US1775223A - S-ootho - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1930.

H. A. FOOTHORAP COMPUTING MACHINE Filed May 14. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet :1

Fi'c l M 0 L 1 m ii L iii! 1 a M 7 I! Harry/4 foo/77w 67/3 attoznm P 1930- H. A. FOOTHORAP 1,775,223 COMPUTING MACHINE Filed y 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 EWr JZzFOOIh ora Sept. 9, 1930. H. A. FOOTHORAP COMPUTING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 9, 1930.

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H. A. FOOTHORAP COMPUTING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 HarrjffiFOo/homja Sept. 9,1930.

H. A; FOOTHORAP COMPUTING MACHINE Filed y 1925 8 SheetsSheet 8 rammed Sept. 9 1930 HARRY aroornoaer or HARRISBURG,

mazzz rarer o are PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T ELLIOTT- FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N, 'Y., A CORPQBATION 0F DELAWARE *CQMPUTING .MAQHINE Application filed May 14,

My invention relates to improvements in writing computing machines and particularly to computers of the class in which a combined printing and computing mechanism,

- and a Work supporting platen, are relatively advance.

Another object of the invention is to automatically restore the carrying mechanism during the advance of the machine, from one column position to another. Y

Still another objectof the invention is to provide motor operated-mechanism for effecting the restoration of the carrying devices and mechanism for restoring the energy of the motor by relative movement of the platen and printing mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will herein after appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 1s a rear elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment" of my invention.

sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the compnter, and part of the printing and actuating 'mechamsms.

.mechanism in normal position.- Figure 8 is a similar view showing the re, storing mechanism and its relation to the car ing mechanism during operation.

Figure 9 1s a horizontal sectional new on the line 99 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section of a portion of the computer showing the 192 5. Serial No. 20,270.

motor for driving the restoring mechanism and the means for restoring the motor:

Figure 11 is a detail section taken on the line 1ll1 or" FigurelO.

Figure 12 is a similar'view taken on the line l.212 of Figure 10 Figure 13 is a perspective View of a detail of the restoring mechanism, and

Figure it is a similar view of another detail of the restoring mechanism.

- in the drawings, I have illustrated my invention as applied to the well known Elliott- Fisher billing machine of commerce. In order that the operation of this invention and its relation to machines of the Elliott-Fisher type may he clearly understood, a brief description of this machine andits operation follows. 7

The Elliott-Fisher billing machine comprises two characteristic units, i. e., a travelcalied the carriage, and a flat work supporting platen 2. The carriage is-'movable to space the letters or numbers printed on a work sheet supported by the platen. This advance of the machine is known as the letter spacing movement and not only selects the denominational positions in which digits "are I printed in a column but also the columns or Figure 2 is a somewhat'enlarged vertical;

fields in which numbers are printed.

The carriage 1 is mounted on a line space frame 3 by means of rollers 4 andtravels back and forth transversely of the platen 2. The advance ofthe carriage is effected by a spring motor' 5 and is controlled by we'll known mechanism including a key operated y escapement 6 and a feed rack 7. The carriage is retracted manually..

Line spacing mechanism shown generally I at 8 cooperates with racks 9, and is operable to efiect a line space movement of the frame 3 and consequently of the carriage and printing mechanism. Tabulating mechanism 10,

including denominational blades 11, are operated bythe usual tabulating keys (not shown) to engage column stops 12 adjustably mounted onthe carriage 3. The tabulaing printing and computing unit 1, usually tor keys also release the escapement mechasition to another, and arrested in printing position by the tabulator stops. The cari riage is equipped with the usual printing the computer, the wheels in each instance being arranged in the denominational order inwhich numbers are printed in a column.

These registering wheels 16 and '17 are rotated by number wheels 16?, in the registers 14 and 17 in the computer 15. The num ber wheels 16 of the column registers are engaged and operated by a master wheel 18,

.while a grand master wheel 19 operates the wheels ofthe cross-footer. Denominational selectionis effected by the letter spacmg movement of the carriage, which advances the master wheels across the registers as numbers are printed in cplumns.

