US1781179A - hortok - Google Patents

Description

NW0 1 l, EQEQL A. A. HORTQN L781 TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR vCALCULA'I'ING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 29, 1926 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NEYS Nmn H, 1936., HORTON 1,781,17Q

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. .29 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 maww 142% ATTbRNEY s A. A. HORTON 1,781,179 TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Nov. 11 1930 Original Filed Jan.

29, 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Ma/QMZ 2 ML WWATTORN Patented Nov. 11, 1930 umTEo STATES PATENT oTFice ALLEN A. HORTON, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BURROUGHS ADDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Original application filed January 29, 1926, Serial No. 84,816. Divided and this application filed. August This invention relates to transfer mechanism for calculating machines.

The main object of theinvention is to provide an improved transfer mechanism.

Other and more particular objects are to provide a transfer mechanism of simple construction; one in which the transfer mechanism for each totalizer or counter pinion is individually controlled by its pinion; one

1 having an improved form of tripping pawl carry releases the pawls that have effected the initial carry.

Other objects and advantages of the illvention will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings in which:

F ig. 1 is a side elevation of a calculating machine showing the counter, the transfer mechanism, and certain parts of the controlling mechanism.

2 Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the counter in engagement with the actuator racks and the transfer mechanism in normal position prior to a carry being effected.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts after an initial carry has been effected.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts when the counter has been moved out of engagement with the racks and a full carry eifected.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts when the counter is rotated to zero in the taking of a total.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the counter pinions and its associated tripping pawl.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view on the line 77 of Fig. 1. a

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the counters and the transfer mechanism.

The invention is shown in connection with a calculating machine of the type disclosed in my 'conding application, Serial No. 84,616file J anuary' 29, 1926, of, which the Serial No. 126,955.

with alphabetical suflixes a new set of numerals will be used for the counter and transfer mechanisms.

The machine is provided with a plurality of banks of amount keys 10 having stems 11 which, when the keys are depressed, are positioned in the path of stop bars connected to the actuator racks 235. \Vhen the machine is given a forward stroke of movement the actuator racks 235 with their stop bars are released for upward movement to differential positions determined by the amount keys that have been depressed. In performing addition, the totalizer or counter is brought into mesh with the racks at the beginning of the return stroke after they have thus moved to ditl'erential positions and upon completion of the return stroke of the machine the racks are brought back to normal, thereby setting up the amount in the counter. Then a total is to be taken the counter is is moved into mesh with the racks prior to their ascent and the final position of the racks is not determined by the amount of keys, but by the pinions of the counter which are rotated by the racks against stops that arrest the pinions in 0 position and thus stop the racks in differential positions corresponding to the amount in the counter.

y The counter or totalizer is moved into and out of engagement with the racks by a pitman 387, the rear end of which is connected to the movable counter frame and the front end of which is forked as shown in Fig. 1. This pitman is reciprocated by a cam plate 74 carried by the main drive shaft 71. The cam plate carries two studs 200 and 395 which cooperate with pawls carried by the forked arms of the pitman. The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 1. Upon the forward stroke of the machine which rocks the cam stud 200 is inactive and the stud 395 passes the Y pass-by pawl 393 pivoted to the pitman 387.

end of the return stroke the stud 200 strikes the hooked end of the lower arm of the pitman 387 and returns it to normal positon which rocks the counter out of engagement with the racks. When a' total is to be taken thetotal key T is depressed which moves the arm 367 donwnwardly and through the connection 406 moves the pawl 404 into the path of the stud 200. The down ward movement of the arm 367 also moves a second arm 399 downwardly so that its hooked end 400 is in the path of a stud 395.' The downward movement of the arm 399 carries its central projection 401 into contact with the tail of the pass-by pawl 393 and moves this pawl to inactive position. With the parts in this position when the machine is given a forward stroke, the stud 200 engages the pawl 404 and moves the pitman 387 rearwardly which rocks the counter into engagement with the racks prior to their ascent. Near the end of the forward stroke the stud 395 engages tne hooked end 400 of the arm 399 and returns the pitman forwardly to move the counter out of engagement with the racks. Upon the return stroke of the machine the pitman is not actuated as the pass-by pawl 393 is held in inactive position as previously explained and the stud 200 passes the pawl 404.

