US1810325A - Combined typewriting and computing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1931'.

R. PENNICOTT COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1927 fi Q on on E Emmi fie: o .r 3 3 mm 8 F Elsi #63 8% din: o F 2&3 wow mmmww E55 m8 m: S 38 zoHwbmHmPwHQ 739N567 mm m w $.22 Q Q the .top of the cross totalizer.

Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROY PENNI COTT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Application filed March 31, 1927. Serial No. 180,003.

My invention relates to combined typewriting and computing machines, and it has for its principal object to provide certain improvements in, or modificationsof, the proof of clearance mechanism employed in such machines so as to adapt said mechanism for a class of work for which as heretofore constructed it has not been so well adapted.

To the above and other ends my invention consists n certain features of constructionpatent to J. C. Wahl, No. 1,270,471 dated June 25, 1918. As this machine is wellknown in the art, it is illustrated in the drawings only far enoughto show the application of my invention-thereto.

The proof of. clearance mechanism com monly employed on the Remington machine is that described in the patent to A. F. Poole, No. 1,491,167 dated April 22, 1924.

In the form in which it is shown in the drawings my invention consists of a modification of the clearance proof mechanism described in the said Poole patent, and I have therefore not illustrated said mechanism in all itsldetails, but only far enough to make clear the changes in it. As described in the pinions has one short tooth which registers with said comb when the wheelstands at zero so that the comb can swing toward the front of the totalizer whenand only when all of the wheels indicate Zero. This comb is operatively connected with a finger projecting above One of the vertical t-otalizers has on it a trip cam which operates a bell crank on the stationary framework just as the typewriter carriage'steps out of that computing column which the writ;

ing of the number should clear the cross totalizer, with the resultthat a certain locking.

this lever is immediately unlocked by the tin-v ger above referred to; but if it is not clear, the finger will be unable to release the lock.

There are classes of work however in which there is no single column at the end of which the cross totalizer should be clear, and to which, for that: and other reasons, the proof of clearai'ice mechanism in the form described in the Poole patent is inapplicable.

I reverse theaction of the trip cam so as to make it trip off the lock lever not during the leftward travel of the carriage but while the carriage is being drawn back to the right to begin a new line, thus locking the machine, and I provide means to give the cross totalizer, or the finger thereon, an opportunity to release the lock in case said cross totalizer is clear, as it should be, before writing in the first computing column of the new line. I also provide certain other devices and arrangements as will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front View with a statement sheet and a distribution sheet shown conventionally in place on the platen of the typewriter.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the trip mechanism on a larger scale than Fig. 1.

The Remington machine includes printing keys and key levers 1 which operate type bars and types 2 which strike against the front face of a platen mounted as usual on the paper carriage. In the present instance the machine is equipped with any known sort of divided or split-platen, the left-hand section 3 of which supports a statement sheet 4, and

the right-hand section 5 of which supports a detail strip or sheet 6 ruled as a distribution sheet. The main frame of the computing mechanism includes a casting 7 and certain vertical frame plates of which two, marked 8 and 10, appear in Fig. 1. The numeral printing keys 1 are connected to an actuator mechanism which includes a main or vertical master wheel 11 a-nd'an auxiliary orcross mast-er wheel 12. The master wheel 11 is adapted to operate various vertical totalizers mounted on a truck 13 which travels right and left with the typewriter carriage.

In the present instance I have shown mounted on said truck totalizers 14-, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 and a dummy 21, the last being a totalizer frame without any registering mechanism. As far as my invention is concerned, it makes no difference whether these are active totalizers or mere dummies, and in the claims I make no distinction between the two. Each vertical totalizer and dummy is adapted to pick up a hook or pick-up beam 22, which at is pivoted to a cross truck 24 running on rails 25 and carrying the cross totalizer 26. Each vertical totalizer moves this cross truck leftward as said vertical totalizer steps across the master wheel 11 and when the vertical totalizer steps to sub-units position the cross truck is jumped back to the right by a spring (not shown) until a stop bar 27 mounted thereon is arrested by striking a vertical lever 28 and moving the latter rightward until it is pressed flat against the frame plate 8, as shown in Fig. 1. When there is no pressure on this lever 28 a spring swings it slightly leftward. Said lever controls a sliding link 30 which in turn. controls a key lock used for certain purposes in the Remington machine, among which is that of serving as part of the proof of clearance mechanism.

The cross master wheel 12 is reversible for addition and subtraction and is also discon nectible from the keys by means which includes certain cams 31 mounted on the vertical totalizers and operating a follower roller 32 which is mounted on a lever arm connected by wellknown means with the change gear mechanism for the master wheel 12. Whether or not numbers written in any particular column shall be registered in the cross totalizer and if so whether they are added or subtracted, depends upon the elevation or level to which the cam 81 on the totalizer in that particular column is set. l/Vhen roller 32 occupies its highest position shown in Fi 1 which it is permited to do by the cam 31 on totalizer let, the master wheel 12 will add. If the follower 32 be slightly depressed as it will be by the cams on totalizer 15 and on dummy 21 the cross master wheel 12 will not turn; and if the follower roller 32 be depressed to its full extent as it will be by he cams on totalizers 16, 17, 18 and 20 then the cross master wheel will subtract.

