US1134551A - Adding attachment for check-printers. - Google Patents

Description

E. UCUMPAUGH, 20.

ADDING ATTACHMENT FOR CHECK PRINTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. OCUMPAUGH, 2D.

ADDING ATTACHMENT, FOR CHECK PRINTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1914.

Patented Apr 6, 1915.

3 SEEETSSH IET 2.

E. OCUMPAUGH, 2n.

ADDING ATTACHMENT FOR CHECK PRINTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI5,1914.

1,134,551, I I atentedApnfiJQlb.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mum A illlll \lllllllfllllfil llllllllllllllllllllllllllllHl1 I STATES PATENT oF IoE.

, nmlm octntratron, as, or new ironx.

Torzll Be it known that I','iEnimxn 2d, a'.citizen of the Unit'ed -States, and.;r.esi'- dent ofrRochester; imthecountybfYMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain new andusefuli Improvements in Adding Attachments for Gheck-Pnnterh, of

- which the following is a' specification.

This invention it relates to machines for; printing numerical amounts, and particularly to machines of the kind lmown as check writing or ChOk-Pl'llltlilg machines, by which the amounts are filled in on bank-checks. v

The object of the invention is to provide a machine, 'o f thetype m questionpwith simple andreliable mech'anism for adding and registeringthe sum-ofthe various numbers or amounts printed by: the machine. In' producing'addmg-mechamsm fora machine such asa check-printing machine, in

- which decimal :nuinbersof several places are cordance Wlth thQ with the positions or the type-wheels, and at a diiferenttime. I m v In a check-printing machine the printlngtypes'are fi'rst set the proper position for the required amount by one manual operation, and the impression from the types is then" caused by a distinct manual operation. It is not practicable to coordinate the adding-mechanism with the type-carrier in such a way as to cause theyadding-mechanismto,

register in consequence of the setting or selective movement ofzthetype-carrier's, for the reason' that thetype-carriers are not moved backto zero, or to any definite (point, after each printing operation, and for the further reason that 'it'{ is not always I convenient,insettin theft pe-carriers, to move them immediate y'an ;exactly to there quired-positio'n") f I 1 i puma Anson-um ron cnncx-rnm'rm ipee tl eatioaothttenhten I f'a nmiu lam-m mam. lerlalIoJflJ.

Ocmauen, v

Patented Apr. 0, 1915.

Accordingly,another objectof the invention, is: to so connect the, adding-mechanism j 1 with the t carriers that the adding-mechamsm she not register the amount of the selected types upon the type-carriers until theproduction of. animpression from these ty To this end I employ adding-mechan n so constructed and, arranged that whiletheextent of movement imparted in each instance to the ad -wheels is determmed'in accordance with e position occupied at the "moment by the t -can'iers, the power for so moving the a ding-wheelsis derlved from the impresing-mechanism.

In a check-printi or 'similar machine the impressing o ration is often performed by sub ect1ng a ever or other manually-operable part to a sudden and severe pressure or blow, and therefore, if the impressingmechamsm were connected positively and rigidly with the adding-mechanism, 'so as to a move the latter directly during the impress- 'mg operatlon, the movement imparted to the adding-mechanism would be too rapid and severe, so as to cause either injury to the mechanism, or over-running of the adding-wheels.

Accordingly, another object of the inven- 1 tion is to avoid such sudden and severe op 'eratlon' ofthe adding-mechanism, and for this purpose I employ, in the first place, an arrangement in which the impressing-movement of the impressing-mechanism is not employed to actuate the addin -mechanism,

but the latter is actuated part y by s ringcontrolled means, which are merely re eased during the impressing-movement, and

I partly by power derive directly from the impressing-mechanism, but during the return-movement of thelatter. For the same purpose Iemploy motion-retarding means, such asadash-pot; for retarding this return-movement to a speed at which the adding-mechanism ma be safely operated.

