US1243992A - Cash-register. - Google Patents

Description

F. SKERL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. I912.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

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@ mwmw Frazgdsco Sfferl l I I awe F. SKERL.

' CASH REGISTER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1912.

1,243,992. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

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a. m Fm 11am! ww v Mug 3 F. SKERL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1912.

1,243,992. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witwmaw 81 5' Swim/tot F. SKERL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILE'D FEB. 17. I912.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

' awmuto'c I FBANCESCO'SKERL, or DAYTON, onr nssmnon-gmo rnnwarronnncasmnners'rnn' COMPANY, or arren; 01110, A conrona'rreu or onro; qnoonr'pr nrnn nr 1906.)

CASH-REGISTER;

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that- I, FiiANoEsco, SKERL, a citizen of Austria, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery andLState of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Im grovements. in I Cash-Registers, of which Iv eclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, I I This invention relates .tmacdountin'g ma} chines and more particularly. to the accumulating mechanism, thereof. v

Heretofore vcalculating machines have, been designed loaddamounts by, operating the totalizer in an additive direction, andto subtract'amounts by operating the totaliz er in a subtractive. direction. The present applicant is thought to be the first who, has designed anfaccumulatin'g device adapted to accumulate amounts by. operating the accumulator and actuators the Shortest possible extent, whether, it. bein-an additive, or subtractive direction, and to provide mechanism I for automatically effecting the movement. of:

the actuators and accumulator and control.- ling said movement both as to direction and extent.

The principal object of this invention is I to provide an accumulator, the elements of which are moved in the shorter distance in the accumulating of items, by the employment of subtraction of complementsof amounts,

Another object of this invention is to pro-- vide actuators for the elements of the accumulator, which actuators are variably m0v able in different directions for the purpose of effecting the accumulation of items on the accumulator.

A further object of this invention is to providemanipulative devices for determin ing both the direction and extent of move ment of the actuators.

A still iurther object of this invention is toprovide normally inoperative transfer devices which are rendered operative by the accumulating elements in either direction of movement of said elements.

' With these and incidental objects in view, theinvention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations'of parts, the essential; elem n sof which a e.

Specification of Letters -Yatel t Oct, 23; 19117; Applicatiqnfiled refine y-1 912; Sqr ai'Ke,e?,1e2. i A I i set. o nenp aded, aims, an a Pr 9m .5- mbodiment. lf h fi s. hereinafter described, with reference to I the drawings which accompany and form I part of the 'specification. 1

ur 1 r p e e t ,ndflfb ev t pn' sh i a h o e tes ar ie b 1 e m chi e m ng; h were m t one mo ments Fig, 2- is a; central transverse sectional view through, the improved machine.

Fig; 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the accumulator and the actuators therefor, thevarious parts being innormal position. I Y

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the accumulator, showing. said accumulator in engagement with the intermediate gearswhich form a partj'oij the actu a c I.

'Fig. 5 is a detail elevation ofthe opera-t ingmechanism for'moving the accumulator into engagement with the actuators.

Fig- 6 is a detail view time off the key operated slides and connections for control ling the enga ement of its corresponding actuator with t e driving mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the key latching detent.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cam and connections for operating the key detent shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the. cam and pitman for alining the indicating mechanism. I

Fig. L0 is a detail view of the operating mechanism for controlling the engagement between the actuators and the driving mechanism.

' Heretofore in accounting machines the elements of the accumulator were always driven in one constant direction in the accumulating of items, With the improved mechanism about to be described the accumulator elements are always driven to add in the shorter direction, that is to say, if the. elements stand at zero and it is desired to enter an item thereon including a series of nines, the elements instead of being moved nine spaces in an additive direction, as heretofolfirfirc moved in a subtractive direction one space only. In entering any of the digits from one to five, the accumulator ele' ments are moved in an additive direction, but when the digits from six to nine are entered, the said elements are moved in a subtractive direction distances corresponding to the complement of the digit being accumulated. It is immaterial in which direction the elements are moved in entering the digit five, as in either case the element is moved five spaces and it could be arranged to move in a subtractive just as'well as in an additive direction, but as shown in the drawings, the digit five is entered by moving the accumulator elements in an additive direction.

The construction outlined operates on a principle which as far as knownis novel in the art, namely, the principle of complemen-' tary subtraction. F or example, if 762 appears on the totalizer and the number 375 is to be added, this may be done either by direct addition or by subtracting the complement of each digit of the number 37 5, that is by subtracting 735. In either case the numeral wheels would indicate 037, and, neglecting questions of the transfer mechanism, this is the true result; The machine might, therefore, be designed to subtract in every case the complement of the amount to be added. The machine to be described, however, does not do this. It adds directly amounts from one to five units but subtracts the complements of amounts from six to nine units. Therefore the totalizer wheels are never moved more than five units at a time and may be moved either forwardly or reversely to add or subtract respectively, de pending upon the amount to be added.

