US1190443A - Differential mechanism for accounting-machines. - Google Patents

Description

T. MIDGLEY, JR. DIFFERENHAL MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00:111. 1913. 1,1 90,443. Patented July 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. IVIIDGLEY, IR] DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, I913.

1,1 90,448. Patented July 11,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEI:T 3.

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T. IVHDGLEY, JR.

DIFFERENHAL MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1913.

Patented July 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 1W Mamas Juuullo zg WWW/1m STATES OFFICE,

THOMAS MIDGLEY, JR., OF WORTHINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, (INCORPORATED DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11,1916.

Application filed October 11, 1913. Serial No. 794,723.

- which I declare the following to be a full,

scription the improvements are shown em clear, and exact description.

.The present invention relates to improvements in cash registers or'accounting machines and refers particularly to improvements in the differential mechanism for actuating the totalizer and in the mechanism by which the transfer is made from totalizer wheels of lower to wheels of higher denomination.

The improvements are primarily intended for that type of machine in which there are independent actuators for totalizer wheels of different denominations With a series of keys or corresponding devices by which the different extents of rotation to be imparted to a totalizer element by its actuator may be determined.

In the drawings and the following debodied in a cash register of the two motion type, that is, a register in which the operation of a key predetermines the extent of rotation which is to be given a totalizer wheel'by the actuator when said actuator is driven by a subsequent operation of the operating mechanism. It will be apparent however, when reading the description in connection with the drawings, that the use of the improvements is not limited to such a machine but that they can be embodied in various forms in many other types of cash registers and accounting machines. It will also be apparent that the actuator mechanism disclosed can, with a few changes which will readily suggest themselves, be used for driving parts other than the elements of the totalizer. It is not, therefore, the desire to be limited to any particular use of this actuator mechanism or to any particular embodiment of the improvements as a whole.

. totalizer wheels.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simply constructed vmachine in which the totalizer and its actuators are at all times in engagement. Such a construction obviously minimizes wear and the liability of mechanical trouble usually existing Where either the totalizer or the actuators must be moved to bring the two into engagement as a preliminary to the entry of items in the totalizer. While it is not broadly new to have the totalizer in engagement at all times with its actuators, in previous con- 'structions of the kind, so far as known to the applicant, the actuators are differentially moved, the extents of their movements depending upon the values registered, and some form of one-way driving connections between the actuators and the totalizer has been provided, usually ratchet and pawl devices arranged to allow the actuators to return to normal position after the actuating movement without reversely rotating the In the present construction each actuator is given an invariable rectilinear reciprocation on each operation of the register and depression of any one of a series of keys renders the corresponding actuator effective to turn its totalizer wheel the proper number of divisions to represent the key pressed, after which the actuator is automatically rendered ineffective to turn the wheel during the rest of its reciprocation.

Another object of the invention is to further simplify the construction by rendering unnecessary separate retaining devices for the totalizer wheel, as the actuator cannot only be rendered effective to rotate its totalizer wheel, but during the part of its reciprocation that the actuator is ineffective to rotate the wheel it is effective to hold the wheel stationary.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for carrying or the next higher actuator effective to rotate its totalizer wheel one division just before the end of its normal actuating stroke. At the end of this actuating stroke and just before starting on the return to normal stroke the actuator restores the transfer devices-to normal position.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel "features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the machine taken on the line 00-00 of Fig. 2, and partly broken out at thetop. Fig. 2 shows features of the actuators and transfer mechanism. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 1 with the mechanism in partially operated position. Fig. 4 is a rear View showing in detail features of the transfer tripping devices. Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the actuator controlling elements.

Described in a general way the illustrative register with the improvements embodied consists of a plurality of banks or sections, the number depending upon the registering capacity desired. One of these sections is shown in Fig. 1. Each bank comprises a totalizer element and an actuator therefor, a vertical row of keys ranging from portional 1 up to- 9 and differential mechanism controlled by the keys and in turn controlling the totalizer actuator. Each actuator is carried bodily by an element connected to driving mechanism common 'to all of the banks and which reciprocates the actuator an invariable distance on every operation of the driving mechanism. The movements of the totalizer wheel are imparted by the actuator during the stroke of the latter in one direction. This stroke is herein usually referred to as the actuating stroke. The other stroke or half of the reciprocation, that is, the return to normal stroke, is idle so far as rotation of the totalizer wheel is concerned; but, as indicated above, during this return to normal stroke as well as the part of the actuating stroke that theactuator is not driving the totalizer wheel, it is effective to retain the wheel in position. Rigidly connectedto the totalizer wheel is a gear having spirally disposed teeth, and the actuator, which is in' the form of a sleeve capable of both rotary and vertical movement carries on its face several parallel helical threads, at least one of Whichis at all times in engagement with the totalizer wheel gear. When a key is pressed in and the register operated the carrier for the actuator is reciprocated as above described; but the actuator is prevented from rotating during a part of the actuating stroke proto the value of the key depressed.

