US1591664A - Adding machine - Google Patents

Description

July 6,1926. u1591,664

I A. EKMAN ADDING MACHINE -Fled Nov. 14, 1921 INVENTR ATroRNEYS Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES l 1,5``1,664 PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW EKMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY HESNE ASSIGN- gnENTs, T0 BLEICK SYNDICATE, COMPOSED OF WILLIAM D. BLEICK AND D. H.

CONNOR, BOTH 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND F. J.

BOTH 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

PARKER AND J'. J'. HARRIS,

ADDING MACHINE.

Application led November 14, 1921. Serial No. 514,882.

My invention relates to adding machines and more particularly to such machines in which a new item may be set up in the keyboard before the mechanism has returned to normal position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for preventing the travel of the indexing mechanism forwardly beyond indexed position after the release of the keys or stops of the machine. Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully in the following detailed description and appended claims.

The accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification illustrates one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of the said embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof.

The specific mechanism shown and described herein is adapted primarily for use in connection with the general adding machine construction shown in the patent to Edgar Maynard Camp, No. 1,556,756, granted Oct. 13, 1925, but it is to be understood that my inveition is not limited to that type of machine.

Referring to the drawing, the keyboard is made up of columnar units each comprising a single series of vertical key stems 1 mounted in suitable frames. .The key stems are supported in normal or elevated position in the frames by springs 2. When the keys are depressed lugs 3 thereon pass under the lower edges of a flexible shutter 4 of which there is one for each bank or column of keys. These shutters, as shown, are pivotally mounted at 5 and are yieldingly held in operative position by springs 6. Adjacent the key stems of each column is a longitudinally slidable plate or slide 7 which, as shown, is mounted for forward and backward movement on headed studs 8. This plate or slide, which is herein called the A initial stop slide, is provided with nine cam faces 7 coactin with lugs 9 on the respective key stems, t e lugs and cam faces being so arranged as to produce, upon the depression of any keyl in the series, a forward movement of the slide 7. A spring (not shown) tends to return the slides 7 to their natural positions.

slide forwardly of the initial or zero p,osi-.

tion. In Fig. 1 an index slide is shown in solid lines in its normal position. The de pression of a key, however, will move the initial stop slide 7 forwardly and rotate the corresponding initial stop 1() about its axis 12 from the path of the lug 14 on the corresponding index slide and allow the said slide, when the handle is operated, to travel to a position determined, as will be explained, by the depressed key. Each of the index slides is designed with a series of stop faces 16 which respectively engage the lower rear edges of the depressed key stems or stops, which thereby limit the forward travel ofthe index slides when the latter are released by the initial stops and the handle or operating member 17 is actuated. As explained in the said application of Edgar Maynard Camp, the ninth `key stem may have no corresponding stop on the index slide, the ninth Stop for the index slide being a fixed part of thermachine. The amount of the forward travel of the index slide will depend upon which key is depressed, the forward movement of the index slide before it is stopped be proportional to the unit for whichy the key is depressed. The lforward movement of the index slides is accomplished as shown by a series of springs 18 connecting the shaft 17 of the handle 17 with each index slide. This is done by means of a series of extensions or levers 18'* ixedly mounted on said shaft, to each of which a spring connects its corresponding index slide. Forward movement of each index slide is transmitted as by a link 19 to a sector 20 arranged to coact with pinion 21 upon the numeral wheel 22. The means for effecting engagement of the sectors and numeral wheel pmionare not parts of the present invention and will accordingly not be described herein.I

