US1226058A - Electrically-controlled calculating-machine. - Google Patents

Description

'1. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED'CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1916.

1,226,058. Patented May15f1917.

.9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOH gm 1/ 474 J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12,1916- Patented May 15, 1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Illa-Ill min-nun. IIIIIIIIII h fla 2 J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1916.

1;226,058. Patented May \15,1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w, X liiiiiiimwiflum -61; ATTORNEYS J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man APR. 12. 1916.

1,226,058. Patented May15, 1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. I I In I W v i2 I I l/WE/VTOR y KL FTZRW J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTR ICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-12.1916.

1,226,058. Patented May15,1917. f I 9 SHEETSSHEET 6. f

J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 12, I9I6. '1 1,226,058.- Patented May 10,1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Fi A2 [2.9T

- INVEN W A daf y :1

J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. I916. I

Patented May 15, 1917.

I, 9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

- BI" lwf 0/ ATTOH EIZ.

J. W. BRYCE.

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, l9l6. 1,226,058. Patented May15,1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

ELAPSED TIME Fly /7 ELAPSED TIME 1 0 m1 mm!- INVE/VTUR 29M 7/ JAMES w. BRYCE, or BLooiaFmLn, NEW JERSEY. 1

ELEcrnrcALLY-conrnoLLnD cnncumrrne-macnmn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1916. Serial No. 90,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WJBRYoE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, county of- Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Electrically-Controlled Calculating-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. v

I have heretofore devised and constructed what are commonly known in the trade as office machines, the functions of which are to calculate from cards perforated at. different points to correspond with the in and out times of workmen on the jobs which they have completed, the time that elapsed between the two .punchihgs, or in other words the exact time-occupied in the work.

These machines contain suitable devices for printing at a given point on the cards a record of this elapsed time, or perforating in a predetermined manner and place the same or other cards which are subsequently used on a computingmachine to produce footings of the total time required for certain classes of work or other data-useful in carrying onproperly amanufacturing enterprise.

My machines have, however, been heretofore purely mechanical in their details of construction and intheir operation, but the tendency of late years having been to utilize the peculiarly advantageous properties of an electric current for operating or controlling the operation of all such. machines, I have now developed an apparatus largely electrical in character for this. purpose, the novel features of which Inow seek to protect by a patent which I solicit upon my present application.

That my improvements, their nature and their purpose may be clearly understood, I shall give in general terms a description of my new machine, mainly by recourse to a statement of its mode. of operation, and follow this with a more detailed explanation, by reference to the drawings, ofthe construction which I have devised and adopted for the purpose.

In machine shops, factories and the like,.

each workman, at the time of beginning a given piece of work inserts into a time recording machine an identifying card which is punched at a certain point with one or more holes the position of which on the'card indicates the exact .in time of the operation. Similarly on the completion of the job, the card is inserted into thesame or a similar machine which punches holes therein which by their number and position indicate the out or finishing time. I

These cards are collected and sent to the office where they are bunched and placed in the receiving container of a calculating machine, from whence they are removed, one at a time, and moved into a chute through which they are conveyed. In passing, the cards are carried under aI-series of brush contacts which in passing over theperforations there- 7 in, set in operation properly constructed devices to turn and adjust time indicating type wheels and othermechanism which calculates the time which has elapsed between the in and the out perforations and prints the record thereof upon a certain part of the card, or perforates the card so that the punched holes will indicate the elapsed time, and the card is then passed out of the machine to be utilized either as a record of The fact or on a computing machine to tabuate it.

To effect these operations by electrically operated means involves somewhat difficult problems, and my invention resides in the means which I havedevised for solving the same. These I have illustrated fully in the accompanying drawings to which I now refer.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but of the opposite side of the instrument.

Fig. 4 is abroken vertical sectional View along the line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal Fig. 6 isfaplan view ofthe electro-magnets employed in the machine. I

Patented May 15, 1917'.

Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of my ofthe same as p a section on the plane; indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the machine with portions removed .to

exhibit the interior mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the main cam shaft with certain parts connected therewith.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the means for adjusting the time indicating type-wheels.

' Fig. 10 is a similar view of the same parts atright angles to the preceding figure.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism of the preceding two figures.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14, are enlarged details of circuit breakers and the cams for operating the same.

Flg. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of all the working parts and circuit connections of the machine. a

Figs. .16 and 17, areviewsof one of the cards before and after receiving a record of.

the elapsed time, that is to say before and after passing through the machine.

Fig. 18 is a detailed view partly in section'of an attachment for punching in the cards holes which indicate the elapsed time,

Fig. 19 is a view of a portion of a card which has received the elapsed time punched. holes.

Similar reference numeralsindi'cate corresponding parts throughoiitl i c Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the instrumentis made up of working parts'associated and mounted in a metalframe or casing 1. At the top is a platform 2 to receive the cards 3 from the shop, a bundle of which is forced forward by a pressure plate 4:, im-

. pelled by cords 5 passingvover pulleys 6, and

Cit

- carrying weights 7. Secured to brackets in front of the cards are guide rods 8, upon which slide a plate or bar 9, carrying a feed claw 10, which when the plate 9 is lowered engages the first-card and forces it down through a slot between plate 2 and projections 11 on the rear of fingers 12 secured to the frame of the machine. This slot is of such width as to permit but one card to pass at a time. The plate 9 is reciprocated by connecting rods 13, eccentrically pivoted to a gear wheel 14 on one side-of the machine .and to a disk 15 on the shaft of such wheel at the opposite side. This mechanism for I enter.

- grip the card as it enters the chute and force it downward through the same. The right hand'roll 18 of each pair is driven by gear wheels 19, while the left hand rolls have gears 20 meshing with 19, and forced into close contact with the other rolls by spring actuated bell crank levers 21, on which they are mounted. v

Between the'two sets of rolls 17 and 18 an insulated conducting plate 22 is set in the wall of the card chute and upoh this, insulated contact brushes 23, see Figs. 2 and 7,

By an inspection of Fig. 15, it will be ob- I served that each card 3, has at one part lines of numerals from 0 to 9, which numerals are punched out by the time recording machine when the card is inserted therein. The lines "correspond to tenths, units and tens of units of time forthe-in andfor the out operations-and as the holes that may be punched in any-given card pass under their appropriatebrushes,"the latter make contact with the plate 22, and establish circuits which effeet the necessary and corresponding operations of the machine, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

For present .purposes, sufiice it to say that thG 'bIfUShGS 23, operate to turn and ad ust to positions corresponding to the time which elapsed between the punching of the numerals in the card, a series of time indicating type wheels 24, and after the card has reached the bottom of the chute printing levers 25 operated by a properly timed cam '26, are thrown forward against an inking ribbon and print upon the card as shown in F ig. 17,-.the time that elapsed between the in and the out punched holes.

To insure the proper printing the type wheels as they are approximately adjusted to position are locked in exact position by the engagement of a gear or star wheel 011 the shaft with a locking pawl 27, on a shaft 28, rocked by an armature 29, which is attracted by a magnet 30, the circuit of which is'closed by a timed cam 68, see Figs. 14: and 15, on the main cam shaft 44 01? the machine which brings together two contact terminals 69, and energizes the magnet 30 as will be laterexplained in connection. with Fig. 15. During the printing operation and for a brief interval thereafter the card, it will be observed, has passed beyond the control ofthe rolls 18, and rests on the bottom of the chute.