It will be clear that the transfer devices usually employed in totalizing machines will not be sufiicient to take care of an operation of the type outlined. The Wheels may move additively and therefore the ordinary type of transfer is necessary, that is a transfer is required when any wheel passes from nine to zero positions in an adding direction. However, a transfer may be required if a wheel moves in the subtracting direction. For example, if the totalizing wheels indicate 14 and 9 isadded by the subtraction of 1, clearly the result should be 23 and this requires atransfer movement to be given to the tens wheel. However, a transfer is not necessary at every subtracting movement. For example, the wheelsmay stand at 11 and 8 be added thereto by subtracting 2. This reverse or subtracting movement of two steps of the unit wheel will clearly bring it to indicate 9, but no transfer to the tens wheel should take place.

It will be seen that in every case the question whether or not a transfer should occur on a subtracting movement of any wheel is determined by the question whether the wheel passes the zero position in a subtracting direction. If the Wheel merely reaches the zero position, then a transfer should take place, but if the wheel passes beyond the zero osition, then a transfer is not re quired Therefore the transfer mechanism which operates when the wheels move subtractively may be constructed to be tripped or set for operation at any subtracting or reverse movement of any totalizer-v-wheel, but

should be reset if the wheel passes or leaves the zero position thereof. In the present case a single transfer device for the wheel is provided, effective in either adding or subtracting directions of movement. In the adding direction it operates in a manner well known in the art. In'the subtracting direction it is tripped by the first movement of any totalizer wheel and remains tripped and is effective unless the totalizer wheel passes through its zero position, when it is reset or i'ender'e'd'ineflectiv'ei' v The "actuators for"theaccumulator elements are arranged to'be'moved variable distances in different directions' in order to impart an additive or subtractive movement to the accumulator elements, the extent and direction of movement of the actuators being controlled by manipulative devices in the form of keys. Suitable mechanism is provided forpositioning a series of indicators in accordance with the adjustment of the actuators.

The machine to which these improvements have been applied comprises a plurality of banks of value keys 1 Which are guided in key frames 2, the latter being supported by transverse shafts 3 and 1, which in turn are supported by the side frames 5 of the machine. The keys 1 are normally held in their outermost ositions by coil springs 6, which surround t e inner reduced portion of said keys, the ends of said springs abutting against shoulders formed by the reduced portion of said keys and a flange formed upon a portion of the key uide frame 2. Adjacent to each bank of eys is a detent plate 7 (Figs. 2 and 7) which has projecting therefrom lugs 8, which, when any of the keys is depressed, engage with shoulders 9 formed on the keys and latch them in their depressed positions. Each detent plate is pivotally supported by parallel links 11, which are pivotally mounted upon the key frame 2 by studs 12 screwed into said key frame. Each of the detents is held with its lugs 8 in contact with the upper surfaces of the keys 1 by springs 13.

If a key has been depressed by mistake it may be released by the operation of a lever 130 which is secured to one end of the lower most shaft 3 (Figs. 2 and 7). Secured to and projecting rearwardly from the shaft 3 is a plurality of arms 131, one for each bank arrays. Each r these ti is direc'flybeneath the lowermost supporting links 11 of the detents 7 and 'by this means the detents will be elevatedto release the key or keys depressed upon the rocking of the shaft 3 by the lever 130. The keys are also released by another 'meansnear t'he end of the "operation of the machine as hereinafter described.

rCq ip ratin with each bankof keys is an actuator 14 igs. '2 and 3) which is pivotallyinounted'iipon 'astu'd 15 projecting from its corresponding key frame 2. Pivoted adj ac'entto the actuator 14 of each bank is the driving mechanism therefor, which comprises two segmental plates 16, which are simultaneously moved in, opposite directions ed upon'the actuator 14. Projecting from 'th'e'arms 17 of each 'of'theflatching devices is a stud 19, which plays in a forked portion 20 of a multi-pronged lever 21, the latter being pivotally 'mounted as at 22 'upon the actuator 14. Projecting fromone of the prongs of each of the levers 21, carried by each of the actuators 14, is a boss 23 andjprojecting from said boss "is a stud 24. Engaging with the boss '23 and stud 24 of the uppermost lever 21 of each of the actuators 14 are arms 25 and 26 respectivelyfthe former being secured to the shaft 4 while the latter is loosely mounted upon said shaft and is of a bell crank formation as plainly shown in Fig. 2, The upper end of the vertical portionof the bell crank 26 is provided with an angled slot 27 in one portion of which rests a pin .28 projecting from a bell crank 29, which is supported by the stud 12 projecting from the key frame, The other end of thebell crank 29 is pivoted to the upper end ofa plate 30, the lower end of which is pivoted to a link 31, which is v supported by the lower stud 12. ,This plate 30 has a series of inclined notches'32 formed therein, which coiiperate with the key pins 33 of the five uppermost keys, and said plate is also provided with a series of four radial slots 34 with which cotiperate the pins 33 of the four lowermostkeys. From this it will be seen that it will be impossible to press a key of the lowermost series and one of the uppermost series in the same bank owing to the different angles of the slots 32 and 34 cut in the' plates 30, the purpose of which is to prevent the engagement of both of the latching devices carried by the actuator 14 with their respective driving segments 16 as will more fully hereinafter appear.