Other objects 0 which the several objects are attained, will be set forth in connection with the followin description of the illustrated embodiment ,o the invention.

a In the accompanying drawin'gsz Figure 1 the invention, and the. features of construction and arrangement by is afront-elevation of a check-printing machine embodying the present invention,with parts broken away vto show the interior mechanism; Fig. v2 is a vertical section on the line 2+2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa partial sectional view of the adding mechanism,

taken on the line3-3 in Fig. 2, but on'a larger scale; Fi 4 is a verticalsection on the line 44 in ig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a frontelevation, of a portionof the adding-.mechaf nism, comprising two of the adding-wheels parts immediately associated his machinehas a horizontalshaft. 6,, jo'urnaled'in a casing 7 and carrying a series of type-wheels with peripheral types which may be brought selectively beneath a central opening in aworlesupport ng plate 8, wh ch forms the top of the casing. The. check- .blank or other work'is forced downwardly,

against the types which are in operative position, by means of a platen 9, WhlCh may be depressed for thispurpose by a hand-lever 10.- In this manner the paper is pressed against the types and is printed thereby, the

types being supplied'with ink by the usual: ink-rollers bearlng against the perlpherl'es of the type-carriers, as they are rotated into operative position. v

The illustrated machine is what is commonly described specifically as a checkwriting machine, that is to say, a machine that is adapted to fill in the amount of a check not only by figures but also by words. Accordingly, it is provided with four typecarriers 11, 12, 13 and 14, in the form of drums or wheels, thewheel 11 bearing types expressive of even numbers, up to one hundred, in words, the wheel 12 having corresponding numbers in" figlures, the wheel 13 bearing the word Do ars and various fractions of a dollar from 00/100 to 99/100 4 in figures, and the wheel 14 having the corresponding amounts in figures expressed deeimally. Thus, is arranged to, print a check in the following form: Eighty-four & 34/100 Dollars -$84;34. It is, accordin 1y, necessary that the wheels 11 and 12 rotated always in unison in settin the machine for any required amount, while the wheels 13 and 14 must also be rotated in unison, but independently of the wheels 11 and 12. The movements of the wheels ll and 12 are controlled by a manually-rotatable member 15 fixed on the end of the shaft 6, the position of the wheels bein indicated by a graduated index-wheel 16, which turns with the shaft,

and which is viewed throu h a member 117 fixed to the casing and opening. The wheel 11 is keyed directly to the shaft 6 so as to turn therewith. The wheel 12 isnot fixed to the shaft, but turns loosely upon a sleeve 17, which also turns orming a sightloosely on the shaft, and which is connected with the manually-rotatable member 18, by'

which the wheels 13 and 14am set. Both of the rows of type,

for example, the machine the wheels: 13 and 14- are keyed directly to the sleeve '17 so as to turn therewith, and their positiongis indicated by an index-wheel 19 and sight opening 20 at the right-hand "sideqof-themachine.

Since the wheel 12 must be mounted upon -thesleeve 17, in order tointerpose it bet and 14, it cannot 1361.. fixed to. rotate directly;with,the shaft' 5, and v tween the wheels 13 7 its movements; are coordinated: of, thewheel, ll'fby gear-conned accordingl with those tions With'thelatter For thispurpose the wheel 12 is provided I p of gear-teeth 21 which engage a inion 22 1. fixed on a counter-shaft 23journa ed; in the casing ofthe machine, and this counter-shaft with an annular series carries a second pinion 24, which meshes.

with gear-teeth 25 on the type-wheel 11. -1 To assist in setting the type-'wheels exactly in any required position, they are provided with detent-mecham'sm for arresting? them in a. position in which one or another of their types are exactly beneath the platen 9. For this purpose each of the wheels 11 a and 13 is provided with-an annular surface 26, provided with rounded projections and depressions corresponding gaged 'by spring-pressed slidm' gdetent-members 27 mounted in the casing, asshown in I The typesare inkedby'any ordinary. or a suitable means and for this purpose an inkroller 28 is shown in Fig.2, mounted in the casing in position to engage the types asthe corresponding type-wheel is rotated, andit will be understood that similar ink-rollers are employed in connection with each of the 1 t e-wheels. 7 t 7 he adding-mechanism comprises a series of adding-w eels mounted upona-shaft 30,.

