US1166973A - Keyboard control for calculators. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WITSEL R. DE CAMP, 0F ROSELAND, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ADDOMETERCORPO-Q- RATIO'N, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

KEYBOARD CONTROL FOR CALCULATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 4, 1916.

10 all whom t may concern.'

Be il known that I, VITSEL R. Dn CAMP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident oit Roseland, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyboard Control 'for Calculators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means for causing the normal operation or' the handle or power shaft of a calculating machine to restore the several members of the key-board, including the item keys, to their normal position for subsequent operation; and which means can readily be disabled upon depression of a repeat key, whereby any key-or keys if they have been depressed, will remain positioned and cause such number to be added as often as the handle or power shaft is actuated. Such restoring means are further arranged to be operated by a special key, generally designated error key, so that when a niiinberf'is Set up and not to be used, the keys can be restored. i

A further object of the invention is to cause actuation oli such restoring means to be eiiected whenever one or more of the special keys of machine are depressed or operated; such the total, or sub-total key.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for causing the keyboard members to be locked or disabled, upon the advance of a side bar or other meinber from the movement of `the handle or,

power shaft; and which device contains a lsafety connection that will yield upon ob.

struction interfering with its proper action, and not cause injury of the machine at such a condition of aiia'irs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connection for the latter safety keyboard lock, that as soon as its members are shifted, all of the special keys will be looked against movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for,l assemblingthe several parts relating to,each bank of keys, on a carrying plate and extension, and for securing a series oiz these members in position, whereby upon removal of the securing means, each of the members relating to one bank can be removed, yet all of its parts rei.-

main assembled on the plates, to be re/adily restored or reassembled when desired'.

In the accompanying drawings showing embodiments of my invention, Figure l shows a side elevation with the restoring means in normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar-view with the parts in advanced position. Fig-I3 is a section on the line 3 3 oi Fig. I. Fig. 4 is a section on the line li-e of Fig. l. Fig. 5 vis a partial view similar to Fig. l with the parts in still another position. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side view, and Fig. 8 a plan, of the lever of the toggle device. Fig. 9 shows a side view,.and Fig. l0 an edge view, of one link of the toggle device. Fig. Il is a view similar to Fig. l, from the opposite side of the machine. Fig. l2 is an end elevation of the key-board locking device. Fig. 18 is a side view, and Fig. le an edge view, of the locking device. Fig. lis a top view, and Fig. 16 a side view, of the cam lever. Fig. 17 is a plan, and Fig. 18 a side view or the locking bar for the special keys. Fig. 19 shows an elevation, and Fig. 2O a. side view, of the guide plate for the stop bars. Fig. Q1 is an elevation showing the stop bars assembled; and Fig/22 is a. plan view of the supporting plates with their guide plates, and

locking means.

In the drawings, a supporting plate l is shown mounted vertically in the machine, and has a guide plate 2 at its rear end that contains nine slots 3, as indicated in Fig. 19. A series of these plates l are provided, one for each bank of keys, as shown in Figs. 2l and 22, and each of these plates carries nine keys 4; connected with which are nine stop bars 5, by means of bent levers 6, that pivot on opposite sides of the plate l alternately in succession. By this means four ot the stop bars 5 are on one side of the plate, and tive on the opposite side; as indicated by the staggered arrangement of the slots 3 in Fig. 19. lith each set of these stop bars, cooperates a latch bar 7 carried by links 8 and 9 for vertical movement. Each latch bar is provided with a set of nine pins, al teriiately placed on opposite sides, to coperate with a lug 10 on each of the stop bars 5. /"The lug 10 is vertical at its forward IGC edgeend inclined el; its ree-r so lille-.t

wlielfllie' key is depressed the slop her will lhe spring l1 Will inove the stop har forward v and raise the depressed key..

The ports gust described do not form the basid of the present application, but the object is to provide means for raising allor the hitch hars l or each operation of the inachine, or When desired, that will resul'J in re- Stor-ino' all of: the stop hers and connected f keys that lia-ve been operated.