The grand masteriwheel'l9 is sp'lined upon a shaft 21, mounted in the computer 15. A shiftable master wheel carriage 22, carried by bars 23, engages a grooved hub 24 of the master wheel 19 and is shifted to advance the grand master wheel 19 by a vertical shaft 25, journaled adjacent its ends, as illustrated at 26 and 27, and provided at its upper end with an advancing arm 28 fast thereon and engaging a stud 29 arising from the carriage 22. A retracting spring 30 connected to the advancing arm 28 olds the carriage 22 against a stop 22, at one end of the-series of wheel 17*.1 Intermediate its ends, the shaft 25 is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 31, having a pivoted engaging member 33 coacting with one or more control stops 34 on a control bar 32. A spring 35 and pin I 36 maintain the member 33 in a position to contact the stop 34, and further movement of the carriage rotates the shaft 25, swings the advancing arm 28, and shifts the carriage 22 to advance the master wheel to successive number wheels as the printing point of the master wheel 18 is rotated, in different degree or a number of increments corresponding to the value of the key operated, by suitable key operated connections known in the art as differential mechanism and 'correspondin movement is imparted to the is shifted from its normal position. In itsnormal position the reversing gear 38 rotates the master wheel shaft 21 to effect addition in the computer 15. In the shifted position of the gear 38, the master wheel shaft 21 is reversed for subtraction. The reversing gear 38 is shifted automatically by means of a shifter mounted'to slide upon guides 46 and embracing a grooved hub 47 of the gear. A retractile spring 48, normally maintains the shifter 45 and gear 38 in adding position against the head 49 of the stud 39.

Pivoted to the computer 15.as at 51, is a bellcrank 50, one arm of which is forked as at 52 and engages a stud 53 pf'ojectingtfrom the shifter 45. The other arm of the bell crank provides a cam element 54-which travels parallel with the stop bar 32. When it-is desired to subtract in. the computer 15, a subtracting stop 34, having a roller 34 projects into the path of the cam element 54 o attain this result a gear and rocks the bell crank 50 to shift the reriers 56, the dogs and carriers being arranged .m associated pairs beneath each number wheel 17, except that of lowest order, and operated to engage and carry, by -motor springs 57, one for each pair of carriers 56. Each pair of dog carriers 56 take the form of oppositely arranged bell cranks pivoted respectively, as at 58, upon opposite sides of the' vertical center of their associated number wheel 17 to oscillate in the plane thereof. The carrying dogs 55 are pivoted as at 61 intermediate their ends and in a vertical position upon the extremities of the horizontal arms 60 of the bell cranks, to engage their associated number wheel. The motor spring 57 for each pair of dog carriers connects the extremities of their vertical arms 59. Each pair ofcarrying dogs 55 is set in normal position by swinging i ts carriers against the action of their motor. spring 5'3, the upper ends of said dogs engaging under parallel stationary bars 62, and bein held against bars by springs 63. Each pair of carrying dogs 55 is associated with a trip 64: mounted to oscillate between said dogs upon a stationary bar 65, and normally centered in vertical position by individual spring pressed plungers 66. Each trip 64; is provided with an upstanding lug 6?, laterally odset from the trip to projectinto the. plane of the number wheel of next, lower order, to be engaged and swung in one direction, or the other for addition or subtrac-;

and 68 engaged, respectively, by the dogs 55 serve to arrest their carrying movement. From the foregoing, it will be seen that my invention isparticularly concerned with machines characterized by the following fea tures; to wit, a combined printing and computing unit traveling relative to a flat work supporting platen, under the control of an escapement and tabulating mechanism, to move the printing point of the machine in the normal printing direction and thus through different column positions of the work, the computer including reversing mechanism and duplex motor operated carrying mechanism adapting it for addition or subtraction.

pair of vertically disposed bell cranks 69 mounted to'osci lateupon horizontal shafts" 78 at opposite sides oi the vertical plane of the number wheels 1'? The upper arms '71 of each pair of hell cranks 69 are connected at their extremities by hori zontalrods 78 and the lower arms 72 by similar rods 74:-

l letractile springs connect the rods 74: whereby the frames are held in normal position with the rods 7 8 seated in stop notches 76, formed in a suitable part of the computer frame. Rollers 72 are provided at the ends of the arms 72 for a purpose presently ap parent.