1n podtion with a y and these surfaces are ens which is fixed in horizontal position in the l casing 7 of the printing-machine. The first of these wheels 31 indicates amounts in cents from 0 to 9, the second adding-wheel 32 in dicates cents in amounts from 10 to 90, the third adding-wheel amounts from 0 to 9, the fourth wheel 34 indicates dollars in amounts from 10 to 90, and the fifth wheel 35, and any desired number of other addin 33 indicates dollars in i g-wheels connected in series therewith, indlcate sums in dollars upu to any required amount, according to the 7 number of wheels provided, these wheels having numerals on their peripheries, as shown in Fig. 5. and the numerals being visible at the front of the openings 36in the casing.

machine through a The means for transferring to the adding H wheels'the amounts impressed from the corresponding type-wheels are. as follows:

Alongside each of the adding- wheels 31, 32, 7 33 and 34, a pinion 37 is journaled on the shaft 30, this pinion for thesake'of oompactness and toaiford a bearing of suitable forms abea 'in the manner of a pawl, with a periphery of each adding-' was.

width, a hub which extends into and for the hub of the. adding wheel, althou :the pinion andsthe wheel are independently rotatable. The pinion 37 fixgi waiting 38 in which a spring 39 is sp' isha to ads. t it to operate iii the mannergi a paw inconnection with a series of ratchetteeth 40 integral with the adjacent addingwheel. Accordingly, when the pinion is rotated in a clockwise direction,-;as" the p'arts are shownin f2 and 4, theadding wheel is caused to rotate with it,"whereas movement of the pinion in the oppositedirection wp szf y" over. t ratchet-teeth, and retrograde movementi'of causes the spri the adding-wheeli at this time is prevented by' a spring 41 (Fig.2), which 006 rates,

portion 42 of the wheel. a e

Each pinion 37is actuated by a gear-segment 63, which is journaled on the sleeve 17, as .shown in Fig. 2. Each segment is provided, at its rear extremity, with a in 44 which coiiperates withan arm45, fixe upon a rock-shaft 29 which is journaled in the casing 7. This rock-shaft is actuated by means of an arm 46-, which has a pin-andslot connection with a rod .47 extending upwardly at the rear of the machine. The rod 47 is pivoted at 48 to the rear end of. the hand-lever 10 by which the platen 9 is actuated, this hand-lever being pivoted at'49, on 1 an overhanging arm 50' extending over the work-support 8 of themachineg This arm 50 also provides a bearing for the plunger which carries the I this plunger engaging the lower surface of the lever 10, and the plunger and the lever being normally held in the position of Fig. 2 by a powerful spring 52. g 1

When the forward end'of the hand-lever 10 is depressed, to cause an impression, the

rod 47 is raised, the rock-shaft'29 is rocked, and the arm 45 is depressed. At thistimethe gear-segment 63 is not directly actuated by its connections. with the impressingmechanism, but, through the disengagement of the pin 44 bythe arm 45, movement of the segment is permitted under the influence of a spring 53 which is connected, at its upper end, with the pin 44:, and fixed at its lower end to a horizontal, rod 54 mounted in the casing. Accordingly, when the handlever is depressed the segment 63. is swung in a direction to rotate the pinion 37 counter-clockwise. 'Upon the termination of the impressing-movement, when the hand-lever 10 is released, the spring 52 returns the parts to normal position, thus. causingfthe rockshaft 29 to be rocked in the opposite direction so as to raise the arm 45 and cause it to' engage the pin 44, whereby the gear-segurled' platen 9, the end 51 of mama, beck amt 'tion, and