The proof of clearance mechanism described in the Poole patent includes a finger 3 1 projecting upward from the cross totalizer 26 which occupies a forward position when the cross totalizer is not clear and when said cross totalizer is clear said finger can swing to a rear position where it can act on a cam 35 constituting part of a three-armed lever, said lever having also an upstanding arm 36 and a depending arm 37, the latter equipped with a lug 88 in such a position that when the lock-lever is rocked counter-clockwise said lug will operate the lever 28 and lock the machine. Th arm 87 is also equipped with a restoring key 40. The arm 36 has a lug bent off rearward therefrom and normally engaging a shoulder on a latch-lever 11. Said latch lever is pivoted at 4:2 to a sheet metal plate 43 fastened to the end of the casting 7 and extending parallel with said casting a short distance behind the latter. The three-armed locking lever is pivoted to this plate at 1%. A spring 15 connects the lever-arm 86 with a depending arm of the lever 41 and performs the double function of holding the latch-lever l1 in latching position and of as ting in turning the threearmed locking lever when the latter is released. In order to release it the latch-lever at has an upstanding arm adapted to be struck by a rightward push on a rod 46 which pass loosely through a hole in an car 17 bent off from the frame plate 13. The push rod 16 has its left-hand end near the middle of the machine where it is connected with the tripping mechanism. The non-traveling portion of the latter is mounted on a sheet metal bracket or frame comprising a base portion 4L8, an upstanding wall 50 and a hori- :2 mial ledge 51 bent forward from the upper cud of the wall 50. A headed post or stud 52 secured by a nut 53 depends from the ledge 51 and has pivoted on it the two arms 54: and 55 of a bell crank made in the shape of a bail as shown. The arm 55 extends rearward through a hole 56 in the wall 50 the edges of which hole, or at least the righthand edge of it, limits the motion of the bell crank and it is to the rear end of this arm that the push rod 16 is pivoted. The bell crank is controlled by a spring 5'7 tending to move the rod d6 leftward.

All of this clearance proof mechanism as thus far described is like that described in the Poole patent above referred to except the bell crank arm 54. In the Poole patent there is a horizontal arm in the same situation butprovidcd with means whereby the arm is rocked to trip the three-armed locking lever during the leftward travel of the carriage. This mechanism 1 have changed as follows:

The arm 5 1 is cut away at its forward edge to make a straight finger which is acted on by the toe 58 of a trip lever having also a forwardly directed arm 60. Said lever is pivoted on a headed pin or stud 61 riveted into or otherwise secured to and depending from the ledge 51. The construction is such that if the forward arm be deflected rightward too 58 will rock the bell crank 54:, 55 and give a rightward push to the rod 46 and thus trip the three- armed locking lever 35, 36, 37, allowing the latter to rock counterclockwise into its locking position. The moizers or dummies selected according to the character of the particular work in hand at the time. In the present instance it is mount ed on the vertical totalizer 16. It comprises a sheet metal plate or bar 63 secured to the top of the totalizer in a well-known manner by two screws 64 and projecting rightward from said totalizer, the projecting end of it being bent first upward and then horizontally, partly to avoid interference with the next totalizer 17 and partly to bring it into the range of the arm .60.. A cam piece 65 liesagainst the upper surface of the bar 63 to which it is pivoted by a headed and shouldered rivet 66. The piece 65 has a nose 67 projecting in such position as to strike against the lever 60, said nose having an abrupt left-hand face and an inclined righthand face. The rocking of the piece 65 about the rivet 66 is controlled by a spring 68 connected to pins 70 and 'l'l mounted respectively on the bar 63 and piece 65. The motion of the said piece about said pivot is limited by an ear 72 bent upward from the bar 63'.

The construction is such that when in its.

. of the nose 67 strikes the similarly inclined left-hand edge of the lever 60. In this event it is the piece 65 that cannot turn and the lever60 can turn and the latter is therefore operated to trip the three-armed locking lever and allow it to lock the machine. Thus this tripping action takes place on the rightward or return motion of the carriage instead of on the leftward travel of the carriage.

The use of this device will be best under- 1 stood by an illustrative application of it.

The statement sheet 4t and distribution sheet 6 shown in the drawings are portions of the accounting system of an automobile service station. Theservices rendered and things sold by this station are of various sorts and it is desired to preserve an analysis of the business in the nature of adistribution of the amount of business done according to the character of it. This distribution and analysis may comprise for example the following headings: Labor b the mechanics of the station; Outside la 01'; Parts; Accessories; Tires; Oil and grease; and Gas.