Un o. suitehle eroibionery parl; of the inochine, convenlentljl7 on the plete l, is fixed o. supporting crochet l5, that carries :i toggle joint device. rllhis comprises o shore link 16 pivoed on the brochet l5 Ly one end7 Whose other end is pivoed lo o. long link l?, preferably ehehe middle por'rion thereof. `The lower end o1" the link 17 is pivoed on o rock hor 18 that siringa on en exis, that is shown in the Jiorni of :i ehe-'fe 19 amending across the machine and to which the her' 1S is secured, ro rcclr ellis, shajl @n the other end of Shall; 19 is har 20 ond these lov-1o fdr-ailier hend m'che roggle joint.

lil; 'the upper end ell he long linlr i? olf the toggle is pivoted o lever 2d (see 7-8), Whose rear erd eii'liends under e loef 25 projecting outward from e hey 25, eheh is snitioly guided for verliefd movement, and which is retraced on depression hy spring /f?. 'lhe lever of. irl" E fimrd end hee Shop in `the forni. 528. lhzilt lies in elle vertical pleno ci' suitable eci-meting; nieniher. les sho-wn, on ein ie carried by elle nini.' ,Shaft 2l of the inochine thai; is rocked or. each operation of Jdie machine. '.lhe erin 29 has an ehutnienei() on its upper end tha-t will engage eer 28 on the lever. The lever is provided with ineens such 'a spring for movin@n elle eer downwzordly.J

Unil the'reor end of ehe lever engages ther lng 25; the .lever boring on ear 3l, eween which and o img id?? on ehe long,1 hnlr. 17 io stretched o or The lererl is `roch erin 29.

nieder/e oleo provided with on erro projeceing downwardly and adopted strike o erop pin 35, that may he the pivot oi; die link i6.

rlhe operation of the toggle device is es follows: lhe rool drm .Q9 is normally in elle poeirion indiceried inv lf`ig.,iond in the operation che mocr ehehe drin swings foie word 1from this position, hoihoi'. indicated in Fig. 5. ll'rhen theroeh nrni swings forward and .is then 'rel/nrned che ohnnien lince 30 on the roch; Will 'srilre the ear 28, es the lever 24e isv held in this position by its spring drawing' lie rear end ogoinsfe the lug .25 on the repeat key 26;' os indicated in Fig. 5. Upon the rock arm striking his; enr and moving farther rearward, it will cause o movement', bodily of this lever ro the reen'.l and the long link l? piroted to the lever 24e will have its upper end carried to the rear. Hence, it will swing on its pivotal connection with the rock hor 18, as well" as on its connection with che short link 1G. This Will have en elec'; of moving' the toggle formed hv the Jmvo links coward olinement, and since the linl; 17 swing/ge on o lixed pivot, 'the long` linlr must more downward at its connection with che hor lf3, and more the locter downward. rlhis movement will therefore rock the shafr 19 and shift all of the latch hors 7, to resto-re the stop here ond lie-ye. lut during the latter portion olf the rearward movement of 'bhe rock erin 29, 'the erin 3% of 'the lever will engage the slop pin 35, that will Swing lever 9.4ion the long link, ond' the front portion with the ear 28 will move upiordly to dieengoge `the foce 30 of the rock drin 29. This will therefore relieve the lever 24e fro-in the pressure moving); ii rearward, end the springs on the loich hors now inov ing ehem downwnrdly;will roclr Jche shaft 19 and raise the forwzirdlend of hdr 1S, which will tend to further bend he toggle links .and return 'lc-hein to normal position; as in dico-ted in lTig. l. But the ear 2S on che le# ver hzwino ieeeed Aehe ohuhnenl; fece 30 will now ride on the iop edge or end of the roch arm 29, as soon as lhe erin 3-2 oi? the lever 'moves forward beyond the slop pin 35. hy pressure of the spring d3.