Obviously, by rocking the frames 68 against the resistance of the springs 75, any operated carriers 56 will'be swung down to restore the carrylng dogs to normal position.

Between the frames 68 is mounted, in the COIIlPHt6I,'3, motor driven unit constituting a power transmitting mechanism 7 7 for rocking the frames 68 to' reset the carrying mecha-' nism. The power transmitting mechanism Tl includes a shaft 78 mounted in the computer 15 below thetrips 64, and midway between the shafts 70. Du the shaft 78- is a rotary sleeve 79 having gears 80 at each end, a three point cam 81 adjacent each gear and anescape wheel 82 adjacent one of the cams. The cams 81 rotate in the vertical planes of the bell cranks 69 and engage the rollers 72 to rock the restoring frame 68, Normally, as in Figures 2, 6 and 7 of-the drawings, one point of each of the-cams 81 extends between, butnot in contactwith, the rollers 72*". An oscillating pallet 83 cooperates with the escape wheel 82 and forms therewith an escapement controlling rotation of the restoring cams. The pallet or pawl member 88 comprises upper and lower pawls 85 and 86, to

engage three radial abutment shoulders 88 of the wheel 82 which is formed with cam portions 89. The pallet member 88 is ur ed in an upward direction by a spring 88: Depending from the pallet member 88, is an arm 84, held normally in engagement u cam on the shaft 25. In this, the normal osition of the escauement one shoulder 88 of the escape Wheel 82 abuts the extremity of the lower pawl 86 and holds the transmitting mechanism 77 against rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 'Z. The upper pawl 85 is held in disengaged position and is provided with a hooked end 85 to engage the nezrt shoulder, but occupying a position in advancethereof. l Vhen the pallet 83 is rocked to disengage the pawl 86, slight rotation the escape wheel 82 is permitted before the hooked end 85 of pawl 85 is engaged by the shoulder 88, as shown in Figure. 6. This slight rotation permits the previously abutting shoulder 88 to rotate past the pawl 86 so that if the pallet member 88 is now released its spring will rock it and permit the extremity of pawl 88 to engage a cam portion 89 of the wheel as shown in Figure 8. The cams 81 are now free to complete an increment of rotation before being arrested by the engagement of the next shoulder 88 with the pawl 86. The clearance, previously noted between the cams 81 and rollers 72 in the normal position of said cams 81, provides for proper action of the escapement before the cams 81 contact the .rollers 77, the cam portions 89 of the escape wheel effect a gradual return of the pallet 83 to its normal position as the cams rotate.

As the transmitting mechanism 77 rotates one increment, the cams 81 assume the position shown in Figure 8 in which position the 7 computer across the series of number wheels 17 a as the printing point of the machine is moved, in the normal printing direction through the denominational positionsof a column. The cam 90 is so constructed flint,

as theshaft is rotated to advance the irias-.

ter-Wheel 19' across the number ,wheels 17, thearm 84 is rocked to move the pallet 83 gradually downwardly against the action of its spring 83. Thus before the master wheel 19 has completedits advancing movement, or in other words, before the printing point of the machinehas progressed across a column, the transmission mechanism, as previously described, will be rotated slightly, and the es capement, in effect, set to permit an increment of rotation of the restoring camswhen the pallet 83 is moved upwardly. As the printing point of the machine leaves the last denominational position of a column, and during its approach to the next column position, the member 33 disengages from the columm stop 34, the spring rotates the cam 90 re versely and the spring 33 rocks the pallet 83 upwardly to release the cams and cause the resetting or restoring of the carrying mechanlsm.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the transmitting mechanism 77 is controlled to operate the restoringframes 68 and restore v J the carryingmechamsm after the printing point of the machine has progressed, in the normal printing direct-ion, beyond'theflast or lowestdenominational position of a col umn and during the approach of said printing point to the writing position. of the next column. Since tl1is'"[result is effected-by aportion of the mechanism for advancing and retracting the .shiftable master, wheel or actuator 19, and is timed according to the position thereof,,it may be said that the restoring mechanism is automatically controlled .in timed relation to movement of the actuator,

