US1578260A - Calculating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March so, 1926".

. 1,578,260 E. J. BRANDT CALCULATING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1919 3 Sheets-Shoot 1 March 30 1926. 1,578,260

E. J. BRANDT CALCULATING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1919 s she'ets-sneet 2 iii.

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E. J. BRANDT CALCULATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 19, 1919 wvwm:

Hwwoo Cir Patented Mar. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. BRANDT. OF ATERTONN, WISCONSIN, .ASSIGNOR TO BRANDT AUTO- MATIC CASHIER SOMPANY, OF WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN.

CALCULATING IMECHANISM.

Application filed April 19, 1919.

To all "whom it 77204] concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BRANDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Natertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calculating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to improvements in calculating or other similar mechanisms, capable of use in any field wherever such a mechanism is needed and more particularly to a machine of the type illustrated in my pending application filed March 21, 1918. Serial No. 223,786.

Heretofore in the construction of calculating machines it has been customary to prevent the over-running, or over-throw of the calculators after either an adding opera tion, or a resetting of the same by means of a positive stop or wedge, suddenly and abruptly arresting the movement of the calculators, thereby subjecting the entire mechanism to a severe shock or strain.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanism in which the calculators are moved in a steady, smooth manner, and over-running or over-throwing after an adding process, or upon a resetting of the calculators is prevented without the shock or ar incident to these operations in the prior art structures. Vith this conception in mind the preferred embodiment of the invention includes friction means for normally resisting the movement of the calculators to prevent an over-running when in the process of addition, and to also serve to rotate the calculators with their supporting shaft to reset the same in a Zero position, at which point they are engaged and held by suitable means overcoming the resistance of the friction connection between the wheels and the shaft. More specifically the invention embraces a calculatingmechanism including'a shaft having loosely mounted thereon a series of calculating wheels, arranged in sets of two, the calculating wheels being in frictional contact at all times with friction element-s rigidly secured to the shaft, so that during an adding operation the calculators are moved against this friction resistance and the instant the adding operation is completed, the movement of the calculator ceases without a jar or shock because of tl'ie'friction existing be- Serial No. 291,208.

tween the calculators and their friction elements. Upon a resetting of the calculators the shaft is rotated moving with it the friction elements that turn or move the calculators in consonance with their movement, bringing the calculators to a zero position where they are each stopped by a suitable means and retained in their proper normal position against the friction resistance offered by reason of the friction connection between the shaft and the calculator wheels until all of the calculators are lined up at Zero, at which time the stop means is lifted and the mechanism ready to operate.

The invention also has for one of its objects a mechanism by which the shaft carrying the calculating wheels is normally held in position against rotary movement by a brake, but of course may be rotated manually against the resistance of the brake to enable the resetting of the wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide resilient means for maintaining the calculator wheels at all times in contact with their friction elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for carrying from the primary calculator to the secondary calculator.

In the accompanying drawings I have 35 shown and described one embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that many changes in the construction and arrangement of parts can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine.

Figure 2 is a view looking at one end of the machine with parts broken away.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views of the adding wheels and carry over mechanism.

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of the spider.

Figures 7 and 8 are views of the drum brake.

Figures 9 and 10 are views of the stop bar.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 represents a suitable base having secured thereto a cover portion 2 provided with the usual sight openings 3 through which the totals of the calculators or indicators are readily visible.

As a convenient form of operating means for the calculating mechanism to be later descrlbed, the casing is provided with a ledge d that is slotted as indicated at 5 for the reception of the keys 6 of any formation and munber desired. The keys 6 have the usual linger caps 7 thereon bearing any reference character that may be needed, this of course depending upon the use for which the machine is to be employed, such for instance as a register, wage adder or cashier. The keys are normally maintained in the position disclosed in Figure 1 by the action of the coiled springs 8, one spring be ing employed for each key and coiled therearound with one edge seated upon the ledge and its other edge engaging a shoulder portion of the key urging the key upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. A description of one key and its train of associated mechanism will sufiice for all, it being understood that the mechanism is the same in each instance.