' Ajspring 135, connected at its ends to pins 136, one of which projects from the plate 30 and the other projects from the key frame '2 through a slot in the plate, holds the plate 30 in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the pin 28 of the supporting bell crank link in one end of the angle slot 27 of the lever 26.

From the above description and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that when any one of the five uppermost keys is depressed the plate 30 will be moved downwardly by the pin 33 of the depressed key contacting with the. inclined wall of its companion slot 32. This lowering of the plate will rock the arm 29 in an anti-clockwise direction so as to carry the pin 28 projecting from the rearward portion thereof in the horizontal portion of the slot 27, thereby permitting the rocking of thebell crank arm 26 in an anti-clockwise direction. This rocking of the arm 26 would immediately take place upon the depressing of the key by a spring 35 rocking the lever 21, if it were not for the arm 25 which engages the boss 23 on the lever 21. Spring 35 is interposed between a stud 36 projecting from the actuator 14 and one of the arms of the lever 21. Upon the very beginning of the operation of the machine, after a key has been depressed, the arm 25 will be carried away from the boss 23 and thereby permit the spring 35 to rock the lever 21 in an anticlockwise direction. This rocking of the lever will move the bar 17 of the upper latch device inwardly so as to be engaged by a shoulder 37 formed upon one of the driving segments 16. Upon the further operation of the machine the segment 16 cooperating with this latch device will be moved in an anti-clockwise direction and, through bar 17 of the uppermost latch device, drive the actuator in a similar direction, the extent of movement imparted to the actuator 14 by the driving segment 16 being determined by the depressed key. As the actuator 14 is moved along by its driving segment 16 a prong 38 of the lever 21 will contact with the inner end of the depressed key just as the actuator is moved an extent corresponding to the key depressed, and as the driving segment 16 continues its movement in a counterclockwise direction will cause the withdrawal of the arm 17 from engagement with the shoulder 37 of the driving segment by the rocking of the lever 21 in a clockwise direction. This withdrawal of the arm 17 from engagement with the shoulder 37 will cause the outer bevel end of said arm to enter one of a series of notches 39 formed in a latch plate 40 secured to the corresponding key frame, and thereby latch the actuator 14 from accidental displacement, the inner end of the arm 17 riding upon the surface of the segment 16 while said segment conarms; of'the lever 21.

tinues its movement in an anti-clockwise direction.

This segment is given a movement of about 45 degrees in an anti-clockwise direction and then returned in a clockwise direction to its normal position. As the driving segment is returned to its normal position the rearward edge thereof will contact with the flange Ll projecting from the actuator 14 and return said actuator to normal position, the arm 17 being permitted to disengage from the latch plate 40 by the reduced portion of the driving segment forming the shoulder 37 presenting itself to the inner end of the arm 17, which then will be rocked into said reduced portion by the spring 35 interposed between the lug 36 and one of the As the parts reach normal position the boss 23 of the lever 21 will be engaged by the arm 25 and thereby rock said lever 21 in a clockwise direction so as to disengage the arm 17 from the shoulder 37 of the driving segment 16.

Cotiperating with the four lowermost keys of each bank is a plate very similar to the plate 30, which coliperates with the five uppermost keys but with the slots 32 and 34 formed therein reversely arranged, that is, the cam slots 32 are at the lower portion of the plate cooperating with the four lowermost keys while the radial slots are formed in the upper portion of the plate andcooperate with the five uppermost keys. This plate is supported upon the aforesaid studs 12 by arms similar to the arms 29 and 31 as described in connection with the first mentioned plate 30. A latching mechanism carried by the actuator 14: for connecting said actuator with one of the driving segments 16 is controlled by the four lowermost keys in identically the same manner as the here tofore gdescribed latching device controlled by the five uppermost keys, and it is thought that a detailed description of said latching device and the control thereover by the keys cooperating therewith need not be given, it being sufiicient to state that when this latching device connects the actuator 14 with the driving segment 16, which is driven first in a clockwise direction and then returned in an anti-clockwise direction to its normal po-' sition, the said actuator will be correspondingly moved, from which it will be noted that the actuator is driven in an opposite direction when under the control of the four lowermost keys than when it is under the;

parts it is thought their operation will be clearly understood. A number of the refer-'.

ence numerals have been left off of Fig. 2!

i. then back to its normal figure, but all of said numerals are shown in Fig. 3 which is an enlarged view of Fig. 2.

The arms 25 which contact with the bosses 23 of the upper and lower latching device's carried by the actuators 1'4 are'secured to the shafts-4 and are arranged to be withdrawn simultaneously from engagement with their respective bosses 23 by a link 42, which connects armstB secured to and projecting in an op osite direction from theshafts 4: (Fig. 10 The uppermost one of these shafts 4 has extending forwardly therefrom an arm 44 which is connected to theforward end of a pitman 45, the lower and rearward end of which is forked so as to straddle a rotary shaft 46. This pitman near its rearward end has projecting therefrom a roller 47 which plays in a cam groove 48 formed in a disk 49 secured to the shaft 4:6. From the shape of the cam groove 48 in the disk 49, as shown in Fig. 10, it will'be seen that upon the beginning of thel'rotation of the shaft in thedirection of the arrow, in said figure, the pitm an will be movedf downwardly and rearwardly'wliicli will rock the uppermost shaft L in an anti-clockwise direction, while the lower shaft 1} will be rocked ina clockwise direction by the link connection 42 heretofore described. The withdrawal of the arms 25 from the bosses 23 of the levers 21 of the latching-or connecting mechanism occurs immediately upon the operation of the machine and before the driving segments 16 have started to move. The purpose of this early operation of the arms 25 is to insure the engagement of the actuator with the driving segments previous to the movement. of said segments.