the spring? is gl l exten Since this is theoperative movement of the arts b which the adding-wheelsare rota ,it w' be apparent that the extentflof movement of eachadding-Wheel depends upon the extent of theflmovement impartedto the corresponding gear-segment 63. This is 'deter-' mined automatically b stop-mechanism, which will now be descri e type-wheel 12. The stopplates '55 and each-divided into 'ten segments, of which each is providedwith ten stetpls 57 at graduated radial distances from a eaxis of the stop-plate, the ten spaces in each segment-corresponding to'the ten digits, in theunitsplaoe on the wheel 12 or 14, associated with each digitin the tens place on the same wheel. A- stop-pin 58 is -mounted in the upper end of a link 59 pivoted to each gear-segment 63, associated with theadding-wheelfil or 33, and one end of thls pin is guided in a vertical slot in one of a series of cross-bars 60 fixed in the easmg 7, whlle the other end of each stop-pin cooperates with one of the stop-plates 55 or 65. Accordingly, the idle movement of the gear-segment 63 is limited in extent by the engagement of the's'top-pin with one or another of the steps 57, so that upon the return-movement of the gear-segment the rotation imparted to the adding-wheel 31 or 331s proportionate to'the amount of the significant digit in the units-place on the type-wheel 14 or 12, thatistoi say, to the amount expressed by the digit which is in .positionto produce an impression upon the corresponding to zero, no movement ofthe gear-segment willoccurupon the performance of an impressing: operation, and therefore the adding-wheel 33'will receive no rotation.

The adding- wheels 32 and 34 are moved by means analogous to those employedto actuate the wheels 31 and 33, but in this case the stop-pin 61 cooperates with the stop-plate 56 or 66. The gearing and check blank. In Fig. 2 the parts are in such ratchet-mechanism are similar in all re- Y spects to those already described. Sincethe amounts of. the digitsin the tens places on the type-wheel 12 or H-changes only at ten points about the periphery of the wheel, the stop-plates 56 and 66 have only ten graduated steps about their entire peripheries, as shown in Fig.2. I Since'the idle movements of the gear-segas as a above the i2 7 -mentsis limitedjb e strength of the alluconditions, it is desirable to retard this return-movement tosome degreegto prevent violent operation of the addmg-mechamsm,

and accordingly I employ a dash-pot as shown in Fig.2, dash-p0t comprisingay piston 67 which is pivoted to the lower end of the rod .47,- and' which moves in a cylinder. 68 fixed tothe back of the casing 7. .Ilponv the upward movement of the piston air is.- admitted to the cylinder througha checkvalve 69, but. thedownward movement of the piston is resisted by the pressure of the air, so as to retard the return movement of the.

mechanism. This retardation may be adjusted by means of a valve 70 in the piston, controlling an escape-vent from the'cylinder. In addition to retarding the" returnmovement imparted to the gear-segment 43,

thedash-pot has the furtheradvantage that.

at the beginning of the return-movement of the impressing mechanism it retards this movement sufliciently to permitthe completion of the .idle movement of the gear-segments by the springs '53, and for the same purpose the arms aremade tohave a downward movement of greateramplitude the pins 44-by the springs 53. I a

- The carrying-mechanism associated with the adding-wheels will now be described.

than]. the maximum movement imparted to Beneath each of the. adding- wheels 32, 33

and 34 a-bar 71 is arranged, this bar being slidingly mounted at its-ends-in hearings in the casing-7. .A spring 72 connectedwith each bar tends to draw it to its foremost po sition, and a spring-pressed pawl 73v pivoted 1 on the-bar engages a series of ten ratchet-teeth 74 formed on the adding- wheel 32, 33,0r 34, so that at each forward movement of the bar the wheel is rotated through one space. Each bar is moved rearwardly by means of one of a series of arms 75 loosely mounted on the rock-shaft 29, the arm having a lost-motion connection with the shaft through :a pin and slot 76, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2., The arms 75 enga e pins 77 on thebars 71, and the action of t e lost-motion connection is suchthat during the impressing movement of the machine the first part of the rotation of the rock-shaft 29.