, from turning.

This causes the helical threads of the actuator to act against the teeth of the totalizer gear the same as the teeth of a rack, rotating the totalizer gear and its wheel. As soon as the wheel has been rotated the desired number of divisions to represent the key used, the element which prevents rotation of the actuator is disengaged and another element engagesthe helical threads of the actuator and causes the actuator to rotate during the rest of its reciprocation so that the threads on the actuator run idly across the face of and between the teeth of the totalizer gears. This prevents the gear and its attached wheel The transfer from an adding wheel of lower to a wheel of higher denomination is accomplished by stopping the rotation of the next higher actuator near the end of the actuating stroke, causing the actuator and its carrier to move rigidly together and operate as a rack just long enough to turn the connected adding wheel one division. The actuator threads are not helical at the trans fer operating portion of the actuator but extend longitudinally. NVhen the lower denomination adding wheel is turned past 9, devices are tripped to project an element forward to engage the threads of the next higher actuator during its actuating stroke. This element causes the actuator to begin rotating at the proper time, or if it is then rotating, to continue the rotation as long as it is in engagement with the helical portion of the threads; but as soon as the longitudinal portion of the threads, which is above the actuating portion of the actuator, comes in contact with said element, rotation is stopped and the actuator travels rigidly with its car rier just long enough to rotate its adding wheel a division. Just at the end of the transfer operation and before the actuator starts to return to its normal position a flange carried by the lower order actuator engages the transfer devices and restores them to normal position.

Described in detail and with reference to the drawings the driving shaft 1 (Fig. 1) is given a complete rotation clockwise on every operation of the register either by means of a motor. Attached to the shaft 1 is a plurality of cams 2, a pair for each bank or section of the machine. For reasons appearing later these pairs of cams are arranged spirally around the shaft 1. A three-armed lever 3 journaled on a stub shaft 4: in the machine frame carries on its lower arms oppositely extending anti-friction rollers 5. Each of these rollers rides on the face of one of the pair of cams provided for that particular bank. The shape and arrangement of a pair of these cams is such that on every rotation of the shaft 1 the lever 3 will be rocked first clockwise and then counteri will also be rocked about the shafts 6 and, as

the links connect the plates 7 and the arms 3 above their respective centers, the plates always rock with the levers first clockwise and then counter-clockwise.

The rearwardly extending portion of the I plate 7 is in the form of a sector 9 with its teeth in fixed engagement with the teeth of a rack 10. The lower end of this rack is guided by a slot in a bracket 30 carried by the back machine frame 11 while at its other end the rack carries an extension 12 connected to the hub 13 of the actuator 14. The actuator is in the form of a sleeve loosely mounted on a rod 15 which is rigidly secured at either end in the brackets 16 and 30 fastened to the machine back frame 11. The connection between the actuator hub and the extension 12 of the rack 10 is of such a nature that the actuator is free to rotate about the rod 15 but cannot move longitudinally independent of the rack. By tracing the movement through the parts'described, it will be seen that every time the shaft 1 is given a rotation the rack 9 will be reciprocated an invariable distance first down and then back up to normal position, and that the actuator 14 will be given a corresponding invariable movement along the rod 15.

Loosely mounted on the rod 6 and beside the plate 7 is an arm 17 with a link 18 and a bell crank lever 19 attached by the pivots 20 to the forward end of the arm. This link and bell crank lever carry on pivots 21 and 22 a. latch 23 which is at all times drawn rearward by a spring '24 so that the rear end of the latch 23 is normally held in engagement with a cut 25 in the plate 7, establishing an operating connection between the plate 7'and the arm 17 so that the two will move together as long as the latch 23 remains in engagement with. the cut 25 in the plate. Unless a key in the bank is depressed the latch 23 is withdrawn from the cut 25 in the plate 7 at the very beginning of the operation by'a pawl 26 which is pivoted to the machine frame at 27 and at all times urged by,the spring 28 into the position shown in Fig. 1 with its nose 29 resting in the path of a block 31 rigidly secured to the forward end of the bell crank lever 19. When the plate 7 is rocked clockwise by an operation of the driving mechanism, the arm 17 and the parts pivoted thereto will, owing to the fact that the latch 23'is at the time seated in the cut '25, also start to move clockwise. However, the nose 29 of the pawl 26 acting against the block 31 attachedto the bellcrank 19 will rock the bell crank and the link 18 on their pivots 20 drawing the latch 23 out of engagement with the out 25 and projecting the forward end. 32 of the latch into the lowest one of the notches 33 in a plate 34 secured to the key bank frame 35. This stops further upward movement of the latch 23 and arm 17 and downward movement of these parts because of gravitation is prevented by'the rear end of the latch 23 riding on the circumference 36 of the plate 7. After the plunger 23"is disconnected from the plate 7 the latter continues to the end of its clockwise movement and then swings back to its starting point. When, during this return movement, the cut 25 is brought opposite the rear end of the latch 23 the spring 24 draws the plunger into engagementwith the cut, and the arm'17 and its attached parts are returned to their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1. While the spring 24 is depended upon to seat the latch 23 in cut 25, additional means are provided to positively insure the return of'the parts if the spring should become-ineffective from any cause. To accomplish this result the completion of the operation, into the positions they occupied before the operation was begun.