The segments 16 are connected by links 170 to arms 480 secured-to rock shafts 490, the latter being suitably supported in -'the side frames 5 of the machine. Secured'to the lowermost shaft 490 is 'a bell crank lever 50, the ends'of'which are provided with rollers 51 and 52. The roller 51 rides upon the surface of a cam disk 53 while the roller 52 bears against the surface of a cam disk 54:, the disks being spaced apart by a plate 55, and suitably secured to the rotary shaft 46. The arm of the bell crank 50 carrying the roller 51 is connected by a link '56 to an the bell crank 50 first in a clockwise direction and then back tonormal position. This rocking of the bell crank 50 will, through the link 56 and arm 57, rock the upper shaft 490 first in an anti-clockwise direction and position. This rocking of the shaft 490 wi through the links for fear that the lead lines to said numeralsfiflo and arms 480, rock the upper driving would interfere with the reading of said segment 16 in an anti-clockwise direction .lato'r frame.

of this pitman is the shaft -65, while the upper-end thereof are returned to their normal positions [with the rock shafts490.

The accumulator about to be described is so constructed that the elements thereof are capable .of being driven in di-fierent directions in accumulating ,the total thereon. -When' an amount-from one to five. is to be accumulated, by any ,one of the accumulator elements the latter .is moved in angadditive {direction an extent corresponding to the digit-to be accumulated. .If it is desired to enter ,an amount represented :by a digit above five upon one of :the' accumulator elements, .the element is moved in a sub tractive direction an extent corresponding to the complement of the-digit to beaconinulated, that is, ifsix is to beentered upon the accumulator; the ,element is moved sill a subtractive direction four spaces, which is the complement ofisix, or if nine is to be accumulated, the element is moved subtrac Mounted upon a transverse shaft .58,

which is located beloxvitheskey banks and in f-rontof the actuators-14, is a series of gears 59, one .for each actuator, and which are constantly in .mesh with said actuators and consequently receive the same degrees. of

movement asare imparted to theactuators.

In front of the gears 59 are locatedthe ele- :.ments=60 of theaccumulator. Each of these elements has secured thereto a pinion 61, iwhich is arrangedito be -engaged with the pinions 59 and to be driven thereby. These accumulator elements 60 are loosely. supported .upon a shaft 562 which inturn is supported by side arms 63..of the accumu- These :arms' are connected by a cross bar 64 and are loosely mounted .at

rtheirzlower ends upon ashaft 65, seeFigs.

3,4; and .5. This shaft 65 has secured thereto aidisk 66 (Fig. '5) formed with'a cam .groove 67, in which plays a :roller 68 projecting from a pitman-69. The lower end forked so as to straddle is connected to an arm rigid andextendmg rearwardly from the aforementioned shaft 58. Adjacent to eachofthe side arms 03 .of the accumulator frame is the forward end of an arm'7l which extends rearwardly and is secured to the shaft-58. Theforward -man 69-W1ll'b8 elevated and rockvthe arms 70 and 71 in an anti-clockwise direction. This movement of the .arms '71, through their c am slots 72, ,will .carry the .pinions ,61 of the accumulator wheels into engagement .withthepinions 59, which as stated ab ve are constantly in mesh withthe actuators 14 engagement of, the ,accumulator pinions 61 and the ,pinions e9, forming a ,part of the,actuat ors, occurs beforethe ac tuators are moved. i

.When the accumulator .elements', and I the actuators are connected,',.the,elements are I mo e in andfil i rd 'eqt ysl i by heu i a w(;F -,.3 an e the I actuators are ,under. control p of the five upper most keys and when. the actuators are ,under .the contlfil qf the .four, lowermost lceys ,of the different banks ,the accumulator elements are ,driven illlhj), subtractive dise .1 1 a indi a ed by i e e tarrows Ewa th -.d s rip ione ithe y of P stat on; a th rmeehan m be r d y ,understood. An amount of from one to five unitsis ;added. by direct addition, while an amount of j from six to nine units is added gby subtracting the complement ,the to- ,talizer ,wheel Thisis accomplished by the 'minethe directiontof movement of the add- ..,ing.,vvl eels,as-.Well as the extent -,pf their movement, It is therefore desired .to. claim gthese features broadly without limitation to the construction. employed.