After the printing operation has been effected, a cam 31 on the shaft of the gear wheel'l i, and disk 15, operates a bell crank lever 32 engaging with the bottom plate 33 of the chute and shifts the latter a short distance to the right. This opens a slot 3 1 between said bottom plate and a fixed plate 33 and in line with the card chute, and. at the same time rolls 35 carried by pivoted arms 36 are forced in the card chute toward a series of rolls 37, mounted in stationary hearings in said chute. The rolls 37 have at the end of.

their shaft 2. gear wheel 38 meshin with a gear wheel 39, which constantly revo ves, but solong as the rolls35 are not forced against them they have no tendency to move the card, butthe moment the two sets of rollscome together the card is gripped and forced down and passing between rolls- 40, one of which receives motion 1 from any suitable gear such as the wheel41, is geared to the other roll, and-is forced out by the machine into a hopper 42.

. Following now the series of operations that take place in connection with the means for adjusting the time indicating typewheelsz' When the slide 9 descends, it forces 'a card into the chute and between the two pressure rolls 17 and 18; These latter force the card down the chute until its lowermost row of numerals comes under the line of contact brushes 23, at which instant, by the operation of a cam 43 on the maincam shaft 44,,two contacts 45 are brought together and 47,-by a second cam 46 on shaft 44.- The movement of the type wheels forward or back is determined by the particular. vertical column ofnumerals in which the punched holes occur andthe relative positions of the holes in the two columns of any given pair,

and the extent of such movement is determined by the distance of such holes'from the breaking'line or the position of the card in the chute at which the main operating circuit is interrupted or by the space intervenmg between the in. and out holes of any given pair of columns.

I awe may consider the meansusedfor typewheel adjustment and supplement the description of the same by a subsequent explanation of the circuit connections and purely electrical features of the machine.

Three, type-wheels are used each with two series of evenly spaced numeral type or dies running from 0 to 9, in the same direction. These wheels are carried by sleeves 48, on a shaft 49, and are turned by pinion wheels 50, engaged by segmental rack bars 71 and the latter elements are supported on the ends of levers 51, rigidly secured to collars 52 capable of rotation-about a shaft 53, and provided with oppositelyvcut' teeth at their ends. With each of the lovers 51, are associated two clutch members 54 and 55, capable of being thrown into engagement with the toothed collars'by electro-magnetically controlled levers 56 Each clutch member carries a toothed pinion wheel 57, those on;

one side being in engagement with gears 58, on a shaft 59, while the others engage with similar gears 60 on a shaft61. By reference Bearing these facts in mindfor a time to Fig. 10, it will be seen that these parts are so arranged that clutch member 55 imparts rotation to the collar 52 in one direction so as toraise the engaging end of lever 51, while the other member 54, has the opposite effect and lowers said end of the same lever. The shifting clutch levers 56, being six in number are electro-magnetically operated, six electro-magnets 62 being mounted in the machine for throwing such levers against the force of retractile springs 63, and the gear wheels 58 and 60 are made of such width as to remain in engagement with the pinions 57 during the full course of movement imparted to the latter by the levers 56.

The normal position of the levers 51 and type-wheels is that which presents the zeros on the latter at the printing position, and this position is normally maintained by bifurcated plates or forks 64,.which are secured to slides 65, and shifted back and forth at predetermined times by bell crank levers 66, operated by a timed cam 67 The rear ends of the levers 51, are of reduced width and carry rollers 70 which travel over the inclined surfaces ofthe forks toward the narrow center of the same, and the adjustment is such that after the operation of printing the forks 64 are forced forward and the levers and type wheels reset inv normal tion.

The segmental rack bars 71 are secured to the widened ends of levers 51, by screws 7 2 passing through slots in the racks, so that position ready for the next operathe latter are capable of such. movementrelatively to the levers that when shifted from their normal position as. far as the slots will permit the racks will shift the type-wheelsthrough a space equal to that between the centers of two adjacent type.

A. bell crank lever 7 3 is pivoted to each lever 51, and is adapted to be shifted to move its rack by a small electro-magnet 74, carried by the lever. These parts are designed for use in the operation of calculating the elapsed time when the number representing the in hole and which is to be subtracted from that representing the out hole is larger than the latter. This operation will be more fully explained in connection with Fig. 15, to which reference will now be made.