lt will he understood that when the rock erin 9.9 moves forward from ellis position of Fig. Il, ther. indicated in Fig. 5, the spring' 33 will roch the lever Zl until ile rear end smilies the lug' on the hey siem QG, :is indicated in lig. 5. le will also-.he understood 'that when the lre'jv elem 2G is depressed., its lng` Q5 will swing the lever 24e so 'thai the ear 28 is raised end held exray from positio-n for engagement with the foce 30 of ehe p As long; asy this key is held in jellis poeiaion, the stop drin can swing with ont engaging the lever 24 and therefore the restoring mechanism ie disabled.

leo'

y pressed, and restore the key-board parts.

end of, the bar 18; and depression of this key y'will reck the bar and shaft 19, to shift all `ranged to-strike thestop 3 9 and swing the Aarm and shaft 19 whenever this key is de- "Means are proyiided for looking the keyboard against operation, in the form of a rod 50, carried byarms 51 and 52, (see Figs` 11-14), that are fast on a rock shaft 53,`

suitably journaledzin the machine. The rod 50 ismoved rearward over the top of the latch bars 7, and will prevent their eleva tion', and hence no stop bar can move rearward, nor can'a-ny key be depressed. Upon the arm 51 is pivoted `a cam lever 54, havingl an ear 55 (see Figs. 15-16), that is pressed against the rear Iedge of the arm 51l by a spring 56, stretched between the cam lever andan extension 57 von the arm 51. A spring 5S connected between the lever 54 and a fixed pin 59 tends to movel the arm 51 forward and draws the lever 54 down with its cam face '60 normally in the path of a pin 61 on a side bar 62, that is rocked by arm 65 on shaft 21. This side bar is reciprocated at each operation of the machine and A its pin 61 moving forward will swing the lever 54 upwardly. This will swing the arm 51 rearward rocking ythe shaft 53, to carry the rod 50 rearward over the top of the latch bars 7. By reason of the shape oftthe cam lever the rod is held in this position above the latch bars until the return of the side bar when the cam lever is released, and is drawn downward by its spring 58. But if for any reason the latch bars are shifted when the rod50 is moved rearward to take a position above the latch bars, and hence an obstructi'onis offered, the am lever 54 will swing atits pivotal connection with the arm 51, by stretching the spring 56. Thereby a yieldable connection is provided that will pre- -vent injury to the parts of the machine.

This locking device for the key-board is also arrangedto lock orprevent operation of the special keys on the' machine, such as the total. or subtotal keys 40 and 42V. This 'mechanism may also locktwo special keys such as a non-add key63, and a non-print key 64.

As shown the arm 51 is provided with an )extension 44 having an olset or ear 45. On

'.the'supporting plate 1 are arranged a pair iof pins 48, ,that engage the `slotted portions v49 of a bar 47, that is 'thereby slidably supported. This bar is provided with a series of slots 74, 75, 7 6 and 77, that normally lie just below pins 78, 79, 80, and S1 on the four special keys 40, 42, 63, and 64 respectively. A pin 46 on the bar 47 normally lies adjacent the ear 45 on the arm 51, so that as soon as the side bar Q2 starts forward and the arm 51 is swung rearward through the cam lever, the bar 47 will be moved rearward, and the fou-r pins on these special key-stems will n'o longer register with the slots, but will lie adjacent the straight up per edge of the barj47. This will prevent the depression of any one of these special keys, after the side bar has commenced its forward movement, and until the side bar returns to normal position. of these special key-stems are depressed, the pin thereon will strike the inclined edge of the slot to move the bar rearward, the bar being retracted by a spring 67. And this will result in the pins on the other three keys being adjacent the straight edge of che bar and hence none ci them can be depressed. It will thus be understood that this bar performs a double function of a locking device, serving to lock all of the special keys as soon as the side bar is' shifted; and also serving to lock the other three keys when any one of thespecial keys is depressed.