has noeflect upon the arms 75, but the latterpart of this movementcauses 'the arms. 75 to swing rearwardly, thus moving the bars "(1 rearwardly, .if, of them happen tolbe in forwardposition. When a bar 71 reaches pleted. As the therein by of 5 i "t a (We t e f on of the machine, whic ,engages a nomh 79 on-ithe bottom'of theme; Incas'e thepawl 78,- hr reasons-hereinafter described, is not in position-to arrest' 'the bar, the bar. is

arrested'bymeansof a sprin'g pre'ssedfpawl be. -Thispin 84 is so located that itmay en nearithe eaper the machine, which ens j ag'esa noteh'81"in"the bottom of the bar; ach pawl 7 Bisfixed "on a short rock-shaft 7 i'82," whichisjournaledjin a fixed part of the ifrarne of the machine; and "each rock-shaft -carr1es, at its other end, a tripj arm 83w ich' cooperates with a trip-pin 84 mounted 311* "the adding wheel 31, 32 or 33 as the'case may gage the corresponding trip-arm '83 when the adding-wheel which carries the pin arrives at a position in which the figure 9 upon it disappears from the sight-opening 36 and the figure 0 appears This is the point at which a unit should be carried to the next .succeedlng adding-wheel. Accordingly, supposing the impressing-movement of the machine to have been made during the succeeding return-movement. of the parts, each bar 71 will be held in its normal rearward position by. the pawl 78, unless the adding-wheel be rotated, during this return-movement, sufliciently to bring the pin 84 into engagement with the trip-arm 83. If this occurs the arm and the pawl 78 will be depressed,

thus releasingthe pawl from the slide-bar,

and the bar will thereuponbe moved forward slightly by the spring 72, but will be termined by the stop-plate 57 and the mechanism associatedtherewith, has been comimpressing-mechanism finally reaches its normal posltion, however,-

momentarily arrested by the pawl 80, until i the rotation of the adding-wheel 31, as deforward, end i of .the pawl 80, sufliciently to depress this pawl out of engagement with the notch 81, and since the slide-ban has already been released by the pawl 78, the

spring 72 will then draw it forward, thus causing one adding-wheel. to be rotated through one. additional space, corresponding to thel which-shouldbe carried up from the adding-wheel next below. The operation of this carrying-mechanism is such that in case the amount carried, for example, from the wheel 31 to. the wheel 32 happens to turn the latter wheel through the space from 9 to 0, the wheel 32 will cause the release of the next succeeding carrying-mecham and thuscarry .a unit to the wheel 33, and thus, in fact, allof the carrying-mechanism, may operate in rapid succession, if ne :essary, v after the completion of the re- ;turn-movement of the impressing-mechamsm, Whenever the carrying-mechanisms are'so operated theyare' immediately reset,

upon the next impressing-movement of the machine, in the manner above described.

Since the adding-wheel 35 and the higher wheels in the series are rotatedonly by units carried from the lower wheels, these higher wheels may be actuated by any ordinary or suitable carrying-mechanism, such as the usual mutilated gear -87, on the rim of the wheel 34 in F-ig, 3, and pinionsw88 and'89 connecting thismutilated gear with gear-teeth on the adding-wheel '35.

In order'that the adding-wheels ma be reset to zero position whenever desirab e, a

series of. knurled rollers 90 are 'journaled in front of the adding-wheels, in position to engage the knurled surfaces thereon, these rollers being accessible through openings in i front of the casin so that they ma" be rotated by hand.

each; of the knur ed surfaces .on the addin -wheels,", as shown in Fig. 4 in'the case 0 the surface 42 on the wheel 32, is provided with a notch 91, so

located that when the addingswheel reaches zero position the engagement betweenthe wheel and the roller will be interrupted, thus causing the wheel to be arrested automatically at zeroposition.