The. machine being properly connected up, a workmans punched card is introduced into the chute and subjected to the operation of the device. As the card descends to the point where the row of brushes meets the lowermost line ofnumerals, a break in the circuit'of the battery or other source of current 7 5 as has been above explained, is closed by the operation of the timed cam 43; As the descent continues, assuming now an arbitrarily selected case for purposes of illustration, the in brush of the tenthspart of numeral columns encounters .the magnet 80 is energized but momentarily by the contact of the brush 23, it remains active until the battery circuit is broken.

The armature 81 is rigidly connected with and shifts a spring retracted contact lever 84 from its engagement with a stop 85, into contact with a stop 86 and by this operation a circuit is made from battery through wires 87, 88, and 89 to and through the lever 84,

a wire 90, a pivoted lever 91, a wire 92 connected with the stop for such lever to wire 78 and thence to battery.

The wire 89, forming part of this circuit however, contains the in magnet 62, which when energized throws the clutch lever 56 and starts ,the lever 51, in downward movement thus turning the type-wheel. At the same time however, a spring contact 93 carfied by the lever 51, comes in contact with a tion the type for the numeral 4, as the typewheel during the intervalbetween the two fixed contact plate 94, and completes a circuit from the battery through wires 87 and 95 the contact'plate 94 and spring 93, wire 96, the subtracting magnet 74 of the type- 1 wheel adjusting devices of the next higher order of units, wire 97 to wire 79 and back to battery. This operation therefore shifts the units rack to throw its type wheel downward the space of one character or numeral, and to present at the printing position the numeral 9 instead of the "character 0. i

The movement of the first or tenths rack sector 71 continues until the out *brush over the second tenths column'on the card comes in contact with the hole punched over the numeral 2. When this contact occurs the out magnet 80 is energized, its armature 98 is attracted and the lever 91 connected therewith is drawn away from its stop 99.

This interrupts the circuit through the in" magnet 62, and consequently the lever 51 stops 1n '1ts motion and the type-wheel will at that instant present at the printing posicontacts has been moved counter-clockwise through an arc of six spaces.

Considering now the third and fourth columns of numerals on the card which correspond to units: The card moves down the chute until the brush 23 forthe' fourth or out unit columns comes over the hole punched through. the numeral 4, which in a bankof punches 105, which latter punch the same manner described above, energizes the out units magnet 80 to which it sends current and establishes a circuit from wire 87 through wires 100 and 101, and the switch lever to the opposite pole of the battery. In so doing the out units clutch magnet 62 is energized and its corresponding lever 51 is raised until the in brush over the .third row of numerals meets the hole punched over the figure 3. I

In other words the units type-wheel is moved through an arc of a single space, in a clock-wise direction and normally this would bring to the printingposition the type for numeral 1, but by the immediately preceding operation of the subtracting magnet 74, the type-wheel was moved up one space'to present the character 9, so that the movement due to the out magnet brings to and leaves in the printing position the character 0.

Considering finally the fifth and sixth columns. The out brush or that over the sixth column reaches the hole punched over the numeral 2, and its corresponding out controlling magnets therefore set the tens type-wheel rotating in a clockwise direction. This movement continues until the in brush comes to the hole punched at numeral 1, so that the wheel has been moved only one space when its further motion is checked and as the subtractingmagnet in this case was not operated, the three wheels will present at the printing position the three characters 104, and the printed record asshown in Fig. 17 will show the elapsed time orthat occupied by the job to be 10 hours and 4 tenths of an hour. is

In the meantime as the card passes down after the wheels are set into" the printing position, the timed cam 46 breaks the bit.- cuit,demagnetizes all the magnets and the parts automatically resume their normal position, ready for the next operation.

It should be observed that whenever the numeral which indicates in time in any column is greater than that which in its companion column indicates the out? time and consequently is encountered by the brush first, the subtracting magnet for the next higher'order of units is operated but not otherwise.

