US1148733A - Calculating-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. C. WAHL.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1913.

1,148,733. Patented Alf. 3,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. C. WAHL.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, I9I3.

1,148,733. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. C. WAHL.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 1913.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED s A'rns rn rnnr oFFio.

JOHN C. WAHL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WAHL ADDING MACHINE (10., OF

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CALCULATING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed September 29, 1913. Serial No. 792,333.

talizer is mounted on a bar which moves in unison with the typewriter carriage and numbers are inserted digit by digit thereln by a master wheel which is operated from the numeral keys of the typewriter. The

master wheel operates on the totalizer in one decimal place at a time and the totalizer escapes to bring the next lower decimal place into engagement with the master wheel upon the operation of the typewriter keys.

v The particular totalizer described in the above mentioned patent is, of course, provided with mechanism for transferring the tens from each decimal section to the next higher one, which transference is accomplished by transfer wheels numbered 198 in the above mentioned patent. There is a transfer wheel between each decimal section of the totalizer and should the totalizer stand at 99999, for-instance, and one be added in the units place all of these transfer wheels will be called into action and the zeros will not be in exact alinement. While theoretically this transfer action is complete from one decimal section to the next yet theory assumes that there is no lost motion whatever between the successive gears of the chain, or what amounts to the same thing; that the full motion of one gear is transferred to thenext succeeding one. In practice only an approximation to this action can be obtained for it is not possible to make the v gears so. that there is no lost motion between them. While theoretically thirty-six degrees of motionysay, of the units wheel should result in thirty-six degrees of motion of the tens wheel, yet in practice, owing to the necessarylost motion above referred to,this condition is but approximately obtained. It, therefore, follows that the error is a cumulative one increasing with the distance from the actuated wheel, and in the case just previously mentioned, that is the adding of one to a totalizer, all of whose wheels stand at nine, the cumulative error maybe so great thatthe wheel in the highest decimal place willnot move at all. The wheels will then stand in a spiral, showing zero in the lowest place, n1ne 1n the highest place, and wheels between the highest and lowest in various positions between zero and nine. My present invention has to do with the automatic correction of this spiral eifect and to this end I have provided in the actuator an additional cam which is operated to engage a totalizer wheel at the le t of the actuated one, and to bring this wh el' into its proper alinement by means of a blow. The shock of this blow will be transferred through the remaining wheels and they will jump into their proper position if they are not already there.

In view of the above the object of my invention is the elimination of the spiral effect in a totalizer.

A further object of my invention is the elimination of the spiral effect in the particular totalizer described in my patent above cited.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the class described which is positive in operation and of simple construction.

- Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a section along the line 1I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of atotalizer and actuating mechanism with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view 'of the master wheel and alining cam, and Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of the actuator.

The adding machine with which I have.

illustrated my present invention is a complicated structure and I have, therefore, only shown such portions of it as are necessary to an understanding of the actionof the new device claimed in this application. The complete VVahl machine is thoroughly described in my above cited patent so shall describe its structure and action only in a general way referring to the above cited patent for details.

On the framework 46 of a typewriter (not shown) is mounted a truck 1, Figs. 1 and 2. On this truck is mounted a totalizer 2, which consists of side plates 3 and l suitably supported by cross rods. Rigidly supported between these plates extend tie rods 5, 6 and 7 which serve to support the carrying gears 8, the intermediate gears 9 and the number disks 10 respectively. There is a set of parts 8, 9 and 10 for each decimal place of the totalizer. The carrying gears 8 are each provided with carrying teeth 11 which serve to operate the transfer gears 12 at every tenth tooth of the carrying gears. These transfer gears 12 are rotatably mounted ,on swinging arms 13 which are grouped in staggered arrangement and swing about the shafts 14 rigid between the side plates. The transfer gears 12 are provided with the customary locking teeth which cooperate with locking disks of the carrying gears, thus preventing overthrow. Numbers are inserted in this totalizer digit by digit by the master wheel 15 connected by mechanism presently to be described, to the pull rods 16 connected to the numeral keys of the typewriter.

