US1274655A - Combined type-writing and computing machine. - Google Patents

Description

w. WRIGHT. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING NACHTNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. I9I2. 1 ,274,655, Patented A110'. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. WRIGHT. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1912. 1,274,655. I

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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V WALTER WRIGHT, 0E NEW YORK,

MACHINE COMPANY, 0F NEW N. Y., YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR'TO UNDERWOOD COMPUTING i COMBINED TYPE-WRITING AND COMPUTING MACH-INE.

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Type-Writing and Computing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to computing mechanisms, particularly those combined of the class in which the dial or computing wheels or inemr bers are rotated or advanced one after another by means of a common actuator, as

l l n for instance a master-wheel; and 1n which a relative step-by-step movement 1s eected between the master-wheel and the computing wheels. v

' The invention is an improvement on my application, Serial No. 59,002, filed November 1. 1915, which is a division of my patent, No. 1,160,102, dated November 9, 1915. Owing to the inertia of the computing wheels and of the connections from the keys to the wheels, as well as to the inertia of the tens-carrying or carry-over trains, it

has been found in practice that the^ labor of.

depressing the computing keys to drive the wheels is excessive. I have disclosed in said application means to relieve the operative'of part of .this labor by providing power means, separate from the keys, to drive the tens-carrying trains. In thepresent case, I use a continuously running electric motor for this purpose, and make other changes' in construction and mode of operation, whereby very smoothly, operated machine is produced. Owing to the consequent lightening of the keyT touch, the speed of manipulation of the machine tends to increase; and since the time within which the electric motor can turn the computing wheels is` usually limited to the minute interval in which the typewriter carriage is at rest between type impressions, 'there is a tendency for the speed of the typist to Outrun the speed of the machine. One of the objects of the present invention is.to reduce or overcome this tendency, without, however,'making the key 'touch unduly heavy.

Accordingly, I connect the master-wheel to thenumeral keys of the typewriter, to be vdriven directly thereby; and I provide also an electric'motor or suitable source of power for-Operating the `carry-over devices. Thus Specification of Letters Patent.

A Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application led May 4, 1912. Serial No. 695,056.

the work is divided between the keys and the motor. The resistance of the keys, due to the necessity of rotating the master-wheel, is not appreciable or objectionable; moreover the key never has to drive more than a single computing wheel of much as the driving of any other computing wheels at the tens-carrying operation is taken care of by the power mechanism. The rotation of the computing wheel in each instance is completed during the down stroke of the typewriter key,'so that there is no likelihood of the manipulation of the keys outrunning the speed of the mechanism.

Thus I have produced a machine which meets the exacting requirements of speed and accuracy of a combined typewriting and computing mechanism.

the series, inas- In the preferred form ofthe invention,

the key-driven connections are practically all rotating parts, and extremely light. Moreover, they always rotate in the same direction; and the parts gather speed one after another, so thatthere is no great inertia to be suddenly overcome.

In the preferred form of the invention, a

totalizer moves with a typewriter carriage,

.while the master-wheel does not travel.

This master wheel is preferably driven by the keys in such a way that during the' operation of any numeral key, the said 'master wheel is either being positively driven or else positively locked by the key, so that not only's the throw of a computing wheeldi- Other features `and advantages will here i inafter appear.'

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic side view of an Underwood typewriter including my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view bf the computing mechanism of the same onthe line JL--ot of Fig. 3,

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the computing mechanism.

Figs. 4 and V`5 show the relation of the master-wheel to the computing mechanism. Fig. 6 shows the power-driven assisting member for the carry-over mechanism.`

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cam on a locking and driving unit operated by a numeral key. v

Fig. 8 shows the relation of the locking and driving units to the totalizer carriage lock operating shaft.

Numeral keys 1 and alphabet keys 2 depress levers 3 to swing type bars 4 through bell cranks 5 upwardly and rearwardly to cause types 6 to strike a platen 7 in a carriage 8. Said carriage is drawn forward in letter-feeding direction by means of a spring 9 and is controlled in said letterfeeding by means of anesoapement wheel 1() carrying a pinion 11 working in a rack 12 on said carriage, said escapement wheel being controlled by dogs 13 moved from heels 14 on the type bars through'a universal me ber 15.

