving the interior mechanism.

(ln account of the small, thin, and light construction the form shown in Fig. 1 is a suitahle pocket instrument, and can he used directly on the columns of figures, the lines 2,4-, and Zelf* greatly aiding in this use of the device. rl`he dials and carrying levers are so light, and have so little inertia that the machine is especially adapted for adding scattered numbers without liability of accidentally moving the dials, by shaking theI instrunient or even by dropping it.

ln operation the stylus is set in the hole or depression Q8 in the dial corresponding with the digit on the outside which is to be added, and is moved from left to right until it brings up against the end of the semicircular opening which acts as ay stop. The total is at all times visible through the openings 21, and by always moving the dials in the saine direction the chance of error in adding a digit is avoided, particularly because when attempting to move in the wrong direction, it meets with a slight resistance frein the arm 50 as has been explained. To reset the dials it is simply necessary to move them in the opposite direction one at a time from the right to the left until each is By means of this action of the stopped by the back side of one of the teeth 35 coming in contact with the tooth 43, at which time the zero will appear in the openings 21. The resistance of the arm 50 is not suilicient to prevent this backward motion.

vllhile l have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, I am aware that many niodilications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore l do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but

'W hat l do claim is l. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, a lever having a slot therein at an angle to the direction of the length of the lever, a fixed pivot on which said lever is pivoted through the slot, said lever being provided with a tooth on one side near the slot adapted to be engaged by the carrying tooth of said disk as the disk rotates, with a second tooth projecting longitudinally'L from the free end thereof and with a third tooth on the opposite side near the second tooth, a second disk identical with the first disk and in the plane thereof having teeth thereon in position to be engaged by the second tooth on the lever when said lever is moved by the first named disk, a spring for returning said lever to normal position after it has been actuated, and a fixed pin engaging the third tooth to prevent premature operation by the spring.

2. En a device of the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, a lever provided with a tooth adapted to be engaged by the carrytooth of said disk as the disk rotates and with a second tooth, a second disk having teeth thereon in position to be engaged by the second tooth on the lever, means whereby said lever is constrained to move longitudinally toward the center, and into engagement with the teeth of, the second disk during the first part of its motion and its end to swing on its pivot on an arc tangent to the circumference of the second disk after it has reached the limit of its longitudinal motion, and positive means for preventing the lever from moving backwardly before it has completed its entire reverse rotary motion.

3. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, a lever provided with a tooth adapted to be engaged by the carrying tooth of said disk as the disk rotates and with a second tooth, a second disk having teeth thereon in position to be engaged by the second tooth on the lever when said lever is moved by the first named disk, stationary stops independent of both disks on each side of said lever for limiting its motion in both directions, and means for returning the lever to normal position.

el. In a device of the character described, the combination or" a set of disks, each having in the same plano a series of teeth thereon consisting of a multiple of 10, and eac-h having in a different plane a number of carrying teeth equal to said multiple, a lever provided with a slot at an angle to the direction oi the length oi' the lever, a pivot stud beyond the circumference of each disk extending into the slot, said lever being provided with an odset tooth extending into the piane of said carrying teeth and in position to be engaged thereby as the disk rotates and each lever having a second, longitudinal, tooth in its own plane and in the plane of the ratchet teeth of the next disk to the left, and means whereby when a carrying tooth of a disk engages the oiiset tooth of the lever, said lever will first move longitudinally directly toward and into engagement with the ratchet tooth of the next disk to the left, and then will swing on its pivot so as to turn that disk one step, and will then be returned to its normal position ready to be engaged by the next carrying tooth of the right hand disk.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a series of disks, each having ratchet teeth and a carrying tooth, of lever mounted to move in the plane of all the ratchet teeth and having a tooth in the plane oit the carrying tooth and adapted to be engaged thereby, said lever having a slot in which it is pivoted and having a forwardly extending tooth at the opposite end thereof, and an arm substantially at right angles with a line drawn between said tooth and pivot, and a fixed stud with which said arm is adapted to engage to prevent the lever from moving backward except when in a certain position.

6. In a device oi' the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, a lever mounted to move longitudinally and to rotate on an axis and having a tooth adapted to engage the carrying tooth, and a spring pivotally mounted to swing on an axis and engaging said lever, the point of Contact between the carrying tooth and said tooth on the lever being located between the pivot of the lever, and a line drawn from the pivot of the spring to the end of the lever.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, a lever provided with a tooth adapted to be engaged by the carrying tooth of said disk as the disk rotates and with a second tooth, a second disk having teeth thereon in position to be engaged by the second tooth on the lever when said lever is moved by the rst named disk, means whereby lsaid lever is constrained to move llongitudinally directly toward the center of the second disk during the first part of its motion and to swing on its pivot after it has reached the limit of its longitudinal motion, and a` retarding device for each disk comprising an arm pivoted on an axis located between the common center line of said disks and a normal line drawn to the line bisecting the angle between the adjacent surfaces of a pair of teeth on the disk, said arm having a spring for pressing its end between said pair of teeth.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, means adapted t0 be engaged by the carrying tooth of said disk as the kdisk rotates, ay second 'disk having teeth thereon in position to be engaged by said means when moved by the first named disk, each of said disks having a series of depressions in the face thereof arranged in a circle, and a cover plate having a series of semicircular openings therethrough, one registering with each of said series of depressions, the edges of said semi-circular openings being oppositely scalloped concentricall with the depressions when in proper positlon.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a set of disks, each having in the same plane a series of teeth thereon, and in a different plane, a carrying tooth, a lever provided with a slot, a pivot stud beyond the circumference of each disk extending into the slot, said lever being provided with an offset tooth extending into the plane of said carrying tooth and in position to be engaged thereby as the disk rotates and each lever having a tooth in its own plane and in the plane of the ratchet teeth of the next disk to the left, and means whereby when the ratchet tooth of a disk engages the offset tooth of the lever, said lever will rst move directly toward, and into engagement with a ratchet tooth, of the next disk to the left, and then will swing on its pivot so as to turn that disk one step.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a disk having a carrying tooth thereon, a lever provided with a tooth adapted to be engaged by the carrying tooth of said disk as the disk rotates and with a second tooth, a second disk having teeth thereon in position to be engaged by the second tooth on the lever, and means whereby said lever is constrained to move longitudinally toward the center, and into 'engagement with the teeth of the second disk during lthe first part of its motion and its end to swing on its pivot on an arc tangent to the circumference of the second disk after it has reached the limit of its longitudinal motion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL C. HARRIS. Witnesses:

HARTLEY R. WALKER, P. R. COBLEIGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C."

Images