I will now describe in a general way the mechanism by which downward motion of the pull rods 16 is transformed into rotation of the master Wheel a number of teeth corresponding to the particular pull rod actuated.

Each pull rod 16 is attached to a fan 17 (Figs. 1 and 2) rotatably mounted on a shaft 18 rigid in the framework 46.

. rocker 25 in a clockwise direction.

There are as many fans as there are number keys. Since the mechanism is thoroughly described in my previous application I have shown but a few of these fans in Fig. 2. A rock shaft 19 is'rotatably 35 crank arms 20 serve to support a roller 21 which is in the path of the fan 17 The roller 21 is long enough to contact with all the fans 17.' Each of the fans 17 has a -ates a pull rod 16) the cam surface 22 will contact with the roller 21 and rotate the rock shaft ina clockwise direction. Rigid with the rock shaft 19 and roller 21 is -a crank arm 23 on which is pivotally mounted a link 24 connecting to a rocker 25 pivotally mounted on a shaft 26 in the framework. Rotation of a fan in a counter clockwise direction will result in rotation of the On the u per side of the rocker 25 is a cam surface 27 which cooperates with two rollers '28 and 29 rigid withthe master dog 30 and rotatably mounted on a shaft 31 in the'framework.

It will be remembered that in the totalizer described in my above cited patent the chain of carrying gears from'first to last is a locked chain, that is, it is impossible to move a gear in the middle of the chain unless the transfer gear connecting the actuated gear to the gear in the next lower decimal place is removed. Accordingly these transfer gears are mounted on swinging arms and before turning any of the carrying gears it is necessary to move one of these swinging arms, thus unlocking the chain at the actuated point. This is the function of the master dog, and inspection of Fig. 1 will show that by following out the chain of mechanism from the pull rod 16 to the master dog 30 that motion of the pull rod in a downward direction will result in rotation of the master dog 30 on its shaft 31 in counter clockwise direction and consequent swinging of an arm 13 and removal of a transfer gear 12 from the chain of carrying wheels.

Returning now to the fan 17 I shall trace the mechanism by which the master wheel is rotated a number of teeth corresponding to the particular pull rod operated.

there being a goose neck associated with each fan. A pin 33 is rigid in the goose neck and cooperates with a slot 34 in the fan 17. This slot 34 is considerably wider than the pin 33 so that the first motion of the fan 17 acts only on the rock shaft 26 without affecting the goose neck. When the roller 21 has reached the dead surface of the cam 22 the right hand edge of slot 34 contacts with the pin 33 and from this time the goose neck and the fan move as a rigid piece, the dead surface of the cam serving to hold the rock l6 Looselymounted on the same shaft 18 as the fans 17 are a series of pieces 32 which from their shape are termed goose necks,

shaft immovable in the position to which it i has been thrown. Rigid in the framework is a sector shaft 35 having on it a series of arms 36, arranged in pairs, one pair to cooperate with each goose neck, and successive pairs of arms being arranged spirally around the shaft 35. Mounted 1n these arms 36 is a roller 37 adapted to be engaged by the cam surface 38 and finally by the concentric slot 39 of the goose neck 32. Since these arms 36 are arranged spirally around the shaft each goose neck will rotate the shaft in a clockwise direction a varying amount and then the roller 37 will be held in the concentric slot and further motion of the goose neck will result in no motion of the concentric shaft 35. Pivoted on the concentric shaft 35 at 40 is the sector 41 whose motion is in a plane parallel to the sector shaft and is controlled by a sliding plate 42 slldably mounted in the framework. The