Asl said carriage 8 moves, it carries along with it `by means of an arm 16 a totalizer 17 on a totalizer carriage 18, which carriage 18 rides on the rolls 19 and causes wheels 20 to be engaged serz'atz'm by a master wheel 2l. Said master wheel is turned from the numeral keys in a manner to be presently de`f scribed, and said Wheels 20 turn dialwheels 22 through intermediate gears 23 and 24.

The master wheel is turned by the depression of any numeralkey 1 by means of an adjustable "link 25' pivotally attached to a partly toothed segment 26, which segment turns a combined lock and driving unit 27 alternately locking and driving an intermediate shaft 28 geared to said master wheel 21. Said unit 27 is loosel on shaft 27a, and comprises the parts between the cam 35 and the cam 45 (See Fig. 8).

Said locking and driving unit 27 is normally held locked against rotation by means of its teeth 29 and 30, which bear against a fiat portion of said partly toothed segment As a numeral key 1 is depressed drawing down said segment, the tooth 29 on said locking and driving unit is arranged to he struck by a tooth 31 on said segment, so that the remaining teeth 32 of the locking and driving unit will successively mesh with the teeth 33 of said segment and positively'rotate the 'segment until a broad flat surface '34 at the upper end of said segment is struck by the tooth 29 of the locking and driving unit in its rotation, and said unit is positively arrested thereby. The numeral key may then continue to descend idly as-far as the computing mechanism is concerned.

e intermediate shaft 28 is held .funder positive control during the entire operation of a numeral key. For this purpose it is first memset and driving unit belocked when the lookin I ing is accomplished ins to turn. The loc y a cam 35 forming part of said unit,`which unlocks said shaft by bringing a of said cam 35 op- 28 by meshing with teeth 38, forming part of a gear wheel fast on shaft 28, and positively turn said shaft till the last tooth 37 has turned said shaft 28. T 28 is again locked by an unbroken part of the cam 35 which again locks against further rotation. I n so turning shaft 28, the master wheel 2l is turned with it.

It will be observed that the locking and driving unit makes a complete revolution at each operation of a numeral key, 4and that the extent to which the master wheel is turned depends entirely on the number of teeth 37 on the unit. The unit shown in Figs. 2 and 8 is the o ne for the 9 key and so has nine teeth.

As the numeral key 1 is released, the segment 26 rises idly, for the tooth 30 ofthe locking and driving unit will fail to mesh with the first tooth 39 of said segment, owing to a slight friction of the parts. rl`he unit is then lockedlby said tooth 30 riding on a smooth surface 40v on said segment 26,`

formed alongside of the' teeth 33. The' tooth 29 on said locking and driving unit also rides on said raised surface 40 and locks said unit against turning in the opposite direction during the travel of the segment. As the segment reaches its normal position, a raised portionl 41 on the fiat segment surface strikes the tooth 29 and gives said locking and driving unit a slight turn, so that tooth' 29 will be positively struck by the tooth 31 of the segment on its next depression in the manner described above.

The end teeth 29 and 30 on said locking 4and driving unit are identical, and as will be seen from tooth 30 at Fig. 3, they extend `wider than do the intermediate teeth 33, and

31 and 39 in the segment hen said shaft.

said shaft 28V 12ol cut entirely across the raised normal revolution of the locking and driving unit by said downward movement, the parts will not be lockedrlhe locking cam 35 of the aforesaid locking and driving unit is cut away at 42, so that the intermediate shaft 28 maybe ngrmally unlocked, lso far as theindividual locking and driving units are concerned.