or in another aspect, by the movement of the carriage. I Y

To supply the necessary power for the operation of the restoring mechanism con-v trolled as described, a motor 91 ismounted within thecomputer 15. The motor 91 comprises a driven shaft 92 j ournaled at its ends below the mechanism 77 and parallel with I the shaft 78 thereof. Fixed-{adjacent to the ends of the shaft 92 are gears 93 and 94 in .mesh with the gears 80. Intermediate the gears 93 and 9% the\shaft 92 supportstwo cy-.

' the housing 96, with one of lindrical drums; or barrels 95 and 95 open at one end and oppositely arranged to form a hollow housing 96 surrounding the shaftv92. The drums 95 and 95 are freelyrotatable upon the shaft 92 and one of saiddrums, for instance, the drum 95, carries a, gear 97. The 'dru'ms95, 95 serve to house a relay of convolute springs, preferably three in number, spaced apart and arranged to rotate the shaft 92 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, by the application of a substantiallyuniform driving'force. One ofthe springs 97 is coiled Within the drum 95, with one of its ends aflixed to the inner face of its drum as at 101 and its other end, as at 102, to the; sleeve 100, journaled on the shaft 92 and projecting for a suit-able distance into the drum 95*. The succeeding spring 98 is coiled in the opposite direction withinv the drum 95* with its end .affixed respectivelyto the sleeve 100 as at 103, and to the inner face of drum 95 as at 104. The third spring 99 is coiled in the drum 95 in the opposite direction relative to spring 98 and its ends are af fixed respectively to the inner fac of the drum 95 and the shaft 92. Itwil be seen that if drum 95 is rotated in the proper direction to wind the spring 97 about the sleeve 100, it will react to rotate said sleeve 100 about the shaft 92 and the sleeve will, in turn, Wind the spring 98,which will cause the drum 95 to wind the spring 99 about the shaft 92.

Thus, the springs 97, 98, and 99 may be wound Within a relatively small space to store within the housing 96 their combined reactive energy and to apply a'uniform torsional drive ing force to the shaft 92. It will,of course, be understood that this winding or storing operation occurs only during a timewhen the transmitting mechanism 77 is held stationary by the escape wheel 82 and pallet member 83.

To provide means for restoring the motor, I provide a structure including, a short horizontal shaft 105, journaled in suitable bearings 106 and 107 so that it extends below the housing 96, at a right angle to the shaft 92, to

engage a gear 108 thereon with the teeth of the rack 7. Upon movement ofthe combined prmting and computing unit or carriage 1, in either direction, the shaft is rotated and with it a beveled gear 109, meshing with a similar gear 110, fixed upon a freely rotatable sleeve 111. The sleeve 111 is mounted upon I a relatively longer shaft 112 positioned below its ends projecting beyond the sleeve 111'. The projecting end of the shaft 112 carries a freely rotatable member 113, comprising a gear 114 and a ratchet wheel 115, the former meshing with the gear 97 of the drum 95. The gear 114 carries a pawl 116 engaging a ratchet wheel -117 affixed to the sleeve 111 so that rotation ,of' the sleeve 111 in one direction imparts movement to the member 113' to rotate the drum 95. The relative arrangement of the/ gears 109 and 110, the ratchet Wheel 117, and the pawl 116 is such that upon return movement of the carriage 1 the member 113 will be rotated todrive the drum in the proper direction to Wind the springs 97, 98, and 99.