Below the ledge are positioned a plurality of plates 10, each plate being pivoted intermediate its end and to be engaged by one of the bevel portions 9 of the keys. The lower end of each plate 10 is connected to an operatingrod 12 extending adjacent the bottom 1 and carrying a pawl 18 cooperating with the ratchet on the primary calculator or adding wheel of each set and of a structure to be hereinafter described. The rod 12 is normally held in an operative position by a spring 15 connected to the rod and to the casing, it of course being mani fest that a. rod is connected to each of the pivoted flaps 10. It will thus be seen that when any one of the keys 6 is actuated the same will be depressed against the tension of the spring 8 forcing the bevel portion 9 thereof downwardly, deflecting or rocking the appropriate plate 10 about its pivot. This rocking movement moves the rod 12 connected to the plate that has been actuated horizontally, bringing the pawl forward to contact with the primary adding wheel ratchet 12 movin the same a full step to correspondingly move the adding wheel one number forward. When the key is released the spring 8 returns the same to its normal position and the rod 12 is likewise pulled back to its normal position by the spring 15, the rearward movement of the rod 12 being limited by the engagement of a stop thereon with the walls of a suitable guide 1 In the foregoing I have described a convenient form of operating mechanism for the calculating devices which will now be described, but I wish it to be distinctly understood that my invention is not limited to this form of actuating means, but that any suitable actuating means'may be cmployed as the use may require.

The adding mechanism controlled by the actuating means hereinbefore described, preferably comprises a shaft 17 which passes through suitable aperture in the housing and is supported by the walls thereof. The shaft has rigidly connected therewith at spaced intervals any appropriate number of disks 18 which are relatively thin and keyed to revolve withthe shaft. These disks have arranged on each side thereof friction pads 19, preferably of a somewhat less diameter than the disks and composed of any material desired, although preferably soft leather secured to the disks in any convenient manner. A pair of adding wheels 20 and 21 are arranged one on each side of each disk 18, and as two of the calculating wheels comprise an operating set, and as each set is operated in the same manner, a detail description of one will suliice for all. The adding wheels or calculators are of a substantially light formation, having ofiset circumferential flange portions 22 and 23 of a slightly less diameter than the diameter of the wheels bearing numerals thereon in equally spaced distances apart ranging from 00 to 99 so that each set of wheels are capable of registering 9999 if necessary before the mechanism is reset. The wheels are loosely mounted on the shaft, and the periphery of eaclrwheel is formed with ratchet teeth 12, a hundred being disposed around each periphery and spaced an equal distance apart so that when the wheels are shifted one full ratchet they are moved forward one full digit. The ratchet of the primary wheel 20 is the only one engaged by the pawls 13 of the operating rods 12, the ratchet of the secondary wheel coming in operation when it is desired to carry over from the primary wheel to the secondary, as for instance when 99 is registered on the prin'iary wheel then the next operation of the primary wheel will shift the secondary wheel one step forward bringing into view the numeral 1 on the secondary wheel and 00 on the primary wheel. This carrying mechanism will be later specifically described.

As a convenient means for holding the adding wheels 20 and 21 at all times in frictional contact with the friction pads 19 there is mounted upon the shaft 17 by means of set screws 17 spiders 27, each spider having suitable arms 27, three being shown for the purpose of illustration, formed at their outen ends with enlarged portions 26' adapted to receive and carry oppositely disposed plungers 25 and 26. The head portions 26 are formed with sockets 28 d-isposed out of alinement with each other and entirely separated receiving the springs 29 which urge or force the plungers 25 outwardly into contact with the sides of the calculator or adding wheels 20 and 21. These plungers 25 are disposed staggcredly so as to take advantage of the entire width of the enlarged head of the arms 27 and permit the use of a spring of considerable strength to always hold the adding wheels firmly against the friction pads 19. The spiders are, as before stated, fixedly secured to the shaft 17 and at all times exert a pressure upon the adding wheels due to the action of the plungers under the influence of the springs 29.