The lowest notch 33 into which the latch 23 was projected, as just described, is the zero notch. The notch next above it is the one that the latch engages when 1 is to be registered, and so on up to the top notch which is the one engaged by the latch 23 when 9 is to be registered. When an amount isto be registered the position taken by the plunger 23 is determined by the keys 38. These keys are -mounted radially to the shaft 6 in the frame 35 supported by the cross rods 41 extending through the machine frames 11 and the side frames 11". Lateral movement of the keys away from the frame 35 is prevented by guide plates 43 and 44 se-- in the depressed position until they have served their purpose, the mechanism for releasing the key for returning the keys to normal'position latches and the usual springs otally attached at' 51 and 52 respectively to the key bank frame 35. Pins 53 on this plate 46 extend laterally under the keys 38. The pawl 48 has a nose 54 which engages a stud 55 in the pawl 26. When any one of the keys 38 is pressed in the cam surface 56 on its lower edge will act against the opposed pin 53 and force the plate 46 down, thereby swinging the arm 47 and the pawl 48 about their pivots and causing the nose :54 of the latter, acting against the stud 55, to

draw the pawl 26 back so that its nose 29' will be carried out of the path of the block 31 attached to the bell crank 19. The key is then retained in the depressed position partially by pin 53 engaging the notch 566 in the lower edge of the key 38 but mainly by the key latching devices mentioned above, but which are not shown in the drawings. As shown in Fig. 3 the depth of the notches 566 is such that when a key is retained in the fully depressed position the plate 46 is locked down and the nose 29 of the pawl 26 is held back out of the path of the block 31 secured to the bell crank 19. This permits the arm 17 to be carried up by the plate 7 until the block 31 strikes the inwardly projecting end of the depressed key when the latch 23 is disengaged from the cut 25 in the plate 7 and projected into the notch 33 corresponding to the key used. On the return movement of the plate 7, the plunger 23 and the plate 7 are engaged and the parts returned to normal position as described above in connection with the operation of the machine whenno key in the bank was a depressed. As "salon as the plate 7 and tho;- arm 17 reach their'normal positions the plate} 46 is depressed? by .key releasing devices, not-.-

shown but abovge mentioned, and "the key {is then re's'tored' by its-'sprin'gfpermitting the. spring 28. to restore the pawls 26 and48-and thepl ate 46 to the positions-.shown in Fig- 1..

As indicated in the general'description of the machine given above, when an actuator moves rigidly with its carrier during its vertical movement it turns the corresponding adding wheel, but when it rotates during said vertical movement it holds the adding wheel immovable. The differential mechanism described in the "immediately preceding paragraphs determines the portion, if any, of its actuating stroke that the actuator is to be effective to rotate its totalizer wheel. It will be recalled that if the machine is operated with no key in the bank depressed, the latch plunger 23 is immediately disconnected from the driving plate 7 and projected forward into the ,zero notch of the locking plate 34. When the mechanismis all at the starting point for an operation, the devices controlling the rotative movement of the actuators are in position to prevent rotation of the actuators so that the actuator is normally effective to drive its totalizer. wheel, but when the plunger 23 is projected into the zero notch the controlling devices are shifted and the actuator immediately begins to rotate on its carrier. This rotation continues, unless interrupted momentarily as hereinafter described by a transfer from the wheel of lower denomination, during the entire reciprocation of the actuator. When the machine is operated with a key depressed the plunger 23 is not projected forward until it has been carried up to a position opposite the notch 33 cor responding to the key used. During this part of the upward movement the devices controlling the rotation of the actuator re main in their normal positions and the actuator turns its adding wheel, but as soon as the plunger 23 is disconnected from the driving plate 7 and projected into a notch 33 representing the key used, the controlling devices are immediately shifted to cause the actuator to rotate onits carrier during the rest of the reciprocation, except as it may be interrupted by a transfer. At the end of the return to normal stroke of the actuator, regardless of whether the operation was a Zero operation, or an operation to register an amount, the invariably moved actuator carrier restores the controlling devices to their original positions.