ln Figs. 21 and 22. the manner of assembling and securing a set of nine of the supporting plates l, -is illustrated. Each of these supporting plates is provided with a hook 22 at the upper end of its rear edge, that enters a slot 14 in the upper edge of the guide plate 2. At its lower end the plate 2 has a Abent arm 2X, thatengages'the side of the'supporting plate 1"; and is permanently secured thereto as by rivets. By this'means it will be seen that the guide plate 2 is secured transversely atv the rear end of the supporting plate, with the two rows of staggered -guide slotsfS, disposed on opposite lsides of the supporting plate, in proper porods and 71 to hold the supporting plates spaced the proper distance apart. It will be understood that by removing one of the nuts 7 3, on each of the locking rods 70 and 71, the rods can be removed, and the nine supporting plates will thereby be free for removal. As stated, each o f the plates has mounted thereon the nine bent levers 6, to

which are connected the stop bars 5, passl But when any dat..

ing through the slots in the guide plates-2; to Which bent' levers are pivoted the nine key stems 4l. Therefore, 'these nine supporting plates when removed, vvill retain all`of these said members, and when reassembled, such members will be 1n operative positions.

-a second link pivoted by one end to said pivoted bar and pivotally connected with said link, a lever pivotally mounted on the second link and provided with an ear, and an arm carried by said rock shaft arranged to strike said ear and shift the lever to move the links toward alinement and thereby swing the said pivoted bar to restore the latch bars.

2. ln an adding machine, the combination with a key board including keys connected with stop bars, and latch bars controlled by the stop bars, and a rock shaft, of means for shifting the latch bars to restore the stop ba'rs and keys, comprising a pivoted bar, means connected with the bar arranged to shift all of the latch bars, a link having at one end a stationary pivot, a second link pivoted by one lend to said pivoted bar and pivotally connected with said link, a lever pivotally mounted on the second link and provided with an ear, an arm carried by said rock shaft arranged to strike said ear and shift the. lever to move links toward alinement and thereby swing the said pivoted bar to restore the latch bars, an arm on said lever, and a stop positioned to be engaged by said latter arm 'when the swinging arm has shifted the lever, to cause the lever to swing and move its ear out of engagement with the arm.

3. ln an adding machine, the combination with a key board including keys connected with stop bars, 'and latch bars controlled by the stop bars, and a rock shaft, of means for shifting the latch bars to restore the stop bars and keys, comprising a pivoted bar, means connected-With the bar arranged y to shift all of the latch bars, a link having at one end a stationary pivot, asecond link pivoted by one end to said pivoted bar and pivotally connected with said link, a lever pivotally mounted on the second link and provided With an ear, an arm carried by said rock shaft arranged to strike said ear and shift the lever to move the links toward alinement and thereby swing the said pivot meente bar to restore the latch bars, and a repeat key having an abutment arranged to engage said lever when the key is shifted to shift the lever to hold its ear out of position for engagement with said arm on the rock shaft.

4. ln an adding machine, the combination -vvith a key board including keys connected with stop bars, and latch bars controlled by the stop bars, and a rock shaft, of means for shifting the latch bars lto restore the stop bars and keys, comprising a pivoted bar, means connected with the bar arranged to shift all of the latch hars, a link having at one end a stationary pivot, a second link 5. ln an adding machine, the combination with a key board including keys connected with stop' bars, .and latch bars controlled by the stop bars, and rock shaft, of means for shifting the latch bars to restore the stop bars and keys, comprising a pivoted bar, means connected with the bar arranged to shift all of the latch bars, link having at one end a stationary pivot, a second link pivotediby one end to said pivoted bar and pivotally connected With said link, a lever pivotally mounted en the second link and provided with an ear, an arm carried by said rock shaft arranged to strike said ear and shift the lever to move the links toward alineinent and thereby swing the said pivoted bar to restore the latch bars, a repeat key provided With a shoulder arranged to be engaged by said lever, a spring connected with said lever to draw the ear thereon against the rock shaft arm and to shift the lever to engage the key shoulder 'when the arm is swung away fronilthe ear to limit the movement of vthe arm at said time, said key and shoulder when advanced serving to swing and .hold the lever with its ear out of position for engagement with the rock shaft arm.