It will be understood that the adding wheels are operated upon the manipulation of the keys 6 and assuming that the proper key has been actuated to operate the set of adding wheels disclosed, the rod 12 would be moved forward upon the depression of the key, the pawl 13 thereof engaging a ratchet tooth 12 on the primary adding wheel, moving this wheel against the frictional resistance offered by its contact with the pad 19 so that after it has been moved one or more steps in its process of addition no over-running stop is needed, but on the other hand the instant the pawl 13 exerts no influence upon its ratchet 12, then the movement of the primary wheel 20 has ceased, due to the frictional resistance offered by the friction ad 19 during the actual movement of this wheel through the medium of the pawl 13, and no stop is necessary to prevent this overrunning of the calculator wheel. The movement of the wheel when actuated by the pawl is a steady, smooth one and there is no sudden shock or jar incident to the ending of each adding operation. The primary wheel 20 is moved step by step upon the proper actuation of its pawl 13 cooperating with the ratchet 12' until 99 steps have taken place, at which time the numeral 99 also appears through the sight opening 3 in the casing and to carry over from the primary to the secondary adding wheel when a total of 99 has been reached, the primary wheel has arranged thereon adjacent that portion of the wheel bearing the characters 99 a lug positioned to engage a projection 31 e2;- tending into the space between the primary and secondary wheels 20 and 21 and connected to one side of the pawl 32 which is normally thrown upwardly toward the axis of the secondary wheel by a spring 35. The pawl is pivoted outside of the ratchet wheel circumference and in addition to the spring 35 has a second spring 37 adapted to return the pawl after a carrying operation. lhe pawl is seated upon a pivot pin passing through an elongated slot therein, which pivot slot allows a give to the ratchet 3i, and permits the pawl to return to its seat after an operation. Assuming now that the primary wheel has been moved until 99 is the total visible through the opening 3, the lug 30 carried thereby is then near the projection 31 of the carry over ratchet 32, and another operation of the rod 12 Wlll move the primary wheel one step causing the lug 30 to engage the upstanding projection .31, shifting the pawl 32 upon its pivot to engage the ratchet 1 1 on the secondary wheel 21, and throw the same forward one full tooth or number overcoming the resistance of the pad 19, the pawl 32 being then returned to its normal position by the spring 37 urging the same rearwardly. rifter this action, the secondary wheel would hear the reference character 1 indicating one full step forward, while the primary wheel would have been moved so as to indicate ()0. The pawl 32 after each operation returns to its original position and is moved again upon another complete revolution of the primary adding wheel, and this operation may be continued until the secondary wheel has been moved 99 full steps forward and the primary wheel moved 99 steps on its last revolution and the mechanism will then register 9999.

During each movement of the primary or secondary wheels 20 and 21, they are, of course, actuated against the frictional resistance due to the contact of the sides of these wheels with the immovable friction pads 19, so that the instant any positive driving action upon either of the wheels is eliminated, then the movement of the wl eels instantly ceases by reason of its friction resistance offered as they are always held in frictional contact with the pads by the spring plungers on the spiders keyed to the shaft. It will be understood that the primary ratchet wheels are given a step by step movement through the action of the pawl 13 on the operating rod 12, and of course should the ratchet be moved forward two full teeth or steps, then the total in numbers would be likewise moved two full numbers, for instance from 96'to 98.

After the mechanism has been use cl and it is desired to reset the calculator or adding wheels so that they all line up in the zero position, the shaft 1? is rotated, being shifted through the medium of an operating handle 37 fashioned to lit within the keyway 35 of the shaft extending through one end thereof and a slightdistance along one side. This handle is provided with a lockin detent 38 adapted to enter a socket 39 in the case when the shaft is not to be rotated. The shat also carries a drum pos'tioned slightly within the interior of the case, fastened to the shaft by the set screws 39 and adapted to be engaged by the pivoted brake 410 by reason of the spring 41 secured to one end of the brake and to an appropriate portion of the case. This brake frictionally assists in holding the shaft against a turning movement when the totalizers or calculators are in an adding operation, but when it is desired to rotate the shaft to reset the calculators the handle 37 is pulled outwardly to disengage the detent from the socket 3i) and the shaft is then rotated against the frictional resistance offered if; the brake until all of the calculator wheels have been moved to the zero position by the disks 18 and friction pads 19 incontact with the calculators and are re tained in this position by a stop which will now be described.

Each calculator wheel is provided with a suitable pin 45 extending parallel with the shaft from one side of each wheel, which pins are placed adjacent the O0 numerals on the drum portions of the calculator wheels 20 and 21. .Vhcn these wheels are to be reset an elongated stop Q0 mounted upon the pivot 41 extending along the upper portion of the case is depressed by placing strain upon the hand knobs il-3 against the tension of the springs 42, so that the stops )ortions 4 of a width amroximatin the distance between the primary and secondary wheels of a given set are spaced apart and adapted to enter the space between these wheels formed by reducing the dian'ieter of the disks 18. \Vhen the stop is depressed it is held in this position while the shaft is rotated by the handle 3'? moving the primary and secondary wheels 20 and 21 due to the frictional connection between the shaft and the wheels through the medium of the friction pads 19, in the direction they move when in an adding oper :ion, which movement continues until all of the pins 45 cooperate with or engage the proper stop portions l-fl, which retain or hold the calculators wheels in their normal or zero position. Of course, as the shaft is rotated the pins of the various calculator wheels usually engage the stops successively, and when one pin has engaged its stop the calculater wheel with which said pin is connected is brought to a standstill, but the shaft continues to rotate against the frictional resistance offered by reason of the frictional connection between the disks 18 and the calculator wheels until all of the adding wheels are brought to their normal position, it being understood that first the pin of one wheel, and then the pin of another engages the appropriate stop portion 14: nntil the entire set of wheels has been lined up at a Zero position. After this resetting it is only necessary to remove any stress from the handle portions 43, and spring 42 then immediately throws the elongated stop member upwardly bringing the stop portions 14 out from between the various sets of adding wheels and the mechanism is then in condition for operation.