plate 42 in its turn is controlled by a helical cam 43 which is mounted rigidly on the rock shaft 26. Leaving for a moment the action of the master wheel I shall describe the action of the chain of mechanism, beginning with the fan 17 and ending with the sector 41. Rotation of a fan 17 in a counter clockwise direction due to the actionof a pull rod 16 results, first, in rotation of the rock shaft 19 in a clockwise direction until the roller 21 is on the dead surface of the cam 22. This motion of the rock shaft results in the rotation of the master dog and consequently disengagement of a transfer gear 12, as previously described, and also in rotation of the helical cam 43 which shifts the sliding plate 42 and with it the sector 41 to the left, thereby bringing the sector into engagement with a gear 44 slidably mounted on a shaft 45 which rotates in the framework. Referring now to the fan 17, further motion of the fan results in motion of its associated goose neck by means of contact of the pin 33 with the slot 34 and this motion of the goose neck results in rotation of the sector shaft 35 an' amount dependent on the particular arm 36 in engagement with the goose neck 32. Accordingly the sector is rotated. The action of the goose neck 32 on the arms 36 is so proportioned that the sector will rotate a number of teeth corresponding to the particular-typewriter key which is connected to the pull rod 16. Rotation of the gear 44 will then ensue. Leaving for the moment the eflfect' of rotation of this gear 44 I shall describe the further action of the fan 17 on the rock shaft 19. I left the description of this action at a point where the roller 21 was counter. clockwise direction resultsin the roller 21 escaping from the right handend of the cam 22. A spring (not shown) tends to hold this roller 21 in the position shown in .Figx'l. Consequently when it escapes from the cam 22 it returns to its original position, thereby returning the master dog 30 to its position shown in Fig. 1 and the helical cam acting on the sliding plate 42 returns the sector 41 to its tilted position, as shown in Fig. 2. The sector, however, still remains in its rotated position for the arm rollers 37 and the arms 36 are still in the concentric slot 39 in the goose neck. On

the up stroke of the key the fan is returned to its original position, the rear of the cam 22 engages with the roller 21, the rock shaft is rotated in a counter clockwise direction and ultimately escapes from the front of the cam 22, returning then to its original position. During this up stroke of the fan 17 the goose neck has also been returned to its original position, as shown in Fig. 1, and a spring (not shown) returns the sector shaft to its original position. This completes the cycle of operation. 4

1 Returning to the consideration of the gear 44 it may be said that this gear is slidably mounted on its shaft 45 and is connected by.

a slidable connection to the master wheel 15 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 45. The connection is such that any rotation of the gear 44 results in an equal rotation of the master wheel 15 and the totalizer carrying gear 8 which may be at that time in engagement therewith.

The actuator just described has, in addition to the previously described mechanism, a single key action, the object of which is to prevent'the operation of two keys simultaneously, a full stroke mechanism which insures that the key once slightly depressed shall be operated through its entire cycle and the dogging mechamsm for the master Wheel to bring the master wheel into a definite position at the end of each key operation. A description of these mechanisms is not necessary to the understanding of my present invention and it has been accordingly omitted. Reference may be had to my above cited patent where they are thoroughly described.

Coming now to the mechanism which is the subject of my present invention, rotatably mounted on the framework 46 by means ofa stud screw 47 (best shown in Fig. 3) isthe aliner cam 48 having a nose 49 and a tail 50 in which is a cam slot 51. Operating in this slot is a pin 52 which is rigidly mounted in a crank arm 53 rigid with the rocker shaft 26. As previously described, the rocker shaft 26 has a motion first in a clockwise direction, then in a counter clockwise direction past its normal position, then rotation in a clockwise direction to the normal position. This motion is a result of the link connection between the rocker shaft 26 and the rock shaft 19. In Fig. 3 a carrying gear 8 of the totalizer is shown in mesh with the master wheel 15 which, it will be remembered, is rigidly connected to the shaft 45. The carrying gear 8 of the next higher decimal-order is shown in section in Fig. 3 and the second carrying wheel from the engaged master Wheel is shown in full. It will be observed that the nose-49 is in engagement with the second carrying gear 8 to the left of the actuated gear. The cam slot 51 is so shaped that the preliminary rotation of the rocker shaft 26 results in a withdrawal of the nose 49 from the carrying gear 11. The master wheel is then rotated a number of spaces corresponding to the numeral key operated and if carrying is done during this motion of the master wheel the carrying gear 11 which previously was engaged by the nose 49 is free to turn. Near the end of the down stroke of the typewriter numeral key the roller 21 escapes from the cam 22, as previously described, and consequently owing to the action of the-link 24 of the rocker 25 the pin 52 suddenly returns to its normal. position, as shown in Fig. 3. This, of course, returns the nose 49 to its former position in contact with a carrying gear 11, bringing the latter into its correct position by direct contact and alining any wheels to the left of this carrying gear 11 by means of the blow as transmitted through the transfer gears. During the supplemental motion of the rock shaft which ensues upon the upstroke of the key the pin 52 moves to the end 55 of the slot 51 but inasmuch as this portion of the slotis shaped to be concentric with the shaft 26 no further motion of the aliner cam 48 ensues.