The member 113 is prevented from rotating in a reverse direction by a pawl 118 which engages teeth upon the ratchet 115. Since the erly wound initially, it will provide a sub-' stantially uniform and constant driving source for automatically restoring the carrying mechanism any number of times that may be required during a single advance movement or forward excursion of the carriage 1 without reacting to a point below driving efficiency. The gear 108 may be initially rotated manually to wind the motor 91 before the carriage is placed on the frame to mesh said gear with the rack 7..

It is believed that the foregoing will sufflee to impart a clear understanding of my invention, but, it. is desired to emphasize the fact that the transfer restoring mechanism is automatically controlled by movement of the carriage in normal printing direction and 'is intermittently operated by the motor during such movement or excursion. Likewise, the motor is automatically controlled by the forward movement of the carriage and 1s automatically reWound or restored as the car- J riage is retracted.

@bviously, the construction and arrange-- ment of parts herein described may be varied and changed Within the spirit of the invention,

What if claim is:

1. in a calculating machine, the combination with a frame and carriage, and a register including transfer mechanism and me able with the carriage, of transfer restoring mechanism including, a normall energized motor, and motor releasing means, all carried by the register, and meansfor operating the motor releasing means repeatedly by movement of the carriage in an advancing direcnected to said frame for operation by more a run! ment of the carriage in the tion,

3. In a calculating machine, the combination with a frame and carriage, and a register including transfer mechanism and movable with the carriage, of transfer restoring mechanism including members having separative action to reset the transfer mechanism, rotary mechanism for separating the members, escapement mechanism for controlling the rotary mechanism, and means for operating the escapement mechanism repeatedly by movement of the carriage in one direct" 4. In a calculating machine, the combination with a register and transfer mechanism, of transfer restoring mechanism including opposite direcmembers having separative action to reset to reset the transfer mechanism, rotary mechanism for separating the members, an escapement mechanism for controlling operation of the rotary mechanism and means operated by thdenominational selecting mechanism to trip the escapement mechanism.

6. in a calculating machine, including a register and transfer mechanism, restoring mechanism including, restoring members op erable to reset the transfer mechanism, and rotary mechanism adapted to operate the members repeatedly by its operation through a single revolution,

7. in a register including denominational selecting mechanism andtran'sfer mechanism, restoring mechanism including opposed members having separative action to reset the transfer mechanism, rotary cam mechanism intermediate said members-for causing such separative action, and escapement mechanism for controlling rotation of the rotary mechanism and operated by the denominational selecting mechanism.

8. in a register including 7 selecting mechanism and transfer mechanism,

restoring mechanism including opposed members having separative action to reset,

the transfer mechanism, rotary mechanism adapted during a single revolution thereof to cause repeated separative action of said members, a motor for rotatingsaid rotary mechanism, escapement mechanism for con trolling rotation of the rotary mechanism and means operated by the denominational selecting mechanism to trip the escapement mechanisrn.

9. In a calculating achine the combinadenominational tion with a carriage a frame including a carriage feed rack, and a register on the carriage and including transfer mechanism, of transfer restoring mechanism including a motor carried by the register, and motor restoring mechanism having a rotatable motorv restoring 'member in operative connection with the feed rack for rotating said member and operated by movement of the carriage and register, and including a one way driving connection for transmitting move ment to said member.

10. In a machine of theclass described, the combination with a carriage travelling through successive column positions and a register having a shaft rotated by travel of the carriage through, a column position, of

tnansfer restoring mechanismdncluding' a normally energized motor, motor driven power transmlttmg mechanism, and means for controlling operation of the power transmitting mechanism including an escapement controlled by rotation of said shaft to release the power transmitting mechanism for operation coincidentally with travel of'the carriage beyond a column position.

' 11'. 'In a machine of the class described, the combination with a register adapted to tabulate from column to column, and including transfer mechanism, of a transfer restoring member, means to actuate the transfer-re- I storing member, a normally energized motor to drive the actuating means, an escapement to control the operation of the motorand the actuating means, and an escapement releasing device controlled by the register in its travel to trip the escapement and free the motor and actuating means for operation. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY FOOTHORAR

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