The counter comprises a plurality of pinions 20 mounted on a cross shaft'21 carried by the side arms 22 fixed to a rock shaft 23 pivoted in the side plates 55. The shaft'2l'on which the pinions are mounted carries a roller 25 at one end positioned to be engaged by the cam edge 26 of an arm or plate 27 connected to a yoke 28 fixed to a rock shaft 29 also pivoted in the side plates 55. The left hand end of the yoke piece 28 as viewed in Fig.- 7

carries a downwardly extending arm 30 which is pivoted to the pitman 387 so that reciprocatory movements of the pitman are transferred to the yoke 28 which thereby oscillates .the cam plate 27. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that when the pitman 387 moves rearwardly the cam plate 27 is moved counterclockwise to cam the counter into engagement with the actuator racks and when the pitman is moved forward the cam is rocked clockwise to permit the counter to move out of engagement with racks, the counter being, urged out of engagement by a spring 31 which also maintains the cam roller 25 in engagement h the cam edge 26. I

an important advantage of this eonstruction is that the cam edge 26 acts on a roller carried directly by the shaft on which the pinions 20 are mounted so that the pinions are positively moved into engagement with the racks in proper pitch relation instead of being engaged in an uncertain way through connections in which there may be lost motion. The cam edge positively moves the counter to. and holds it in mesh with the racks, the shape of the edge being such as to gradually force it into position in proper timed relation. The

abrupt shoulder on the cam also enables it to act as a centering device for positioning the counter when it is moved out of engagement with the racks.

The arms of the yoke-shaped member 28 carry a cross shaft 32 which acts as a restoring bail as will be later described.

Each of the counter or totalizer pinions 2O has (see Fig. 7) a collar 33 having a tooth or transfer projection 34. The novel con-- struction of this tooth and its cooperation with the transfer mechanism will be presently described:

The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer segments 40, there being one segment for each of the pinions. These segments are pivoted on a shaft 41 and their rear ends 42 are off-set as illustrated in Fig. 8. Springs 43 connected to the rear ends 42 of the segments tend to normally urge the seg- 44 is normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by its spring 43 which is connected between it and the transfer segments so that the one spring serves to urge both elements to theirnormal positions. I Pivoted on a shaft 47 carried by the side arms of the counter frame is a pluralityof yoke shaped tripping pawls 48 rovided with noses 49 for cooperation wit the transfer projections 34 of the pinions. 'Thes'e pawls are normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by springs 50 which are connected at one end to the tails of the pawls and at their other end to latches 51 on the shaft 52 also carried by the side arms of the counter frame. These latches have shoulders 53 adapted to cooperate with lugs 54 on the pawls 48 The operation of the transfer mechanism is as follows: 1

The normal position of the parts rior to a carry being effected is illustrated in Fig. 2 where the transfer segment 40 is held in position by the detent 44, the nose 49 of the tripping pawl 48 is held forward in the path of the projection 34, and the latches 51 ride on top of the lugs 54.

As a pinion of lower order, as for example the units inion, rotates counter-clockwise from its 9 position illustrated in Fig. 2 to its 0 position illustrated in Fig. 3, the tripping pawl 48 is cammed rearwardly by the engagement offthe curved surface of the tooth 34 with the nose 49 of the pawl. The

awl is then latched in this position by the latch 51 whose shoulder moves behind the lug 54 on the pawl. This actuation or movement of the tripping pawl to its latched position is what is called an initial carry. It will be observed that the rear side of the pawl 48 is in engagement with the nose of the detent 44 but that the detent still holds the transfer segment against movement. Accordingly no movement of the transfer segment can take place, but the parts are conditioned so that such movement may later occur.

When the counter is rocked out of engagement with theactuatorracks, that is, from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, the rear side of each tripped pawl 48, which is carried rearward with the counter, frame while latched in position by the latch 51, pushes its 'detent 44 clockwise and disengages its shoulder from behind the lug 46 on its transfer segment. As the counter is rocked out-of engagement with the racks the restoring bail 32 is also moved toward the position illustrated in Fig. 4 so as not to interfere with movement of the transfer segments.

The segments whose pawls 48 have been tri ped are also released by the detents 44 as previously explained, and they accordingly move under the action of the springs 43 a distance equivalent to one tooth on the wheel of next higher order, the movement of the segments being limited by the engagement of the lugs 46 on the segments with second shoulders 55 on the detents 44. A carry is thus effected from a wheel of lower order to a wheel of higher order after the inions have been disengaged from the rac s and after they have engaged the transfer segments, such carry being made efi'ective by the movement of the pinions from one position to the other.

The transfer segments are restored to their normal position by the bail 32 after the pinions have been moved out of engagement with the segments. As the machine is operated to move the counters into engagement with the racks, the bail 32 is moved counterclockwise and after the pinions are out of engagement with the transfer segments, it contacts with the latter and moves them counter-clockwise slightly past normal position for clearance, after which they are latched in normal position by the detents 44.