' In order to prevent a too sudden movement of the bars 71 of the carrying-mechanism, when released by the pawls 80 and "83, the left-hand end ofeach bar is pref-V erably' formed as a piston 86 closely fitting a cylindrical bore inthe frame of the machine, and this arrangement has the efiect of a dash-pot, which retards the return movement of the bars. 7

V The general operation of the machine is as follows: The user places a check-blank upon the work-support 8, face downward,

and so adjusts it as to bring beneath the platen 9 the line upon whichcth'e amount hand-lex'er 10 after the pr of the check is to beprinted. The'user then turns the hand-wheel 15 until the required number of dollars is visible through the sight-opening 117, and turnsthe handwheel 18 until the required number of cents is visible through the sight-opening 20. By

the performance of these setting operations the several stop- plates 65 and 66 are brought to the positions in which they will suite ly control'the subsequent movement of the add-c gear-segments 63 are all released, so that they are swung upwardl by the springs 53, to an extent determined y the several stopplates. The user immedlateola releases the the hand-lever any of notion of an impression, whereupon the impressingmechanism returns to normal I a movement which is retarded by the dashpot. During this return-movement all of the gear-segments 63 are SW 7 the arms 45 to their normal position, thus producing rotative movement'of theseveral addingiwheels according tathe extent of movement of the corresponding gearsegments.' Finally, as theimp-mec anism and-the arms returnfully to' norposition by back by mal position, the pawls 'are alllde'p, 4

and the carrying-mechanism then operates in the case of any'of the wheels to which a unit should be carried from the next wheel below, as determined by the positions, of the trip-pins 84 the trip-arms 83, and the pawls 7 8. While the o ration'sabove'described, except for the p acing of the blank and the 7 setting of the type-wheels, always in the described sequence, the. time so that no interval tween them is appreciable by the operator of the machine, and the movements of the imp-mechanism are not sufiiciently retarded to dimin- .ish the practical speed of operation oflthe machineas a whole. I I a My invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof hereinbeforejdescribed and allustrated in the accompanying drawings,

- ut it may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

I claim I I The combination, with a printing-maclnne comprising a type-carrier movable to bring various types selectively into operative position, and impressing-mechamsm movable to cause an impression from said yp of adding-mechanism, means, actuated by connection with the impressing-mechanism,

I occupied by these ofirations is very slight,

for moving the adding-mechanism, and' means,"actuated by the-selective movement of the type-carrier, for determining the extent of movement imparted "tothe adding-' mechanism.v

2. The combination,with a printing-machine comprising' a type-carrier manually movable to bring various t into operative position, an impressing mechanism manually movable to cause an impression from said types; of add1ng-- mechanism, means, actuated by connection with the impressing-mechanism, for movselectively ing the adding-mechanism; and a series of graduated stops movable selectivelfy into position by the selectivemovement o carrier, and eratin with the means or.

moving the adding-nice anism'to determine the extent of movement mparted to said mechanism.

3.- Thecombination, with a printing-machine comprisin a manually-rotatabletypecarrier provide with a peripheral series 0' types expressive of various amounts, a platen for pressing a blank into engagement with the types, and manually-operable means for actuating the platen; of a set of addingwheels; means, connected with the platenaotuating mechanism and actuated thereby, for rotating the adding-Wheels; and a graduated stop-plate rotatable with the type-carrier and adapted to arrest the movement of the means by which the type-Wheels are rotated after varying degrees ofmovement corresponding with the respective amounts indicated by the types on the typecarrler.

4. The'combination, with a printing-machine comprising a type-carrier manually movable to bring various types selectively into operative position, and impressingmechanism manually movableto cause an impression from -said types; of addingmechanism; means, including an actuatingspring, for actuating the adding-mechanism; means, actuated in connection with the type-carrier, for determining the degree of movement imparted to the adding-mechanism by its said actuating-means; a settingspring; mechanism, connected with the impressing-mechanism and with the actuatingmeans of the adding-mechanism, for tensing mechanism; spring-actuated means for movmg the addlng-mechanism; sprlng-actuated means, connected with and controlled by the impressing-mechanism, for releasing the adding mechanism actuating means upon an operative movement of the impressingmechanism, and for resetting said means upon the return-movement of the impressing-mechamsm; and means for retarding said return-movement during the operative movement of the adding-mechanism-actuating means. I

EDMUND OCUMPAUGH, 2n; Witnesses:

' GEORGE H. HARRIS,

FARNUM F. DORSEY.

Images