The controlling devices mentioned comprise a plate 57 slidably mounted on the stub shafts 58 fastened in adjacent machine frame' ll, an arm 59- secured to a short rock shaft 60 and-pivoted at its lower end to the plates 57, andan element 61 '(Figs. 1 andv 3)}falso secnred'to-the. rock shaft 60. This elinient fil 'normally rests in the position ates in Fig. 1 with the front edge of its lower arm 62 in engagement with one of the mealslota' in' the edge of a disk 63 (Figs: '1. and 5') rigidly secured to the actuator .14; The. arm 62 of theelement 61' is long enough to remain in engagement with the slots of the disk 63'during the entire actuating stroke of the actuator. Fulcrumed at 70 on the upper arm of the element 61 is a member 64 swinging from the rod 67 with twov teeth 65 and 66 to engage the threads of the actuator 14. The tooth 65 engages the helical portion only of the threads, while the tooth 66 engages the threads higher up and if it is in engagement when the longitudinal portion of the threads is carried into contact with it, rotation of the actuator is prevented. When the latch 23 is projected into one of the notches 33 of the locking plate 34 a stud indicated by the dotted out- III 'the actuator the line 21 and which is simply an extension of the pivot 21, strikes the bevel 67 of the corresponding notch in plate 57 and the plate is cammed upward and latched in the raised position by gravity pawl 73 provided with a laterally extending lug 74 engaging a notch 75 in the upper edge of the plate. This movement of the plate 57 throws the lower end of the arm 59 toward the rear of the machine and rocks the shaft 60 thereby withdrawing the arm 62 of the element 61 from engagement with the disk 63. This swings the center 70 in toward the actuator and the member 64 is swung on the pivot 67 from which it is suspended, so that the tooth 65 is drawn into engagement with the helical portion of the threads of the actuator, thereby causing the actuator to turn on the rod 15 as it is moved along the rod and past the tooth 65. It will be seen that as long as the arm 62 is in engagement with a notch in theperiphery of the disk 63 the actuator will travel rigidly with its carrier and as the threads of the actuator are at all times in mesh with the teeth of the gear 68, which is rigid with the totali'zer wheel 72, the'totalizer wheel will be rotated, and that when the arm 62 is withdrawn and the tooth 65 swung into engagement with the threads of wheel will be held in the position that it is occupying at that time.

As previously indicated, the transfer from a wheel of lower to a wheel of higher denomination is made by rendering the actuator for the higher wheel effective to rotate its wheel one division. Each of the totalizer wheels 72 is part of an element comprising the totalizer wheel, the gear 68 and a sleeve 69, all three being rigid together and rotatmg about a rod 71 extending through the j machine frames with spacing sleeves 81 (Fig. 2) holding the elements in their proper longitudinal positions on the shaft The tooth 82 of the gear 68 is longer than the other teeth of the gear and is so placed with reference to the totalizer wheel 72 that as the latter turns to carry the 9 past the reading line.thi-s long tooth will engage the lower arm 83 of a two-armed element 84 attached to one end of a short rock shaft 85 extending through the machine frame 1]. between the banks involved in the transfer operation and rock the shaft. Attached to the other end of the rockshaft 85 is another two-armed element 86. The lower arm of this element 86 carries a pin 87 which holds one end of a. spring 88, the other end of the spring being attached to a pin 91 in the machine frame 11. When these parts are in their normal position the line between the two pins, and, consequently, the line of the' tension of the spring passes slightly below the center of the shaft 85. \Vhen the long tooth 82 of the gear 68 engages the arm 83 and rocks the shaft 85 and the element 86 the line of spring tension is raised abovethe center of the shaft 85 and the spring then rocks the shaft still farther in a counter-clockwise direction. A link 92 connects the upwardly extending arm of the element 86 and the member 64 and when the element 86 is rocked anti-clockwise through the action of the gear tooth 82 and the spring 85 this link 92 rocks the member 64 on its pivot and throws the tooth 66 into engagement with the threads of the actuator 14 and at the same time withdraws the tooth 65,'should it be in engagement with the actuator thread. If, when this movement 'occurs, the element 61 is positioned so that its arm 62 is still in engagement with the disk 63 of the actuator, thereby preventing rotation of the actuator and causing it to add an amount represented by a key depressed in that bank, the center 70 is held away from the actuator 14 and the movement of the member 64 is stopped by the pin. 7 9 so that the tooth 66 cannot engage the threads of the" actuator. Then, when the element 61 is swung out of engagement with the disk 63 by movement of the plate 57, the center 70 is thrown in toward the actuator, thereby carrying the tooth 66 the rest of the way to bring it into engagement with the actuator threads. As long as the tooth 66 is in engagement with the helical portion of the actuator thread, the actuator rotates just the same as when the tooth 65 is in engagement, but as soon as the tooth 66 comes in contact with the longitudinal portion 93 of the threads the rotation of the actuator is prevented long enough to cause it to rotate its wheel 72 one division. Just at the end of the downward or actuating stroke a disk 94 carried by the actuator strikes the upper arm 95 of the element 84 and throws the tension of the spring 88 below the center of the shaft 85 so that the spring'roc'ks the shaft 85 and the parts carried by it back to normal position; This movement, through the link 92, carries the tooth 66 out of engagement with the actuator and throws the tooth 65 into engagement and the latter tooth remains in engagement until the actuator reaches its normal position. Just at the end of the upward or return to normal stroke-of the actuator, an extension 78 of the carrier 10 enages an arm77 attached to the same rock shaft as the gravity pawl 73 and raises this pawl out of engagement with the notch 75 in the plate 57. At this time the differential mechanism has practically completed its return movement to the normal position and the depressed key 38 is released, thereby causing the nose 29 of the pawl 26 to be thrown forward above the block 31 of the latch mechanism. Releasing the key and disengaging the pawl 73 permits a spring 80 stretched between the element 61 and the machine frame 11 to restore the rock shaft 60 and the parts carried 'by it. This restoring movement swings the element 64 rearward to disengage the tooth 65 from the threads of the actuator and also, through the arm 59, lowers the plate 57 to its original position.