.It ,was before statedthata special type of transfer device ,wasirequired in .a. machine of this type. When ,the machineis adding by direct forward movement of the totalizer elements. the ordinary type of transfer, ef- -fective;. whena wheelpasses. fromits nine -to-its zero position, isemployed; An entirely movel control of ,the transfer mecha- ,nism-is also provided, effective when addit.ions-.. tal e place by complementary subtractingemovementsof the totalizer wheels. This additional control comprises a device for-tripping the transfer elements when a register wheel moves at all inia subtracting direction, but -means .are provided for resetting ;the tripped transfer deviceif the register wheel passes through or leaves its zero position. This transfer mechanismmay nextbe described,

As eachone of the accumulator elements 60 makes a complete'rotation in an additive direction,'shown by full line arrow (Figs. 3 and4), a tripping tooth 73 projecting from a disk 74 secured to the accumulating element 6O will engage with a prong 75 of a multi-pronged pawl 76, which is pivoted upon a stud 77 projecting from a transfer lever 78, and rock said pawl 76 in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). This pawl 76 is provided with'an offset 79 which overlaps a trip pawl 80 pivoted adjacent the pawl 76 upon the stud 77, and thereby rocks said trip pawl with it against the tension of a spring 81 connecting said trip pawl with another pawl 82 also pivotally mounted upon the'transfer lever 78. The offset 79 of the multi-pronged pawl 76 is held in engagement with the trip pawl 80 by a'spring 83 interposed between the trip pawl and the multipronged pawl. This rocking of the trip pawl by the disk- 74 releases a carrying pawl 84, which is pivoted upon the transfer lever '78 as at 85 and a spring 86 interposed between lugs on the transfer'pawl 84 and the transfer lever 78 causes the transfer pawl to rock in an anti-clockwise direction. -This movement of the transfer pawl brings a shoulder' 87 formed thereon into engagement withav tooth of a ratchet wheel 88 secured to the accumulator wheel 60 of the next higher denomination. After an accumulator ele- 'ment has been fully operated by its actuator,

it is rocked out of engagement with the pinion 59 by the cam disk 66, and the transfer lever 78 is'then'rocked in a clockwise direc tion about a rod 89 by a disk 90 having a cam groove 91', in which plays a roller 92 mounted on the lower end of the transfer lever 7 8. "This rocking of the transfer lever will cause the tripped transfer pa-wl 84 to rotate the accumulating 'element60, with which itcoiiperates, one stepin its additive direction. During this transfer operation the pawl 84'will be rocked about its pivot 85 in a clockwise direction by the ratchet 88 with which it cooperates so that at the end of ;the"clockwise movement of the transfer -leverj78 the transfer pawl84 will again be "latched by the trip pawl 80. Upon the returnof the transfer lever 78 to its normal position by the cam groove 91, the parts carried' thereby will again be in the position shown in Fig'si 3 and 4. The rod 89 upon 'which the transfer lever 78 is 'pivotally mounted is supported by the sidearms 63 of theacriumulator frame. "As thus far described the mode of operation of the transferfmecha'nism is already known in the art. The mechanism for tripping the transfer devices when addition takes place by compl'em'entary subtraction, may next be scribed. In every operation the register pi'n'ions61 are engaged with the pinions 59 which form a part of the actuating mechanism. This position of engagement is shown in Fig. 4 and the pinion 59 is in its normal or zero position. Each pinion 59 is provided with a roller 93 projecting from one of the teeth, this roller being normally in a position to engage a trip pawl 82. The subtracting direction of movement of the pinion is shown by the dotted arrow. This pawl 82 is provided with aprong 95 normally resting on the-upper surface of a portion of the transfer tri pawl'80. Thus the first movement in a-su tracting direction of pinion 59 will cause its roller 93 to engage the inclined portion 94 of pawl 82 and rock it, thus rocking the transfer trip pawl 80 and releasing the transfer pawl 84 precisely as was described in connection with an operation'of direct addition. Thus it will be seen that the transfer mechanism is tripped or rendered effective by the first subtracting movement of any accumulator wheel. An example of such an operation would beone where the totalizer wheels stood at fourteen and eight were added thereto. In such an operation the depression of the eight key and an operation of the machine would cause the actuating pinion 59 to be moved two spaces in the subtracting direction. The first of these two steps would cause the roller 93 to engage and operate the pawl 82, thus tripping the transfer pawl:80 and permitting the tooth 87 thereon to engage the ratchet 88 secured to the accumulator wheels. Near the close of the operation of the machine the transfer. pawl 84 will beoperated, moving the tens wheel one step and thus the wheels will indicate twenty-two, which is the proper result.

However, assume the register wheels have indicated twelve and seven is to be added. Here also the units wheel will be moved in a subtracting direction and the transfer :mechanism tripped, but clearly no transfer should take place, as the tens wheel'should still 1 indicate one. The resetting of the transfer pawl which has been tripped by the subtracting movement of the units wheeliof the example is caused as next described. The

backward movement of the register wheel will cause its tooth 73 to engage theprong 75 of the trip pawl 76, rocking it in a direction opposite to its movement in an adding transfer operation. This pawl 76 carries a projection 96 adapted to engage an upstanding portion of the transfer pawl 84. Therefore, when the register wheel moves the third example, assume the wheels to read 628 and 273 to 'be added. In this case the trans-- fer from units to tens'is the ordinary adding-transfer. 'l he tens wheel moves in sub tractingdirection and it, therefore, would trip the transfer for the hundreds-wheel, but it also passes through zero and this tripped transfer device would, therefore,

-be-reset. 'However, when'the transfer device act-hm on 'thetens wheel is operated, near the -e ose'of the'oper'ationythis would move the tens wheel up to its zero position, thereby again tripping the transfer pawl for the hundreds wheel. Thus the wheels which, after being directly operated would indicate 891; would be moved by the transfer devices so as to indicate 901, the correctresult. It will be seen that even in this operation the mechanism shown is entirely adequate to causethe transfer properly to take place. a

PaWIs 1'5O mounted upon the rod 8 9 are spring pressed into 'engagement with the 'pinions (il of -the accumulator wheels for the purpose of preventing accidental displa-cement'of said wheels.