With a view to permitting the setting up of new items in the keyboard before the mechanism has returned to normal pvpsition, all of the shutters 4 are operated (by means not shown) to release any of the keys which may have been depressed. Suitable means for this urpose are shown in the patent of Edgar aynard Camp, Number 1,556,756, dated October 13, 1925, in which means are shown for releasing the keys during the 'return stroke of the handle 17. This release of the keys with the resulting movement of the latter u wardly to normal position removes the epressed key stems from such stop faces 16 of the index slides as were in engagement with the key stems.y The result is a tendency of the index slides 15 to travel forwardl under the influence of the sprin 18 beyon their indexed positions. To avoid this objection I have provided means for arresting the index slides against objectionable forward movementafter the release of the keys. To this end, each of the initial stops 10, 'as shown, is provided with a serrated lower edge 24 which is'adapted to coact with the lug 14 of the corresponding index slide at whateverposition the said slide may have been arreste by a depressed key stem to prevent further forward movement of the index slide. I refer for sureness of operation to have t e stops 10 move to operative relation with respect to the corresponding index slides before the ke s are released. In the construction shown tiie stops are moved during the latter portion of the forward movement of the handle to operative sition with respect to such slides as lhave en advanced beyond the initial or zero position. To accomplish this result I havekprovided means for shifting the pivotal axis of the stops 10 forwardly so that the stops may fall into operative position even though the corresponding slides 7 are held in forward position by the depressed key stems. The mechanism shown or shifting the pivotal axis of the stops comprises a bail 25 which is pivoted at 426 and supfports the shaft 12 constituting the pivot or the sto s 10; The bail 251s moved about its axis y means of lever 27 pivoted at 28 and having in its forward portion cam slot 29 coacting with a portion ofthe shaft 12. The forward arm of the lever 27 tends to remain, as by gravity, in its lowermost position. The other arm 30 of the said lever is arranged between the fingers 31 and 32 on a lever 33 which isv pivoted at 34 and connected by link 35 with the handle 17. When the handle is moved forwardly the finger 31 moves out of contact with the arm 30 of the lever 27. When the handle is near the end of its forward stroke the finger 32 engagesthe arm 30 and further forward movement of the handle causes the finger 32 to depress the arm 30 and elevate the cam slot 29 to move the bail 25 and the stop 10 forwardly. This vbodily forward movement of the stops together with their pivots permits the toothed portion 24 of the stops to fall into operative relation to any of the advanced index slides which have been arrested by the depressed key stems. On the return stroke of the handle the keys are released; but when this takes place the stops 10 are in operative relation to the index slides of all columns where a key has been depressed. The release of the keys results in the return ror rearward movement of the initial stop slides 7 so that these are no longer in position to hold the said stops elevated or inoperative even when the forward end of the lever 27 is permitted by the finger 31 to drop to its lowermost position.

In the drawing the handle or operating member and the parts operatedlthereby are shown in solid lines in their normal positions and in dotted lines in ositions occupied by them at the end of the orward movement of the handle.

The bodily forward movement of the initial stops 10 by the cam slots 29 moves from operative position with respect to the corresponding index slide all initial stops 10 in columns in which no ke has been depressed. In order to prevent o jectionable advance movement of the index slides in these columns while the initial stop is thus rendered inoperative, there is rovid'ed a bail 37 which is ivoted at 38 and has a sto portion 39 a a ted to enga-ge shoulders upon the index s ides. A spring 41 arranged between the bail 37 and an arm 42 on the member 27 lifts the said bail into operative relation to the index slides 15 which have not been advanced beyond the initial positions upon the elevation of the forward arm of the lever 27. Such index slides are accordingly detained or arrested bv the coaction of the part 39 with the shoulder 40.

It is to be understood that many modifications may be made in the form of my invention described without departing from the spirit of m invention.

Having thus escribed my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, an initial stop normally in operative relation to said member and adapted to arrest said member in different positions, means controlled by the keys for rendering said stop inoperative upon the depression of a key, and means for rendering said initial stop operative while a key is depressed to prevent movement of said member beyond indexed position.

2. The combination of a series of keys,

adding mechanismicontrolled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, an initial stop normally in operative relation to said member and adapted to arrest said member in different positions, vmeans controlled by the keys for rendering said' stop inoperative'upon the depression-bf'akey, operating means for said mechanism, and means controlled by said operating means for rendering said initial stop operative while a key is depressed to prevent movement of said member beyond lndexed position.

3. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, a stop adapted to arrest said member 1n dii.- ferent positions, means controlled by the keys for rendering said stop inoperative upon the depression of a key, and means for rendering said stop operative While a key 1s depressed to prevent movement of said member beyond indexed position.

4. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, a stop normally in operative relation to said member and adapted to arrest said member in different positions, means controlled by the keys for rendering said stop `inoperative upon the depression of a key,

operating means for said mechanism, and means controlled by said operating means for rendering said stop operative while a key is depressed to revent movement of said member beyond indexed position.

5. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, a sto normally in operative relation to said member and adapted to arrest said member in different positions, means controlled -by the keys for rendering said stop inoperatlve upon the depression of a key, oscillatory operating means for said mechanism, and means controlled by said operating means for rendering said stop operative during the initial stroke of said operating means and while a key is depressed to revent movement of said member beyond indexed position.

6. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, a pivoted stop adapted to arrest said member in different positions, means controlled b y the keys for rendering said stop inoperative upon the depreion of a key, and means for shifting the pivot of said stop to renderV the stop operative while a key is depressed to (prevent movement of said member beyond in exed position.

7. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member,

4'a ivoted initial stop. normally in operative re atlon to said member and adapted to arrest said i member in different positions, means controlled by the keys vfor rendering said stoplnoperative upon the depression oi a key, operating means for said mechanism, and means controlled by said operating means for shifting the pivot ot said stop to render the stop operative while a key is depressed to prevent movement of said inember beyond indexed position.

8. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism controlled by the keys and including a traveling indexing member, a pivoted initial stop normally in operative relation to said member vand having a serrated portion adapted to arrest said -member in different positions, means controlled b y the keys for rendering said stop inoperative upon the depression of a key, operating means for said mechanism, and means controlled by said operating means for shifting the pivot of said stop to render the stop operative While a key is depressed to prevent movement of said member beyond mdexed position.

9. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism including a traveling 1ndexing member controlled through said keys, a stop adapted to arrest said member indifferent positions, a second stop, each of said stops adapted to prevent movement of said member from initial position, operating means for said mechanism, means controlled through said keys for rendering said first named stop inoperative, and means for rendering the second stop operative to prevent advance movement of .said member from initial position when said first named stop is rendered inoperative.

10. The combination of a series of ke s, adding mechanism including a traveling 1ndexing member controlled through said keys, a plurality of stops, each adapted to prevent movement of said. member from initial position, operating means for said mechanism, means controlled through said keys for rendering one of said stops inoperative, and means for rendering the other stop operative to prevent advance movement of said member from initial position while rendering said first named stop operative to prevent advance movement of said indexing member from other indexed positions.

11. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism including a travelin 1ndexing member controlled through said eys, a plurality of stops, each adapted to prevent movement of said member from. initial position, operating means for said mechanism,

means controlled through said keys and said operating means for rendering one of said stops inoperative, and means controlled by said operating means for rendering the other stop operative to prevent. advance movement of said member from initial position when said first named stop is inoperative.

12. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism including a travelin indexing member controlled through sai keys, a plurality of stops, each adapted to prevent movement of said member from initial position, operatin means for said mechanism, means control ed by said operating means and said keys for rendering one of said stops inoperative, and means for rendering the other operative to prevent advance movement of said member from initial posi- -tion While rendering said first named stop operative to prevent advance movement of said indexing member from other indexed positions.

13. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism including a travelin indexing member controlled through said eys, a purality of sto s, each adapted to prevent movement of sai member from initial position, operating means for said mechanism, means control ed by said keys for rendering one of said stops inoperative, and means for rendering the other stop operative to prevent advance movement of said member from initial position while rendering said first named stop operative to prevent advance movement of said indexlng member from other indexed osition.

14. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism includin a traveling 1ndexing member, a pivote stop for said member, means for renderin said stop in-l operative, and means for bodily shifting the plvotal axis of said stop to render the same operative.

15. The combination of a series of keys, adding mechanism including a travelin. 1ndexing member controlled through said Ee s a stop for said member, means control ed through said keys for rendering said stop inoperative, and means for thereafter rendering the same operative while a key is de ressed.

n testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDREW EKMAN.

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