IVhile I have disclosed the calculators or indicators 20 and 21 as being of a circular construction, it will of course be understood that any suitable type of indicator or calculator may be used without departing from this invention; While I have herein disclosed the preferred embodin'icnt of the invention, I wish it to be understood that said invention is capable of embodiments in other forms of devices differing in arrangement and detail to the one herein illustrated, but which will be embraced within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a shaft, an adding wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a friction disc secured to the shaft, spring controlled plungers adapted to exert their effective pressure at se iarated points for forcing the adding wheel into contact with the friction disk, and means for overcoming the friction and rotating the adding wheel.

A machine of the character described comprising a shaft, an adding wheel rotatabiy mounted on the shaft, av friction disk secured to the shaft, a sleeve secured to the shaft arms radiating from the sleeve and havin enlarged outer ends provided with openings therein, spring-pressed plungers carried in the openings and engaging the addin wheel for normally forcing the same .c't with the friction disk, and

c for overcoming tl e friction and rothe adding wheel. machine of the character described comprising a shaft. a series of pairs'of addin wheels, rotatably mounted on the shaft, a friction disk secured to the shaft bet-ween the adding wheels of each pair, a sleeve secured to the shaft between each series of pairs of adding wheels, arms radiating from the sleeves and having enlarged outer ends provided with openings in the opposite faces thereof, oppositely disposed spring-pressed plungers in the openings and engaging the adding wheels for normally forcing them into contact with the friction disk, and means for overcoming the friction and rotating the adding wheels.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a movable indicator, friction means adapted to normally remain still and resist the movement of the indicator when in a computing process, means for overcoming the resistance of said resisting means for operating the indicator, and other means for moving the frictional insisting means and likewise moving the indicator to reset the same. said means including a shaft to which the frictional resisting means is rigidly attachec'l.

A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of indicators, friction elements immovable relative to said indicators during a computing operation thereof for resisting the movement of said indicators, means for maintaining said indicatols in contact with the friction elements co1nhearing against the indicators, and means for moving said indicators overcoming the resistance of the frictional resisting element.

(5. A machineof the character described comprising a pair of indicators, friction ele ments disposed between said indicators to resist the movement thereof, means for maintaining the indicators in contact with the friction elements comprising spring pressed plungers immovable relative to said indicators, and means for operating the indicators during a computing process overcoming the resistance of said friction elements.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a primary and secondary adding wheel, friction means interposed between said wheels for resisting movement thereof, operating means cooperating with the primary wheel for moving the same in opposition to the frictional resistance of said fric tion vmeans, and means for carrying over from the primary to the secondary wheel after the primary wheel has made a revolution.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a primary and secondary adding wheel, friction means interposed between said wheels for resisting movement thereof, operating means cooperating with the pri mary wheel for moving the same in opposition to the frictional resistance of said friction means, and means for carrying over from the primary to the secondary wheel after the primary wheel has made a revolution, said last mentioned means comprising a ratchet cooperating with the secondary wheel and adapted to be engaged and shifted by a projection on the primary wheel.

9. A machine of the character described comprisin a pair of movable adding wheels,-

a shaft, a disk carried by said shaft, friction pads on said disk, means for maintaining said adding wheels in contact with the friction pads to resist a movement thereof, and operating means for shifting the primary wheel overcoming the resistance of its friction pad.

10. A machine of the character described comprising apair of movable adding wheels, a shaft, adisk carried by said shaft, friction pads on said disk, means for maintaining said adding wheels in contact with the friction pads to resist a movement thereof, operating means for shifting the primary wheel overcoming the resistance of its friction pad, and means for carrying over from the primary wheel to the secondary wheel to move the secondary wheel upon each revolution of the primary wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDXVARD J. BRANDT.

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