'As-shown-in 'FigJQ of-the drawings, an indicating mechanism is aprovided which mechanism is so constructed as to be moved from 'one position to another without returningto a norm'al starting position. This indicating mechanism is operated as'follows: Pivotally' mounted at its forward end to the actuator 14 as at 97 (Figsni and 3) is a beam 98, the extreme rearward end of which is connected by link 99-h) an=arm.100

securedto one of a-series of transverse shafts 101. one arm 100 is connected to.=a pivotiallymounted segmental plate 102 by a link 103. This plate 102 is providedwith teeth 104, which mesh with a pinion 105 -secured to-an indicator drum l-06iloosely mounted upon: atransverse-shaft 107, which issupported *bythe side frames 15 0f the machine The segmental plate 102 iszfurther provided witlr alining notches 108,:into which enters a pawlwl09-fast to a rock-shaft -110, :Rigid to and projecting forward from this/rock shaft-110-is an arm l1l=WhiCha is connected tothe upper end of a pitman 112,- the lower end of the latter being slotted so as to straddie the main driving shaft 46 (Fig. 9). I Projecting from the lower end-off thispitman 112 isna roller 113, whichoplays in aeam groove 114 formed-in a :disk 115 secured to th'eshaft 46'. The shape. of the. cam groove is such that immediately uponnthe begin- "ning of rotation er the-shaft:46,.= the pitman 112 will be movedvdownwardly and through arm 111 connected to the upper end of said pitman, rock the shaft 110 and the alining '-:The actuators --14 are then adjusted under control of-theekeys 1, as ,previously de- -scribed,;by.whichmovement the forward end of. thebeam- 98 will beraisedor lowered depending upon-the direction of movement of the'actuator 14. During the positioning of saidactuators a shaft 116, carrying a forked lever-117 for each actuator, will be rocked inra clockwise direction, by which movement the forkedportion of each'lever will engage with a roller 118 centrally mounted upon the beam 98. If the amount to be indicated is different from that previously indicated, one of the prongs of the forked members of the lever 117 will engage with the roller 118 and move said roller upwardly or downwardly until 'itpasses into the crotch of the forked portion of the lever 117. This movement of the roller will cause the rearward end of the beam 98 to rise or fall and'thereby cause the indicator 100 to be adjusted to its new position through the intervening connections from the rear end of-the beam .98 to the. segmental plate 102.

- Afterithe indicators 106. have been positioned, the cam disk 115 (Fig. 9-) will -ele vate the pitman:112 so as to rock the shaft 110 (:Fig. 2) in aelockwise direction and thereby carry the.- paw-ls 109 into the proper ed position,after which the actuators 14 are restored to-their normalposition, it being understood thatthezforked levers 117 are withdrawn from engagement with the rollers 118 of the beains 98. to permit .of this restorationof-the actuators 14. The shaft 116 carrying the forked levers 117, of which there is one :for each actuator, has extending upwardly therefrom an arm 119,-which is connected by a link-120 to an-arm 121 secured to the lowermost rock shaft 490 (Fig.

2), from which it will be seen that as the actuators 114 are being'positioned by the driving segments 16, the indicators are also being positioned by the forked; levers 117 engaging with the rollers 118 of the beams 98.

The purpose of-eonnecting the beams '98 to the segmental plates :102, through the transverse shafts 101 and link 103, is to enable the connecting up of an additional set ofi-ndicators for indicating at the back of the machine and also to position-type carriers when it is'desired to use the same for recording-theamounts indicated and accumulated, itbeinguriderstood that each of the -shafts 101: is connected toi one of the actuators in a manner similan to that shown in Fig. 2. a

-The depressed keys are released near the end .of the operationof the machine by the following-mechanism.

Each one of he links 11 supporting'the upper end of a key detent 7 is of a bell crank formation, thezfree end of which is forked (Fig. 7). Through the forkedportion of all of-the links 11 extends a--rod 140 supported by arms 141 extending for- :wardly from ,a rock'fishaft 142. i-Near one end this shaft has projecting forwardly therefrom an arm 1 13, which is fastened to the upper end of a pitman 14 1, the lower end of the latter being forked so as to straddle the shaft 46 (Fig. 8). This pitman 14 1 near its lower end is provided with a roller 145, which plays in a cam groove 146 formed in a disk 147 secured to said shaft 46. As this shaft nears the end of rotation the pitman 14A: is lowered and, through arm 143, rocks the shaft 142 in an anti-clockwise direction. This rocking of the shaft 142 Will cause the rod 140 carried by the arms 141 to engage the lower members of the forked portion of the links 11 and rock said links in a clockwise direction, by which movement the detents 7 will be elevated and the depressed keys 1 released.