Lampes Whenever a numeral key is depressed to operate the computing mechanism, the key first locks the totallzer carriage against movement transversely to the master wheel, by moving a latch 43 to enter a rack 44 on the totalizer carriage. This latch is moved positively into and out of engagementJ with said totalizer carriage, and for this purpose each locking and driving unit comprises a cam 45, which swings a cam finger 46 outwardly as the unit is turned by its segment, so that said finger rocks a shaft 47 carrying an arm 48 to which said latch 43 is pinned, and moves latch 43 upward into the rack 44. The master wheel thenl is turned by further revolution of the segment 26. As the segment 26 completes the turning of the locking and driving unit 27, a second cam 49 forming part of said unit strikes a finger 50 also fast on shaft 47, and positively movesfsaid latch 43 downward out of rack 44.

As the master wheel turns as above described, it turns an idle wheel 20 which in turn drives the computing wheel 23 meshing with the dial wheel 22, as above describedf Each computing wheel 23 engages a carryover mechanism which is arranged to turn the adjacent computing wheel higher in denomination one-tenth of a revolution every time itsI dial Wheel passes zero. For this purpose the computing mechanism comprises a series of carry-over wheels 52 (see Figs. 2 and 5) each comprising a gear 51 constantly meshing with its computing wheel 23.

Each carry-over wheel also comprises (see Figs. 2, 5 and 6) a mutilated gear 53 which is arranged to be struck by a broad tooth 54 on the computing wheel operating this carryover wheel once in each revolution of said computing wheel. When so struck the carry-over wheel starts to turn and swings an interrupted gear 55 formed as a unit with the carry-over wheel, so that the teeth of said interrupted gear are struck by the teeth 56 of a constantly drivenwheel 57, which constantly driven wheel completes the cycle of the carry-over mechanism, that is to say,

completes |the tenth of a revolution of the computingl wheel with which the said carryover wheel meshes.

Each computing wheel is kept alined by a spring detent roll 59, which roll is arranged to sink into depressions 58 between the interrupted portions of the gear 55 of its carry-over wheel. Thus it arrests the carry-over Wheel 52 against overthrow by the constantly driven gear 57; and since the dial wheel is constantly in mesh with thecomputing wheel, which in turnis constantly in mesh with 4the carry-over wheel, the detent will hold the dial wheel alined.

When a numeral key is depressed, the detent controlling the dial wheel then engaged b y the master wheel, is moved to an inoperative position, so that the dial wheel may sion 60 of -and driving` unit' above described always locks or drives positively the mechanism with whichit is engaged, As the vnumeral key completes its downward stroke, lthe detent 59 again falls into place, vand holds its dial wheel. Since the units wheel has no carry-overwheel driving it, a wheel identical with the other carry-over wheels may be arranged to mesh with said wheel, and be controlled -by a detent 59 precisely as are the carry-over wheels for/the other computing wheels. The lifter bars 61 are held adjacent the rear wall of the totalizer where they will be raised 'sew't/m by the extension 60, by means of a rod 61a which extends across the totalizer and passes through slots in said bars.

The power assisting wheel 57 above described, is on a shaft 63, which is resiliently journaled so that its teeth in striking the teeth 55, will ynot be stripped or crushed Said resilient journals swing on a shaftI 64 arranged to drive said assisting wheel by a gear wheel 65 meshing with a gear 65a which, in turn, meshes with a gear 66 on the/shaft 63`of the aforesaid assisting wheel. A spring 67 swings said journals so that said assisting wheel is =in position to be struck by the teeth 55 when the carry-over wheel 52 begins to turn. Said assisting vwheel is driven by an electric motor 76 through shafts 6s, 69 and 70.

The rotation may be reversed to serve for either additionor subtraction by a reversing clutch between the shafts 6.9 and 70, coml prisin a double seizing member 71, slidably spline on said shaft 70, and adapted to en` gage either of two spur gears 72 loose on said shaft, so that Whichever gear 72 is engaged by said seizing member 71, will be locked to said shaft. A spur gear 73 fast on the shaft 69 constantly engages both of said spur gears 72 and so drives the shaft 70 in one direction or the other, according to the position of said seizing member.