6. Aln an adding machine, the combination with a. key board including keys connected With n'stop bars, and latch bars controlled by the stop bars, and a'rock shaft, of means for shifting the latch bars to restore the Astop bars and keys7 comprising a pivoted l ir, means connected with the bar arranged to shift all of the latch bars, a link having at onel end a stationary pivot, a second link pivoted by one end o seid pivoted bei' and 'loivotzilly Connected Wih seid link, a. lever pivoaliy mounted on lie second link and provided with :in .on arm carried by seid i'oek shake arranged to strike said ear and shift the lev move 'the links "sovvord zilinement :ind thereby swing the said pivoed bei' to restore the latch hers, a repeat key provided 'with n shoulder arranged to be engaged by seid lever, a. spring connected with seid lever io draw' the eer hereon eguins the rock shaft firm and o shift "che lever to engage che key Shoulder when the mini. swung away from the ear o limit the niovenumt oi" the :irm mi said time, seid key :1nd shoulder 'when :ulvzinoed serving $504.

.when the rock shaft arm has shifted Jehe levez', io Cause the lever to swing and move its eur out of engagement with he rook shaft erm 7 En :iu adding machine, lie eonilinegion {,h zi key board including keys connected si'iop liars, and hitch. here Conrolled )p bars, and :i rook shaft, of .means a lug he latch hars o restore the and keys7 comprising' i sli-(ifi ex Y ziel-oss the ii'iz'iehine7 zi bei' secured io meh end of smid shuf, u rod eonneeed with said lutter bars arranged to engage the imi-eh liars when said ours end sha'iet are svv'mngj :1, link mounted at one end on :i Stei-onzuy pivot, a, second link pivoted. by one end io one ei" smid pivoted hers, the second nivoally eonneeized Wifi/li said pivoifxlly n'iouneed on lie sec- :md provided ivi'h enre :.n erm said rook shaft arranged 12o srike re shift the lever to move seid links alim-)ment and hereby swing ghe fed bei' no restore the loten hors, and .nested ',Ivifnl he other of seid here lie hitch ev bouil including keys eonneeeed ours, and laigeh here rolie 'l l ding ed io eeen 'With she hitch e swung,

sin` s mi erro.

inou', neil l Ao v conne-:fred i. elly mouneii on ,een 5 the eonneced pivo'ied oer to restore the laeh bers, ai, repeat key 1provided with. a shoulder ori'eng'ed to be engaged by said .leven n spring eouneeged with said. lever to {li-:viv she eary thereon against the rock shaft erm and to shift the lever to engage the key abutment when the firm is swung sway from the eur to limit the movement of the arm at said time? said. key and shoulder when advanced serving to swing and hold the lever With ias ear out of position for engagement wiih the rook shaft erm, und a, special key connected with the other oi Suid pivoted bars to restore the latch bars when operated.

9. en adding machine, the combination 'wi'zh a, key hoard neluding keys conneeed with stop bars, and latch bers Con- `trolled by the stop bers, and a rook shaft, of ineens for shifting @he leeh bers to re store the. stop bars end keys, comprising a shaft extending across the machine, a' bei secured to each end of said shaft, a rod connected Wih seid imiter bers arranged to engage *die inten hars when seid oars und shaft are swung, :L link mounted at one end on e station y pivo, seeond link pivoted by one end lo one of seid pivo'ed bars: the second link being pivoelly connected with said link, o. lever pivoilly mounted on the seeond link provided Wih en ear, am erm carried by said rook shaft arranged to srike said eer to shift 'ghe lever te move said links Seward alinemeni end thereby swing 'die eonneeed ber ibo restore the laeh hers, o repent key' provided with :L shoulder arranged to be engeged spring connected with said lever to draw ear thereon against the rock shaft erm.