The spiral arrangement mentioned above of the driving cams 2 is for the purpose of operating the actuators successively, beginning with the actuator of lowest value, thereby giving time for transfers involving any number of the actuators.

While it is thought that the above detailed description is clear, the following brief summary of the operation of the machine may contribute to a thorough understanding of the improvements. In the first place it should be remembered that the actuators are always in engagement with their corresponding totalizer elements and that the actuators are connected to the driving mechanism by carriers which are given an invariable movement on every operatlon of thedriving mechanism. The actuators are, therefore, given a corresponding invariable movement first down and then up. In the embodiment shown all the movements imparted by them to their totalizer elements are imparted during the downward movement of the actuators. In addition to this invariable movement, which is rectilinear, the actuators are capable of rotation during said rectilinear movement. When rotation is prevented the-actuators and their carriers move rigidly together and afiect the total izer elements the same as a rack. If the actuators are caused to rotate during the rectilinear movement the totalizer elements are not rotated but are held in position by the actuators turning idly across the face of and between the teeth of the totalizer gears. When the register is at the fully oper ated position, that is, with all of the mechanism ready for the next operation, the driving mechanism and the differential mechanism of the different banks are connected bythe plungers 23 carried by the differential mechanism being in engagement with the plate 7 of the driving mechanism and the devices controlling the rotation of the actuator are in engagement with the notched disk rigidly connected to the actuators. If the machine was operated with the parts in these positions the actuator would travel vertically first down and then up without rotation and act as a rack to rotate the totalizer wheel. However, the pawl 26 is normally held by its spring in such a position that if an attempt is made to operate the register with no key depressed, this pawl will immediately disconnect the difi'erential'mechanism from the driving mechanism by drawing the plunger 28 out of engagement with the plate 7. As the plunger is drawn out of engagement a stud moving with it engages the bevel upper side of the lowest or zero notch in the plate 57 sliding the plate upward and toward the rear of the machine, 7

in which position it is latched by a gravity pawl. This plate is pivotally connected at its upper end with an arm 59 attached to the rock shaft 60 which carries the element 61, and as the plate 57 moves up and rearward this shaft is rocked to carry the arm 62 of the element 61 out of engagement with the notched disk attached to the actuator. This movement of the element 61 throws its upper end toward the actuator and carries the lower tooth of a member 64,'swung from the pivot 67, into engagement with the threads of the actuator. The movement 61 into engagement with the actuator and throwing the tooth 65 out of engagement with the threads of the actuator, thereby restoring the devices ready for the next operation. If, during this zero operation, a transfer is turned in from the next lower wheel the operation is the same except that when the long tooth 82 of the totalizer gear reaches the proper point in the rotation it trips the transfer devices and the link 92 to which the member 64 is pivoted'is thrown toward the front of the machine. The pivot of the member 64 then acts as a fulcrum about which the member 64 operates and the tooth 65 is withdrawn from engagement with the actuator threads and the tooth 66 thrown into engagement. In other words the control of the rotation of the actuator is instantaneously transferred from the tooth 65 to the tooth 66 and the tooth 66 will then be effective when the longitudinal section 93 of the actuator threads strike it to stop rotation of the actuator and cause the actuator to rotate its totalized element. Just at the end of the downward movement of the actuator the disk 94 restores the tripped transfer devices to their original position and the tooth 65 is then in engagement with the actuator threads while the actuator is carried back up to its starting point. Just as it reaches its original position an extension on the actuator carrier releases the gravity pawl which latches the plate 57 in the raised position and the actuator control ling devices are all restored to normal with the element which prevents rotation of the actuator in engagement. If a key in a bank is depressed the disconnecting pawl 26 is extending end of the depressed key. Dur