I have devised certain modifications ofthe apparatus which I ma vindicate. For example the rack bars. 1, or others.oorrespending thereto, may raise or lower stops 102, Fig. 18, which are carried in a pivoted frame 103, which by means of a toggle 104 maybe thrown at the proper moment against holes in a card as shown in Fig. 19, to indicate either aloneor in conjunction with the printed record the elapsed time. Such punched cards are useful with tabulating machines in well known ways.

From the mere statement above of the punching attachment, it will be seen that the lnvention is not limited to the specific details of the device described, for the levers 51, might be used to adjust any kind of recording mechanism whether printing, punching or some other-form.

and may be altered and modified to suit inv dividual taste or special conditions;

What I regard as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the followin claims a 1. In an e ectrically operated elapsed time calculatin machine which comprises means for intro ucing and moving through the machine punched time cards, means for closin a an electric circuit when the punched ho es are encountered by contacts and means for recording the calculated time, the cal culating mechanism herein described consisting m the combination with type wheels indicating time units, of means foradjusting the same to brmgthe proper type to prmting'position, electro-magnets for controlling the operation :of the same, and circuit controllers for limiting the activity of such magnets to the periods which elapse between the encounteringof the holes in the cards by tlfe contacts. i l

g 2. In an electrically operated elapsed time calculating machine which comprises means for introducing and moving through the machme punched time cards, means for closing an electric circuit when the punched holes are encountered by contacts,- and calculating mechanism herein described conslsting inthe combination with type wheels mdlcatmg time units, of means for adjust ing the same to bring the proper type to printing position, electro-magnets for controlhng the operation of the same, "Ql1'0l1lil controllers for limiting the activity of such magnets to the periods which elapse between" I the encountering of the holes in the cards by the'contacts and subtracting magnets controlled by the circuit controllers for throwing back the type-wheels represent ing units of higher value one space whenever the first or in figure of any group of units is greater than the second vor out;

figure of the same group.

3. a calculating machine such as herein described, the combination with electromagnetic type-wheel adjusting mechanism,

type-wheel until its motion is checked by the energization of the other magnet.

5. In a calculating machine controlled in its operation by current impulses produced by the relative movement of contacts and time cards punched with lines of holes which by their position indicate different points of time, the combination with electro-magnctic type-wheel adjustingmechanism of circuit controllers operated by the said current impulses, either magnet when once energized being adapted to set and maintain the adjusting mechanism in operation, the other magnet being adapted "when subsequently energized to throw such mechanism out of operation.

' 6. In a calculating machine, the combination of a card chute and means for engaging and advancing punched time cards through the same, a series of contacts in line with the lines of perforations, typewheel adjusting mechanism operated and controlled by the contacts in passing over the punched holes onto a conducting surface, printing mechanism and a time mechanism for operating the same after the typewheels have been fixedly adjusted to show the a elapsed time between perforations in the card. means for recording the calculated time, the 1,

7. In a calculating machine, the combination of means for passing punched workmenis' cards through a suitable chute, indicating wheels, levers having toothed racks of circuit controllers for operating the same,

nism and timed means for restoring the le vers to normal position after the operations of the adjusting and printing mechanisms have been efi'ected.

' 8. In a calculating machine, the combination of a card chute and means for engaging and advancing punched cards through the same, time indicating type-wheels, electric circuits controlled by the perforations in passing a given point or line for adjusting the type-wheels to positions determined by the positions of the punched holes, a stop encountered by the cards to hold them stacircuits for saidmagnets controlled in their effects by the position of the punched holes in the cards, printing mechanism and timed restoring means for setting the levers back to normal position after'each operation of the printing mechanism.

'10. In an elapsed time calculating machine, the combination of means for passing punched workmens time cards through a suitable chute, rotatably mounted typewheels, adjusting levers therefor, clutches for engaging with the rotary supports of said heater and turning them in opposite directions, electro-magnets for operating said clutches, circuits containing, the magnets which are made or broken by the passage of the holes in the cards across a given line,

- printing mechanism and timed restoring devices for setting thelevers to normal position after each operation of the said printing mechanism.