To prevent the release of the depressed keys by the release lever 130 during an operation of the machine, the cam groove 1-16 of disk 147 (Fig. 8) is so shaped that upon the beginning of rotation of the shaft tfithe pitman 1414 will be elevated and, through the arm 14:3 and rock shaft 14-2, elevate the rod 14:0 (Fig. 7 to bring it in engagement with the upper members of the forked portions of the links 11 and thereby prevent the rocking of said links to elevate the detents 7. This mechanism will remain in this position until near the end of the operation of the machine when the rod 1 10 will be lowered to release the keys as above described.

.The machine is shown as being operated by a crank handle 122 Fig. 1) but it is to be understood that any other Well known form of driving mechanism may be employed. This crank handle 122 has secured thereto a pinion 123 which meshes with a gear 124 suitably mounted upon the frame work of the machine. This gear 124 meshes with a large intermediate gear 125, which in turn meshes with gears 126 and 127 secured to the rotary shafts a6 and respectively. This gearing is so proportioned that for every two rotations of the crank handle the shafts 46 and 65 will be given a single rotation.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that in so far as the operator of a machine of the described type is concerned, the operation thereof is exactl like that of any of the many well known orms of adding machines or cash registers. No attention is paid by the operator to the direction or extent to which the parts are to be actuated, as said parts are automatically controlled by the novel form of mechanisms provided.

As before stated, it is thought that the theory of operation of this mechanism has not been previously suggested in the art.

As far as known there is no suggestion in the art of any machine operating partly or wholly on the principle of complementary subtraction to add amounts. The mechaism which carries out this theory of operation in the present device is also believed to be broadly novel, especially in respect to the movement of the accumulating elements in the shorter of the possible directions, at each operation; in respect to the provision of an actuator variably movable in different directions; and a series of manipulative devices determining both the extent and direction of movement of the actuator. Again, it is believed to be entirely novel to provide a transfer mechanism operative in a constant sense or direction but rendered effective by the movement of the accumulating elements in either direction. In the embodiment shown one set only of transfer elements is employed, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not to be limited to this mode of operation, but that other types of transfer mechanism coming within the scope of the claims may be employed.

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 inventionto 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. The combination with an accumulator comprising a plurality of movable elements, and means for always moving said elements in the shorter direction in the accumulating of items thereon.

2. The combination with an accumulator comprising a plurality of'movable elements, of means for movingsaid' elements in the shorter direction in the accumulating. of items thereon, :and transfer devices forsaid elements rendered operative in-either direction of movement of the accumulator elements. a

3. In a machine of the class described,-the combination with a plurality of accumulate. ing elements, of means for always moving said elements in the shorter direction in the entering of items thereon, and manipulative means controlling said moving means.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of accumulating elements, of means'for moving said elements in the shorter direction in the entering of items thereon, manipulative means controlling said moving means, and transfer devices for said elements rendered operative in, either direction of movement of the accumulating elements.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator, of actuators and transfer devices therefor, and means controlling the accumulator, actuators and transfer devices whereby items are accumulated by said accumulator by subtracting from the latter the denominational complements of the item to be accumulated.

6. The combination with an accumulator of means coiiperating therewith in such a manner that an 'item is partially accumulated thereon by adding the item to or subtracting the complement thereof from the accumulator depending upon the amount to be accumulated, and transfer devices adapted to complete the accumulation rendered operative by either adding the item or subtracting the complement.

7. The combination with accumulating elements of means coiiperating therewith in such a manner that an item is partially accumulated thereon by moving the elements in either an adding or subtracting direction depending upon the amountof the item to be accumulated, and transfer devices adapted to complete the accumulation rendered operative by the movement of the elements in either an adding or subtracting direction;

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuators for moving said elementseither in an additive or subtractive direction, devices for transferring from an accumulator element of lower to an element ofhigher de nomination, and means for rendering said transfer devices operative in either direc tion of movement of the accumulator elements.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuators for moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction, and devices for transferring from an accumulator element of lower to an element of higher denomination, the said devices being under the control of the actuators when the elements are moved in a subtractive direction and under the control of said elements when they are moved in an additive direction.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuators for moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction, devices for transferring from an accumulator ele ment of lower to an element of higher dcnomination, means for rendering said transfer devices operative in either direction of movement of the accumulator elements, and means for rendering said devices inoperative if the elements pass 0 in a subtractive direction.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuators for moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction, devices for transferring from an accumulator element of lower to an element of higher denomination, means controlled by the actuators for tripping the transfer devices every time the elements are moved in a subtractive direction, and means controlled by the ele ments for recocking said transfer devicesv if the elements pass 0 in a subtractive di-. rection. Y

12. In amachine of the class described, the combination with an accumulatorhaving a plurality of denominational elements, of actuators for moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction, devices for transferring from an accumulator; ele ment of lower to an element of higher de nomination, and independentmeansjfor tripping-the transfer devices when the accumulator elements are moved in either an additive 'or subtractive directiom with provisions for rocking the transfer devices by the-nth ditive tripping means after the subtractive means have tripped said transfer devices providing the accumulator elements pass 0 in a subtractive direction.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator element,-of' an actuator therefor movable in different directions, and means for. determining the direction of. movement of said actuator. 3 i

l t, In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator element, of an actuator therefor variably movable in diflerent directions, and means for determiningthe extent and the direction of movement of said actuator.