ing the travel from the starting point to the point where the key disconnects the diff'erential and the driving mechanism the actuator is held against rotation but moves vertically in the usual way and it therefore turns its totalizer element a distance corresponding to the value of the key depressed. As soon as the differential mechanism and the driving mechanism are disconnected the operation of the actuator either idly to hold the totalizer wheel in position or when interrupted by a transfer from the lower bank, is the same as described in connect-ion with the zero operation. In other words the extent of rotation that the actuator can give its totalizer element is determined by the distance the differential mechanism is carried up from the starting point before it is disconnected from the driving mechanism. If it is disconnected at the start of the operation, nothing is registered. If it travels up, for example, to the five key, the actuator will be efiective to rotate its totalizer w'heel five divisions before it is rendered ineffective by the shifting of the controlling devlces.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to'fulfil the objects primarily stated,'it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

. What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a member to be driven in one direction only, a driving member constantly in engagement with the driven member and having an invariable extent of movement, and manipulative means for predetermining the distance the driving member is to drlve the driven member.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a member to be driven in one direction only, a driving member constantly in engagement with said driven member and having an invariable extent of movement, means normally preventing said driving member from moving the driven member, and manipulative devices for disabling said preventing means and predeterminingthe distance the driving member is to drive the driven member.

3. In machine of the class described, the combination of a member to be driven in one direction only, a driving member constantly in engagement with the driven member and having an invariable extent of movement, manipulative devices, and means controlled by said manipulative devices whereby the invariably moved driving member will differentially move said driven member.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a driving element given invariable excursions by operations of the operating mechanism, a driven element constantly in engagement with and driven in one direction only by said driving element, and manipulative means whereby the driving element may be rendered efiective to drive the driven element predetermined distances during one direction of the invariable excursion and ineflective during the remainder of the excursion.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a driving member and a driven member, said driven member being at all times in engagement with the driving member and designed to be driven in one direction only, means whereby the driving member is reciprocated an invariable distance, and manipulatively controlled devices for predetermining the distance the driving member is to drive the driven member and rendering the driving member effective to hold the driven member station ary during the remainder of the reciprocation of the driving member.

6. In a machine of the .class described, the combination with a driven element comprising a gear, a rotatable driving element having a helical thread always in engagement with said gear, a positively operated carrier for giving said actuator an invariable excursion, and manipulative devices under the coritrol of which said driving element will move rigidly with its carrier to drive the driven element and then rotate on its carrier during the remainder of its excursion to hold the driven member in position.

7. In a machine of the class described. the combination with a driven element comprising a gear having spirally disposed teeth, a rotatable driving element having a helical thread always in engagement with said gear, a positively operated carrier giving said actuator an invariable excursion. and manipulative devices under the control of which said driving element will drive the driven member to a predetermined position and then hold it in that position.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable member. a member constantly in engagement with the rotatable member and having an invariable extent of movement. and manipulative devicesunder the control of which said invariably moved mcmber will differentially rotate the rotatable member.

9. In amachine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a rotatable element bearing a plurality ofcharacters only one of which is to be effective at a time, a driving member permanently in engagement with said rotatable member and reciprocated an invariable distance on every operation of said operating mechanism, and manipulative devices under thecontrol of which said driving member may be caused'to rotate the rota-table element to render any desired one of its characters effective.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a rotatable element, a driving member at all timesin engagement with said rotatable element and reciprocated an invariable distance on all operations of the operating mechanism, and manipulative means wherebyv the driving element may be rendered effective to rotate the rotatable element predetermined distances during one direction of the reciprocation and ineffective during the remainder of the reciprocation.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a totalizercomprising a plurality of rotatable elements, a plurality of actuators, said actuators being at all times in engagement with their corresponding totalizerelements, means whereby said actuators are reciprocated an invariable distance on all operations of the operating mechanism, and manipulative means for predeterminingthe distance the actuators are to rotate their respective totalizer elements during the reciprocating movement of the actuators. I