en seid. lever and i ste; positioned" to be engaged by sind leiter arm when theroek ei ehaf erm, end a- "ner of sind pivev' eonneoled wii-n "f neer-d, en actuating lesoring device for the key ieludiig ai' pair of links organized Aoggle joint, n member C011- neeu Ehe neuuzring member with one of seid '55, seul eonnecizmg member being;

Wooly eerrierfi `by one of J@he connected funbfi'is? enf?, :ineens for shifting the con.-

` on eupioring member ,'ortion of the movement whereby to free oy said lever, n

hes slur-ed he leven'to nous@ v 'ein the links from mther advance by tuatlng member.

l1. in an adding machine, the combina-- tion with a key beald, and an aeteating; membei', el" a restoring device fof the key beai'cl including a pair of linke organized to opeiate as a toggle joint, meinbef adapted to connect the actuating ineinbe with one el said linke, seid eem' ting; member being membly carried by one elli ln. an adding inaeliine,` 'tile eeielii'de tion th e key be? :i si n. e

j vice bowed ineludief 'iz o links 'HW operate es teg ed te connect the of seid, linke, said eenneeting movably -caflfied by one 0;? the Sai it seni/*es 'te connect, p Connecting member en ite supporting .l bei' at an interi e Liate per; ment of the aetuatin member elle free 'the linke :from e. .liei advance ew actuating me1nbei andv a i'epeat key ranged te engage the connecting ineinlieff llelcl it cnt elf' position Lim.' eausin; celine@ tion between the aetuating niemeer and link:

l3 ln an adding inzwliine7 the tion with e key beard, and en activ member7 o1 a restoiing device for the beard including a *lo-ain of links erga to operate as e toggle joint, a eenneetn membei` pivoted on one of said linke arranged to be engaged by the actua* member to opeiate the links and the festenm ing device, and a stop eranged to be en gaged by said connecting; membei dining the advance of the actuating membe teiiee the connecting membei: from the actua-ting member during the movement el: the actueeing'member.,

le., ln an adding machine, the combination with a key board, and an aeti'xeti g member,4 of a iestoing device for the board including a pair ef links organized to operate as a toggle joint, e, connecting member pivoted 0n one 0i said links and ai" ranged to be engaged by the actuating member to operate the links and the restoling device, a stop arranged to be engeged by said connecting member during the advance of the actuating member to free the connecting; member from the actuating member dui'm ing' the movement of. the :mtiiatiifig'memlen1 and a :repeat key arranged to engage the ceng ifnenlee eine'. ngeg'ement Wink .ln an 'adel' 1. with liiey laeaizl f e leekin 3 the minime ieifating er ,nged te fl-m 1 Meng ,mma

Je, nidi? i e eeries e? spei- Y a imi' {Vl'angecl when sla' il ef the epee" i keys te leek .Y vement, and ineens irnf elm l bei' Le leaking p; tien lijf 'the seid lecke .J ifeaiili. the key- :iddingg maelline, the eembinw el e locking member ai'ifs' ieecl te V 'ey-board te disable it parte, means en the operating ineinliei' te shift the locking meinlvei7 a series ei special keys en.

the maehiwej a ber arranged. when shifted n'e all the spe :inl keys te leek them lil. ln an adding niaeliinfi9 the ee1x1binatien with :L lwj,-li0a1 l and :in eikjneigiting niemeer, et a leaking; nwn'iliei' :libra ed te ehilft, uw ie keyboard t lisal le its parte, .means un the @inenting memliei? te Shift thckey-lmai'd and `an operating locking' n'wniliez; a Series el' Special keys ou the machine, a liar arranged te be shifted by :my nl the ,Said special keys to leek tim ether Suid keye ugainet inmenwnt :and also u1- i'anged when enii'teil te leek all said keys

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