15. Ina machine, of the class described, the combination with an accumulator ele ment, of an actuator therefor variably movable in different directions, and a series of keys for determining the extentand the di rection of movement of said actuator.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combinationwith an accumulator element, of an actuator therefor variably movable in different directions, driving mech anism for said actuator normally disconnected therefrom, and a series of keys controlling the connection of the actuator and the driving mechanism and also determining the extent and the direction of movement imparted to said actuator by the driving mechanism.

17 In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator element, of an actuator therefor variably movable in different directions, driving mechanism for said actuator, normally inoperative devices carried by the actuator for connecting-the driving mechanism and the actuator, anda series of keys controlling the connection of the actuator and the driving mechanism and also determining the direction and extent of movement imparted to" said actuator by the driving mechanism.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator element, of an-actuator tlierefor variably movable in different directions, drivin mechanism for said actuator, devices carried by the actuator for connecting the driving mechanism and the actuator, operating means for'the drivin mechanism,- a series of keys for determinmgthe extent and direction ofmovement of-the actuator, andmeans actuated-by the 'keysan-d. the operating means for controlling the devices connecting the actuator and thed'rivingmechanism.

19. Ina'machine ofthe class described, the combination with an accumulator, a series o f keys, and =means' controlled thereby for actuatin'g'said accumulator in the shortest direction in the accumulation of items thereon.

20: In 'a -machineof the class described, the combination with an accumulator, an actuato'r therefor :operable inthe shortest direction to actuate said accumulator inthe accumulation of'item's thereon, duplicate driving means for driving said actuator in opposite' directions, manipulating means'a-nd devices controlled" thereby for rendering one of said idrivingmeans effective.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination 'withan accuniulator, an actuat'or therefor operable in the shortest direction to actuate said accumulator in the accumulation-of itemsthereon, duplicate driving means for driving said actuatorin opposite directions, manipulative means and devices controlled thereby for rendering one ofsaid= driving meansefl'ectiv'e to drive the actuators in the direction: appropriate to the value ofthe .key depressed.

22.111 a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator, of an actuator therefor capable ofmovement in an additive or .subtractive direction in the accumulations and means for controlling the direction of movement of the actuator dependent onwthe value of the amount to be addedz- 23. In amachine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator comprising-ha series of accumulating elements, of a series of'actuators therefor each appropriate to a certain numerical order and capable of movement in either an additive or sub tractive direction in the accumulation of amounts on said totalizer element, manipula' tive'means" and driving means controlled by saidlatter 'means for independently driving eachof said actuators in the direction requirin shortest movement.

-n accumulating wheel, means cooperating therewith for actuating said wheel forwardly or reversely in the addition of items thereon according to the value of the items, and devices for automatically controlling the'direction and extent of saidactuation.

25. In a calculating machine, the combina. tion with means movable in the shortest direction in calculating operations, and devices for controlling the direction and extent of movement of said means according to the numerical value of the digitsof the items of calculation.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer actuator having a normal starting point and capable of difierential movement in either direction from said point, of operating means for said actuator, and means for controlling the direction and extent of movement of the actuator.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator element, of an actuator therefor, means for moving said actuator-in opposite directions from a normal position, and latch mechanisms, c011 trolled for connecting the actuator and moving means so that the actuator may be moved in either direction.

28. In a machine of the class dcscribed,the combination with an accumulator element. of an actuator therefor, means for moving said actuator in opposite directions from a normal position, a series of keys, and two latch mechanisms, one controlled by certain keys in the series for connecting said actu-' ator and said moving means so that the actuator is moved in one direction, and the other controlled by the remaining keys for connecting said actuator and moving means so that the actuator is moved in the other direction.

29. In a machine of the'class described, the combination with an accumulator element, of an actuator therefor, meansformoving said actuator in opposite directions, two latch mechanisms for connecting said actuator and said moving means so that the actuator may be moved in either direction, and manipulative means for selecting one or the other of said latch mechanisms to connect the actuator and moving means during an operation of the machine.

30. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an accumulator element, of an actuator therefor, means for moving said actuator in opposite directions, two latch mechanisms for connecting said actuator and said moving means so that the actuator may be moved in either direction, and keys for selecting one or the other of said latch mechanisms to connect the actuator and moving means during an operation of the machine, and for controlling the extent of-movement of the actuator.

31-. In-a machine of the class described, the combination with an accounting element,- of an actuator therefor, means for moving said actuator in opposite directions, two normally ineffective latch mechanisms, for connecting said actuator and said moving means so that the actuator may be moved in either direction, and a bank of keys for rendering one or the other of said latch mechanisms effective upon operation of the keys and for disabling the effective latch mechanism during the operation of the moving means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCESCO SKERL. Witnesses:

R. O. GLASS, CARL W. BEUST.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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