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of an accounting device comprising a plurality of rotatable elements, a plurality of driving elements for said rotatable elements, said driving elements-being at all times in engagement with the rotatable elements and reciprocated invariable distances on all operations of the operating mechanism, and manipulatively controlled devices for predetermining the extent of rotation the driving elements are to give their accounting device elements and rendering the driving elements ineffective to drive their accounting elements during the rest of the reciprocating movements of the drivers.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of an accounting device comprising a plurality of rotatable elements, a plurality of driving elements for said rotatable elements, said driving elements being at all times in engagement with the rotatable ele-' ments and receiving excursions of an invariable distance on all operations of the operating mechanism, and manipulative devices under the control of which said driving elements will differentially rotate the aforesaid rotatable elements during the excursions of the driving elements and render said driving elements effective to hold the rotatable elements stationary during the rest of the excursions.

'14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable totalizer element, a rotatable actuator constantly in engagement therewith. and having an invariable rectilinear movement, and means for rotating the actuator during its rectilinear movement thereby preventing the actuator from rotating its totalizer element.

engagement with the movable totalizer elements and being reciprocated an invariable distance on all operations of the operating mechanism, a plurality of manipulative devices, and means controlled by said manipulative devices for predetermining the distances the actuators are to move their totalizer elements during the reciprocating movement and disabling the actuators during the remainder of their reciprocations.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a totalizer comprising a series of movable elements, actuators, said actuators being at all times in engagement with the totalizer elements and moving an invariable extent on all operations of the operating mechanism, a series of keys, and means controlled by said keys forpredetermining the extents of movement to be given said movable elements by the actuators on operations of the operating mechanism.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a totalizer wheel, an actuator for said totalizer wheel, said actuator being constantly in engagement with said totalizer wheel and having an invariable extent of movement on all operations of the operating mechanism, manipulative devices, and means controlled by said manipulative devices for causing said invariably moved actuator to differentially rotate the totalizer wheel.

19. In a machine of the class described, thecombination with an operating mechanism, of a totalizer, actuators for said totalizer, said totalizer and actuators being at the actuators invariable excursions on all operations of the operating mechanism, and manipulative devices for predetermining amounts to be entered in the totalizer by the actuators.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a totalizer, invariably moved actuators for said totalizer, said actuators and totalizer being at all times in engagement, and manipulative devices for predetermining amounts to be entered in the totalizer by the actuators and rendering the actuators ineffective to operate the totalizers after the proper entry has been made.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a totalizer unit designed to be turned in one direction only, an actuator, said actuator being at all times in engagement with the totalizer unit and being given an invariable extent of movement on all operations of the operating mechanism, manipulative devices, and means controlled by said manipulative devices whereby said actuators may be rendered efiect-ive to turn the totalizer unit desired distances and then rendered effective during the remainder of the invariable movement to retain the totalizer unit in the position to which it was turned.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer having a plurality of rotatable elements, actuators, said actuators being at all times in engagement with the rotatable elements, devices for carrying said actuators an invariable distance,

and means normally causing the actuators to rotate on their carriers to prevent them from rotating their totalizer elements.

23. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a totalizer unit comprising a gear having spirally disposed teeth, of a rotatable. actuator having a helical thread always in engagement with said gear teeth, a carrier for said actuator, said carrier giving the actuator an invariable rectilinear movement, and devices for causing the actuator to rotate on its carrier during said rectilinear movement, thereby holding the totalizer unit stationary.

2a. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer unit corn prising a gear, of a rotatable actuator having a helical thread always in engagement with said gear teeth, a carrier for said actuator, said carrier giving the actuator an in variable rectilinear movement, and manipulative devices under control of which rotationof the actuator on its carrier may be prevented,

25. In a machineof the class described, the combination with. a rotatable totalizer unit comprising a gear having spirally disposed teeth, of a rotatable actuator having a helical thread always in engagement with said gear teeth, a carrier for said actuator, sa1d carrier giving the actuator a'rectilinear movement of invariable extent, devices normally causing the actuator to rotate on its carrier during said rectilinear movement thereby holding the totalizer unit stationary, and manipulatively controlled means for disabling said devices and causing the actuator to move rigidly with its carrier thereby rotating the totalizer element,

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer comprising a plurality of rotatable elements, of a plurality 0t actuators at all times in engagement with and normally efiective to rotate sa d totalizer elements, devices for giving sa1d actuators invariable excursions, a pluralityv of keys, differential mechanism controlled by said keys, a detent operated by sa1d difi'erential mechanism, and devices operated by said detent for renderingthe actuators ineilective to rotate the totalizer elements and efiective to hold said elements stationary.

27. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a plurality of adding wheels, of a series of invariably moved actuators at all times in engagement with the corresponding adding wheels, means operated by lower denomination adding wheels whereby the next higher denomination actuators are enabled to perform carrying operat1ons, and elements carried by the actuators for restoring said means to normal.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of adding wheels, of a series of invariably moved actuators at all times in engagement with their corresponding adding wheels, and means operated by lower denomination adding wheels whereby the next higher denominat1o n actuators are enabled to perform carrylng operations.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer comprising a plurality of rotatable elements, of a plurality of actuators at all times in engagement with and normally efiective to rotate said totalizer elements, devices for giving said actuators invariable excursions, a plurality of keys, differential mechanism controlled by said keys, a detent operated by sa1d difierential mechanism, and devices operated by said detent for rendering the actu-' ators ineffective to rotate the totalizer elements.

80. In a machine ot the class described, the combination with a driving mechanism, of a plurality of rotatable totalizer elements, a plurality of actuators at all times in en gagement with and normally effective to rotate said totalizer elements, devices for giving said actuators invariable excursions on all operations of the driving mechanism, a

act

plurality of keys, devices differentially positioned under control of said keys, a detent operated by said differentially positioned devices, and mechanism operated by said detent for rendering the actuators inefiective to rotate the totalizer elements and effective to hold the said elements stationary;

31. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main operating mechanism, of a rotatable totalizer element, a rotatable actuator always in engagement with said element and having an invariable rectilinear movement, a plurality of manipulative devices, devices differentially positioned under control of said manipulative devices by operations of the operating mechanism, a normally inefiectivedetent ren dered effective by positioning the differential devices, and devices controlled by said detent comprising an element preventing rotation of the actuator when the detent is in inefiective position and a second element causing rotation of the actuator when the detent is in efi'ective position.

82. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotatable totalizer element comprising a gear having spirally disposed teeth, of an actuator for said element having a helical thread always in engagement with said gear, a slotted disk carried by said actuator, a plurality of manipulative devices, difierential mechanism operating under control ,of said manipulative devices, a detent operated by the differential mechanism, and devices operated by said detent comprising an element engaging the aforesaid slotted disk when said detent is in normal position and a second element engaging the helical'thread of the actuator when the detent is in operated position.

33. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aidriving mechanism, of a plurality of totalizer elements, an actuator constantly in engagement with each of said elements, means whereby all actuators are given an invariable movement by operations of the driving mechanism, manipu latively controlled means for rendering the actuators ineffective to drive their totalizer elements during differential portions of said invariable movement, and means controlled by the totalizer elements for rendering the actuators of the next higher elements effective to rotate their respective totalizer element's one division.

34. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a driving mechanism, of a plurality of totalizer elements, an independent actuator for each element, sa1d actuators being at all times in engagement with their respective elements, means whereby all actuators are given an invariable movement by operations of the" driving mechanism, and means controlled by the totalizer elements for rendering the actuators of the next higher elements effective to rotate their respective elements one division.

35. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer element, of an actuating device permanently connected thereto constructed to actuatethe totalizer element in adding and carrying operations and to hold said element against movement in either direction between such operations.

36. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a digit carrier to be driven in one direction only, of an invariablyvmoved actuator constantly in engagement with said digit carrier, means for rendering said actuator eifective and ineflective to drive the digit carrier during differential portions of its invariable movement, and manipulative devices for con trolling said means.

- 37. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a digit carrier, of an invariably moved element constantly in engagement with the digit carrier, means for rendering the invariably moved element effective to drive the digit carrier during differential portions of the invariable movement and ineffective during the rest of said movement, and manipulative devices for controlling said means.

38. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a digit carrier, of an actuator constantly in engagement therewith, said actuator having a reciprocatory movement and being capable of rotary movement during its reciprocatory movement, means for preventing rotary move ment of the actuator during differential portions of its reciprocatory movement whereby to differentially drive the digit carrier, and manipulative devices for controlling said means.

39. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a rotatable member designed to be rotated in one direction only, a driving member constantly in engagement with said rotatable member and making an excursion of invariable extent on all operations of the operating mechanism, and manipulatively controlled devices for predetermining the degree of rotation to be given the rotatable member by the driving member and disabling the driving member during the remainder of its excursion.

40. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of totalizer elements, of a "series of actuators appropriate thereto and constantly in engagement therewith, said actuators having a reciprocatory movement and being capable of rotary movement during their reciprocatory movements, means for preventing rotary moyement 0f the actuators during difier- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature enti'al'portlons of their reciprocatory movein the presence of two witnesses. ments whereby to difierentially drive the totalizer elements, manipulative devices for THOMAS MIDGLEY, JR. 5 controlling said means, and means actuated by the totalizer elements for preventing ro- Witnesses:

tation of higher order actuators whereby to R. O. GLAss,

effect carrying operations. CA'RL BENST.

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