'11 In a calculating machine, the combination with means for passing punched workmens time cards through a suitable chute, indicating wheels and electro-magnetically control ed means for adjusting the same in accordance with. the position of the holes in the cards, time electro-m'agnetically controlled means for'locking the indicating wheels when set, printing mechanism and means for restoring the wheels'to normal position after each ing mechanism.

12. In a calculating machine, the combimation with means for passing punched workmens time cards through a suitable chute, indicating-wheels and electro-magnetically controlled meansfor adjusting the same in accordance with the position. of the holes in the card, timed'jelectro-magnetically controlled means for locking'jthe type-wheels when set, and-means forrestoring the typewheels to normal positionafteneach printing operation.

13. In an elapsed time calculating machine of the kind described, the combination with means for passing-through the machine punched workmens time cards, indicating-wheels and 'means for. adjusting the same in accordance with the position of the punched holes inthe cards, the said means comprising levers, segmental racks carried operation of the printthereby and engaging with the indicatin wheels, and movable relatively to \the sai levers, subtracting electro-magnetswarried by the levers and armatures operated thereby for shifting the rack bars to turn the type-wheels one space.

'14. The means for adjusting atype-wheel in an elapsed time calculating machine which comprises in combination a rotatably mounted lever, a segmental rack bar carried thereby with capability of limited move ment thereon, an electro-magnet fixed to the lever and an armature lever operated thereby for shifting the rack. bar through its limit of movement with respect to the lever.

15. In an elapsed time calculating machine, the combination of the following instrumentalities, means for passing a.

punched time card through the machine,

type-wheels, electro-magnetically controlled means for adjusting the same, circuits and means for making and breaking the same according to the positions of the punched holes in the card, timed mechanism for'printing from the adjusted wheels, and timed means for restoring the type-wheels to normal position after each operation of rinting.

16. In an elapsed time ca culatin machine, the combination of the allowing instrumentalities:means for passing punched time cards through the machine,

type-wheels and electro-magnetically controlled means for'adjusting the same, circuits including such means, contacts cod 1' ating with thepunched cards for contro said circuits, printing mechanism, tim

means for lockm the type-wheels when adjusted, and time type-wheels to normal position after operation oi the printing mechanism.

means for restoring the 17. In an elapsed time calculating m'a-- chine of the kind described, the combination with electro-magnetic means for adjusting the type-wheels in opposite directions, electro-magnets for controllingthe circuits for the first named magnets and circuit controlling levers operated thereby, so arranged that the first operated levers will set and maintain a given type-wheel adjusting magnet in operation and the next operated levers will throw both adjusting magnets out of operation.

' 8. In an ela sed time calculating niachine of the kin described, the combination with the electro-magnetic means for adjusting1 the type-wheels of two magnets'for contro ling each of such means, and circuit controlling levers operated by such mazig'nets so rst will arranged that the levers operated set and maintain the-ty wheel adjust' means in operation unt' the operation g g the other set, and that one set of levers, if operated first will energize a. subtracting magnet in addition to operating the adjusting means.

19. In a calculating machine, the combination of means for passing punched cards through the machine, of a series of recording means, two clcctro-magnets for adjusting each of such means, circuits-for such magnets and two controlling magnets for each pair of adjusting magnets adapted to start and maintain them respectively in operation or to throw them out of operation.

20. In a calculating machine, the combination of means for passing punched cards through the machine, a series of type-wheels for indicating difl'erent units, the electromagnets for adjusting or turning said wheels in opposite directions and two controlling magnets for each pair of adjusting magnets, the operation of which isdependent upon the passage of the punched holes over a given'line, circuits controlled by said magnets for operating either of said adjusting magnets or for throwing both out of operation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

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