A handle 74 pivoted at 75 is arranged to throw .said seizing member into either of thegears 72, and in so doing, a gear for the master wheel 'reverses simultaneously by throwing gear wheel 7 5a slidably splined on shaft 28 to mesh either with a gear 76 fast on the shaft 77 of lmaster wheel 21, or else e stantly, so when 79 fixed on said shaft 77. This enables the whole mechanism to be shifted either for addition or substraction simultaneously. As shown in Fig. 3, the clutch and the driving gear 75a are both in their neutral position, so the computing mechanism is disconnected from the keys and power, and the computing mechanism is idle.'

The carry-over assisting wheel 57, it will be noted, may be arranged to rotate conthe totalizer shows a long series of nines, it may happen that some of the carryingover will be done during the motion of the carriage, owing to the fact that the carry-over wheels are operated one after another. ln such ca'se the assisting wheel 57 might tend toubind on the carryover wheels and either delay the carriage, or tend to strip the teeth of said gears 55. ln order to prevent any such trouble, the tooth bearing surface 80 of said wheel 57 is divided into two portions, one of which, 8l, is fixed on the shaft 63 of said wheel, while the other portion, 82, is slidably splined on said shaft, sothat it may slide to the left if the carriage tends to drag it in that direction, and it is returned. from any such dragging by means of a spring 83. The portion 8l of said toothed surface fixed to said shaft 63 is so alined with reference to the master wheel, that its righthand edge will engage the carry-over wheel operated by the dial wheel engaged by the master wheel, and said portion extends foi` a slight distance to the left where it ends in a toothed portion somewhat resembling a crown gear. 'lhe slidable portion 82 has similar crown teeth on it, and the spring 83 normally holds these portions closed together. lf, however,- the portion 82 is dragged along as above prevent any continuous open gap in said assisting wheel from being opposite any carry-over wheel, so that said assisting wheel is certain to complete the carry-over wheel.

lt will be noted that when a numeral key is depressed, it carries along the segment 26, but no other parts of the computing mechl anism are moved until aboutl one-third of the down-strokeof the key has been completed, then a tooth 48 on the segment strikes a tooth 30 of the locking and driving member, and starts that member, and after said member has obtained some momentum, then the tooth 37 which actually drives the master wheel begins to turn said master the meantime after said locking and driving member has attained` its speed, the latch 43 has moved upward and lifted the detent 59 out of the carry-over wheel. 'llhus it will be seen that the various parts attain their movement one after another, so that there is no sudden load brought on to the keys. llf

any carrying over is done, the assisting' be observed described, the crown-like teeth 84 willv turning of every wheel. ln 4 care 'of that by itself, so brings no extra load on wheel 57 will-take that carrying over the numeral keys.

`NWhere, as in the' present disclosure, the computing mechanism is used in combination with an Underwood typewriter, it will that the type has attained its momentum before the computin-g mechanism proper begins to operate, so that in this combination, the touch of the keys will be exceedingly light and uniform throughout the stroke. i

rl`he sliding member 80 of the carry-over assisting wheel 57 may be limited in its throw by a pin 85; and the resilient journals of the shaft 63 may be limited in their throw by an adjustable screw 86.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

. aving thus described my invention, l claim:

-1. ln a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels and numeral keys, of a carry-over wheel for each computing wheel, each carry-over wheel cons tantly in mesh with a computing wheel, a

spring detent for each computing wheel and.

effective on its carry-over wheel, means for driving said computing wheels by said keys, and means, brought into action by any key at the beginning of its movement, for removing the detent from the computing wheel which is' to be driven, whereby the key is relieved of the burden of said detent while driving said computing wheel.