From the above description it is evident that the one totalizer carrying gear, viz. that engaged with the master wheel is held in a definite positionby the master wheel itself. The second gear from that is held in its position by means of the nose 49 of the aliner cam 48 and since this nose reseats itself with somewhat of a blow it will bring all the carryinggears- 11 to the left of the one engaged by the nose to their proper position if they are not already there. It is understood, of course, that this alining action is only necessary in the case where the carrying is extended through a considerable number of wheels. In a case where no carrying has been done the. wheel-engaged by the nose 49 Will already be in its proper position. before engagement by the nose and, therefore, this nose will have no action at all. I consider the blow or hammer action on the alining cam 48 of great importance since it not only brings the wheel with which it engages into a proper position but the force of the blow extends to the left throughout the whole chain of gears and tends to aline them also. ,Attention is directed to the fact that the nose 49 has a bevel 56 on each face for the purpose of allowing the passage of fotalizer gears which may be slightly out of Many changes may be made in the precise form and-structure herein described without departing from the spirit of my invention. since I claim:

1. In a calculating machine the combination of, a totalizer including a set of carry-- ing gears, a master wheel adapted to insert numbers therein sem'atim, and an aliner cam rotatably mounted in the frame work and arranged to contact with said wheels seri- (ttz'm. i

2. In a calculatingmachine the combination of, a totalizer including a set of carrying gears, a master wheel adapted to insert numbers therein sem'atz'm, and an aliner cam rotatably mounted in the actuator arranged to contact with said wheels serz'atz'm.

3. In a calculating machine the combination of, a totalizer including a set of'carrying gears, a set of numeral keys, a master wheel adapted to insert numbers therein sem'atz'm, and an aliner cam located in the actuator and operated by said keys arranged to contact with said wheels scriatimi.

amountthereby, an aliner cam, and means "/5 to rotate said alinercam prior to the rotation of the master wheel ensuing upontheoperation of any numeral key.

6. In a calculating machinethe combination of, a set" of numeral keysfa master wheel adapted to be rotated a differential amount thereby, an aliner cam, and means to rotate said aliner cam upon the operation of any of said numeral keys prior to the rotation of the master wheel ensuing upon the operation of any numeral key.

7. In a calculating machine the combination of, a set of numeral keys, an aliner cam, and means operated during the downward stroke of any of said keys to displace said aliner cam from its normal position and suddenly return it thereto. J

8. In a calculating machine, the combination of a set of numeral keys, an aliner cam, and means operated during the downward stroke of any. of said keys to rotate said aliner cam from its normal position and suddenly return it thereto.

9. In a calculating machine, the'combination of a set of numeral keys, a master wheel, an aliner cam located to the left of said master wheel and means operated during the downward stroke of any of said keys to rotate said aliner cam from its normal po sition and suddenly return it thereto.

10. In a calculating machine the combination of a set of numeral keys, a master wheel, a totalizer adapted to have numbers inserted therein by said master wheel upon the operation of any of said keys, an aliner cam rotatably mounted in the frame work and adapted to cooperate with said totalizer wheels serz'atim, and means operated upon the depression of any of said keys to rotate said aliner cam out of contact with the then engaged totalizer wheel and suddenly return it into engagement upon the completion of the downward stroke of said key.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two wit- 2 nesses.

JOHN C. WAHL.

Witnesses:

R. GEO. C. BOA, M. C. TAYLOR.

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