As each transfer se ment 40 moves to effect a carry its lug 46 strikes the tail of its latch 51 and raises the shoulder of the latch above the lug 54 on its pawl 48 whereupon the pawl is moved counter-clockwise to normal position by its spring 50 so that when the transfer segment is restored to normal the latch rides on top of the lug 54 as illustrated in Fig. 2. This individual release of the tripping pawls puts them in position to be acted upon by the transfer projections 34 of the pinions without regard to whether or not the transfer segments are restored to normal. As each segment moves to effect a carry it releases its pawl to permit the latter to move to position to effect the next initial carry.

When a total is to be taken from the counter, the pinions must be stopped in O position in order to properly determine the position of the actuator racks and leaves the totalizer clear. In this operation the tripping pawls 48 are used but the pawls must not be cammed backward to their initial carry position. Instead they must act as stops for limiting the rotation of the pinions. Locking means is sometimes provided for these pawls to prevent their movement under such conditions, but in the present invention the pawls and the cooperating pro'ections on the counter are so constructed that the pawls act as stops without the necessity for the use of a lock. As will be observed from Figs. 5 and 6 the top edge of the pawl 48 is arc-shaped, its curvature being determined by a radius from the pivot of the pawl. The underside of the tooth 34 has the same curvature, as illustrated in; Fig. 6. Accordingly, when a pinion 20 is rotated clockwise in taking a total, and

when its tooth 34 contacts the end of pawl 48 (Fig. 6), the pawl will not be cammed backward but will act as a stop to limit the movement of the pinion and stop it in 0 position. An important advantage of this construction is that the pawls may be moved into and out of engagement with the pinions without moving the pinions out of osition as is sometimes otherwise the case. or example, when the counter moves from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4 and the pawl 48 is released its end moves under the transfer projecti6n 34 without causing any movement of the pinion since the surface of the tooth and the end of the pawl have the same radius of curvature.

It is to be understood that the structure shown is for pur oses of. illustration and that changes may e made in it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim': 7 p

1. A transfer mechanism having a tripping element movable to initial carry position by a counter pinion, a latch for holding said element in said position, a transfer element urged in a direction to efiect a full carry, and a detent for normally holding said transfer element against movement, said tripping element being movable to release the detent of the transfer element and said transfer element having provisions for releasing the latch of the tripping element when the transfer element moves to effect a carry.

2. In a calculating machine having a counter comprising a series of pinions movable into and out of engagement with a transfer mechanism; a transfer mechanism having a plurality of sets of transfer devices for transferring a unit of movement of one pinion to a pinion of another order, each of said sets of transfer devices comprising a trippin e1ement movable to initial carry position y its counter pinion, a latch for holding said element in said position, a transfer segment normally urged in a direction to effect a carry, and a detent for holding said segment against movement, said tripping element being moved to release the detent of the transfer segment for the counter pinion of next higher order by movement of the counter into engagement with the transfer mechanism, and said transfer segment having portions for releasing the latch of said tripping pawl when the transfer segment moves to effect a transfer.

3. In a calculating machine having a counter comprising a series of pinions mounted on a frame which is movable to move the counter into and out of engagement with a transfer mechanism; a transfer mechanism having a plurality of sets of transfer devices for transferring a unit of movement of one pinion to a pinion of another order, each set of said devices comprising a tripping pawl mounted on the counter frame and movable by its counter pinion to an initial carry position, a latch for holding said pawl in said position, a transfer segment mounted independently of the counter frame and urged in a direction to effect a transfer, a detent for holding said segment against movement, said tripping pawl being positioned so that when locked in initial carry position it contacts with the detent for the transfer segment for the pinion of next higher order as the counter frame is moved to move the counter pinions into engagement with its transposition it contacts with the detent for the transfer segment for the pinion of next'higher order as the counter is moved out of engagement with the racks and into engagement with the transfer segments, and a projection on said transfer segment for releasing the latch of said tripping pawl when the transfer segment moves to effect a transfer. In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. v

ALLEN A, HORTON.

fer segments to thereby trip said detent, said transfer segment having a projection for engaging the latch of said tripping pawl to release said pawl as the transfer segment moves to efiect a transfer.

4. In a calculating machine having a counter comprising a plurality of counter pinions mounted on a pivoted frame which is movable to move the counter pinions into and out of engagementwith a transfer mechanism; a

transfer mechanism including a plurality of sets of transfer devices for transferring a unit of movement of one pinion to a pinion of another order, each set of transfer devices including a tripping pawl pivotally mounted on the counter frame and movable to initial carrying position by a transfer projection on

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