2. ln a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels and numeral keys, of a master wheel on said computing wheels, a carry-over wheel for each computing wheel, each carryover wheel constantly in mesh with its computing wheela spring detent holding each computing wheel alined and ed'ective on its .carry-aver wheel, means for driving said master wheel by said keys, means for holding said master wheel positively locked when not driven, and means, brought into action by a -key at the 4beginning of its movement, .for unlocking the master wheel and for removing the detent from the computing wheel which is to be driven.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels, of a master wheel traveling relatively to them, means including a detent associated with each computing wheel forholding it alined, numeral keys arranged to turn said master wheel to turn said computing wheels Serz'atz'm, and means for locking said computing wheels and master wheel against relative travel, and for releasing from the control of its detent, by the depression of a numeral key, the computing wheel which is being operated by the master wheel.

operating serz'azfim,

4. In a computingl machine, the combination with computing wheels and numeral keys, of means for said keys serz'tim, a detent associated with each computing wheel for y,normally holding it alined, .means operated by any key for releasing from the control of its detent the wheel which is about to be driven from said key while leaving the remaining detentscontrolling their respective wheels of higher orders,4 a carry-over wheel for each computing wheel, a power-driven wheel for turning each carry-over wheel when started by a computing wheel, said detents preventing overthrow of the computing wheels in carrying from lower to higher orders, and means for locking at the completion of its rotating movement the computing wheel that is rotated by a key.

5. In Va computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and a master wheel,

of a traveling carriage comprising computing wheels and a carry-over mechanism, a source of power for driving said carry-over mechanism, and a ixedly journaled shaft carrying a slidable wheel driven from said source of power and arranged to travel momentarily with said carry-over mecha-nism to drive it.

6. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and a master wheel, of a traveling carriage comprising computing wheels and a carry-over mechanism, a source ofpower for driving said carry-over mechanism, a xedly journaled shaft carrying a gear wheel slidably splined on it, means for driving said shaftfrom said source of power, resilient means holding said shaft so that it will engage with said carry-over mechanism to drive it, and a spring returning said wheel from any point to which it may slide with said carry-over mechd anism.

7 In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and a master wheel, of a traveling carriage comprising computing wheels and a carry-over mechanism, a source of power-for driving said carry-over mechanism, a fixedly journaled shaft comprising a gear fast to it arranged to drive part of said carry-over mechanism, and a slidable gear splined on said shaft arranged to drive another portion of said carry-over mechanism and travel with it momentarily.

8. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and a masterl wheel, of a traveling carriage comprising computing wheels and a carry-over mechanism, a source of power for driving said carry-over mechanism, a ixedly Journaled shaft comprising a gear fast to it arranged to drive part of said carry-over mechanism, a slidable gear splined on said shaft arranged toA always overlap said first gear driving said wheels fromI during the revolution of said shaft arranged -to drive another portion of said carry-over mechanism, and a spring returning said i slidable gear against said fixed gear.

9. In a computing machine, the combina-v tion with numeral keys anda master wheel, of a traveling carriage comprising computing wheels and a carry-over mechanism, a source of power for driving said carry-over mechanism, a fixedly journaled shaft comprising a gear fast to it arranged to drive part of said carry-over mechanism, a slidable gear splined on said shaft comprising crown extensions arranged to overlap crown extensions on said fixed gear, so that said slidable gear drives another portion of said carry-over mechanism, and-a spring holding said slidable gear against said fixed gear.

10. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels' and numeral keys, of a master wheel driven by said keys to carry-over wheels puting wheels, a source of power for driving said carry-over wheels, a clutch intermediate said keysand master wheel for return said computing wheels seriatim, -controlled by said comversing said master wheel to cause it to either add or subtract, a similar clutch in-` termediate said source of power and carryover wheels, and means for simultaneously operating said clutches.

11. In a combined typewriting and coml said lock for moving to inoperative position the detent which controls the computing l' wheel then operated.

12. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys, computing wheels and -a master wheel for engaging said computing wheels seratz'm, of carry-over wheels,

a detent movable independently of its carryover wheel and normally holding each computing wheel through its carry-over wheel, means vfor turning said master wheel controlled by the operation of 'said keys, and means controlled by the keys for releasing the detent holding the computing wheel engaged by the master wheel before the -master wheel begins to turn.

13. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys, computing wheels, and a traveling carriage, of a master wheel for engaging said computing wheels seratm to an extent determined by said keys, carryover wheels, a detent movable independently of its carry-over wheel for holding each computing wheel through its carry-over trol of said keys before they turn the masterd wheel, and a single member under the conwheel to lock said carriage and release the detent from the computing wheel engaged by the master wheel.

14, In a computing machine, the combinafor turning the computing Wheels in carrying overagainst their detents, a carriage on which the computing wheels are mounted,`

and a single member controlled by said rotating member for releasing the detent of the computing Wheel engaged by the masterwheel, and for locking said carriage before the master wheel starts to rotate.

15. ln a computing machine, the combination with akey-driven rotating member'always rotating in the same direction, of com- 'puting Wheels, carry-over Wheels, a master Wheel turned by said keys to engage said be turned, a master wheel computing Wheels seratz'm as determined by said rotating'- member, a spring detent for holding each Computing wheel, power means for turning the computing Wheels in carrying, a carriage on which the computing Wheels are mounted, a single member controlled by said rotating member for releasing thedetent of the computing wheel engagedby the master wheel, andfor locking said carriage before the master wheel starts to rotate, and means for positively unlocking said carriage by said rotating member.

16. ln a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and computing wheels, of means for determining by said keys how far said computing wheels shall for so turning them, Carry-over wheels, a' detent for each computing Wheel normally holding it and e'ecti e on its carry-over Wheel, means moving inkependentlyof the carry-over wheels for rel`easin the y. detent holdingthe comput1ngwhee engaged by the master Wheel before` the master wheel begins to turn, and means for locking the master wheel and the computing wheelagainst transverse relative movement.

17. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and computing' C Wheel to ineffective position While said Wheel is engaged by the master wheel but beforer said master Wheel begins to turn.

position after the mascomputing j 19.* lna combined typewriting andcomputing machine, the combination With numeral keys and computingl wheels, of a traveling carriage, a vmaster Wheel, carry- -over Wheels each -constantly engaged with one computing Wheel and arranged to be controlled by another, a detent for each carry-over wheel normally holding its computing wheel, a power-driven member arranged to complete the turning of the carryover wheels against the detente when initially turned by the computing wheels controlling them, means for releasing the detent holding the computing wheel engaged by the master wheel, means for positively arresting the master Wheel When it is completely turned, and means permitting said detent to be restored to eective position when said master Wheel has been so arrested.

20. ln a computing machine, the combination with computing Wheels and a master Wheel for turning kthem seratzm, of numeral keys, connections whereby said master wheel is driven by the depression of ay key tov an extent dependent on the key depressed, a carry over wheel for each computing wheel, and. a power-driven member adjacent only the carry-over Wheel in denomination for turning'. said carry-over wheels. 4

21. ln a combined typewriting'and computing machine, the combination with numeral keys andcomputing Wheels, of a master Wheel for turningsaid computing wheels seratz'm, a series of locking anddriving members, one for each numeral key, means whereby each member alternately locks,drives and locks said master' wheel, carry-over wheels, a power driven device for driving said carry-over Wheels, a detent normally holding each computing wheel, and means for moving said detent to ineective position by the in1tial movement of any locking and driving member.

22. ln a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and computing Wheels, of a master Wheel for turning said comput' i' Wheels sevatz'm, a series cf locking f wheels above the master members, one for each numeral key, means whereby each member alternately locks, drives and locks the master wheel, carry-over wheels, a power driven device for driving said carry-over wheels, a detent normally holding each computing wheel, means for moving said detent to ineffective position by the initial movement of any locking and `driving member, a traveling carriage for determinlng which of said computing wheels said master wheel shall en age, and means for locking said carriage W en each locking and driving member begins to turn.

23. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and computing wheels, ofA a master wheel for turning said computing wheels, a series of locking and driving members, one for each numeral key and always turning i-n the same direction, a traveling carriage for determining how said computing wheels slall engage said master wheel, means including a detent associated with each computing wheel and normally ei'ective to hold the same, and 'unitary means operated by each locking and driving member for locking said carriage and releasing said detent by the initial depression of a numeral key.

WALTER WRIGHT.

Witnesses C., RIPLEY, C. NEWELL.

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