It will sufficiently illustrate the invention to use only four classes and the distribution sheet 6 is therefore shown with the following beatings: Labor; Outside labor; Gas; Parts. When a car comes into the station and the owner desires service of a variety of sorts, each separate item of his bill is originally made out on a ticket, and if there are several items these tickets are finally collected in the office and furnish the data from which the statementsheet 4 is made up. The sev eral items are written on the body of the sheet the individual amounts being written in column 14 and the total, copied from the cross totalizer 26 in column 15;: The state ment sheet and totalizers 14 and 15 define a field in which the amount of the whole transaction is computed.

The distribution sheet 6 is kept in the machine on the right-hand section 5 of the platen and may be fed only one line space for each statement sheet 4. The latter can be fed into the machine and line spaced by turning the lefthand section 3 of the platen without feeding the distribution sheet 6 until that is necessary. As soon as the statement is written and while it is still in the machine the operator classifies the different items in it according to the various headings of the distributionsheet 6' and proceeds to enter into the appropriate'columns of that sheet the amounts chargeable to the various kinds or classifications of business. As was mentioned above the cams 31 are so set that the various items written in column 14 will be both added in totalizer 14 and also in cross totalizer 26. When the total of the bill is copied in column 15 the cam 31 prevents any operation of the cross totalizer 26 so'that when the carriage steps over into the distribution field defined by sheet 6 and totalizers 16, 17 18 and 20, the total amount of clear, no matter in which of the various distribution columns the finalitem happens to be written.

The nose 67 is so set that in the leftward travel of the carriage ithas escaped past the lever 60 by the time the carriage steps out of, or to sub-units position of, column 16 so that after writing the amount in that column said nose is to the left of the lever 60. In passing to the left of said lever it has not operated the lever however. If the entire service in any given instance happens to consist of inside labor then when the carriage was pulled iii back to the right the lever 60 would be operated and the locking lever dropped to its locking position; but the same would also be true if items were entered in any one or more of the other columns of the distribution sheet. Vherever the last item was written it is ncce. ary to return the carriage afterward and in doing so the locking lever would be tripped.

In order to cause the cross truck 24 to make a jump prior to writing again in column 14 the dummy 21 is set at some convenient place to the left of said column, such for example as the position shown in the drawing or somewhat to the left thereof. hen in writing the next bill the carriage is stepped leftward this dummy will pick up the cross truck and release it and allow the finger 34 to unlock the machine before reaching column 14- in case the cross totalizer is clear as it should be; but if said cross totalizer has not been cleared then when column 14 is reached the machine will be found locked. Dummy 21 is provided with a disconnect cam 81 so that in case the descriptive matter should happen to contain any numerals these will not be entered into the cross totalizer. In most distribution work such as that carried out on sheet 6 the total amount to be distributed is written on the same piece of paper as the distribution items. But in this instance the total amount is written on another piece of paper. This situation is taken care of by the provision here made for tripping the lock lever not in the leftward travel but in the rightward or return motion of the carriage and providing the dummy to give the cross truck a testing reciprocation before reaching the totalizer 14.

In most kinds of distribution work also a total amount is written either at the beginning of a line of writing or else at the end of it, and this total is to be distributed among the various columns. If the present work were of that sort it would be possible to put an ordinary trip cam on the dummy 21 to test for clearance just before entering column 14. That would not work in the present instance because several numbers have to be written in column 14 and the cross totalizer is not intended to be clear after the first one of said numbers is written. The machine would thus be locked up in column 14 several times to no purpose, which would largely destroy the usefulness of the clearance proof mechanism. The problem presented by this piece of accounting is rather intricate and it will be perceived that the described construction tallies care of it completely.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement without departing from the invention.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a carriage, aseries of vertical totalizers and an actuator therefor the one traveling relative to the other, a cross totalizer and a device adapted to be tripped to test said cross totalizer for clearance, of trip mechanism comprising two coacting parts one associated with said series of vertical totalizers and one traveling rela tive to the other, one of said parts being constructed to yield in one direction such that said device will not be tripped during the step by step travel of the carriage and not to yield but to operate the trip mechanism during the return motion of the carriage.

2. The combination with a carriage, a series of vertical totalizers and an actuator therefor the one traveling with said carriage relative to the other, a cross totalizer and a device adapted to be tripped to test said totalizcr for clearance, of trip mechanism including two coacting parts, one of which travels with said carriage and one of which is con structed not to yield but to trip said device during the return motion of the carriage and to yield without tripping said device during the step by step travel of the carriage, and said device being so located that the tripping action occurs between column positions defined by certain of said vertical totalizers.

3. The combination of a carriage, a vertical totalizer for computing a total, a series of vertical tetalizers to receive distribution items, a cross totalizer, a device adapted to be tripped to test said cross totalizer for clearance, trip mechanism including two cooperat ing parts one of which travels with said carriage and which parts are so located and constructed as to trip said device on the return motion of the carriage only and between col umn positions corresponding to said distribu tion totalizers and to the first mentioned vertical totalizer.

4. The combination of a traveling carriage, printing mechanism, vertical totalizers certain of which define a field in which is computed the amount of a transaction and certain of which define a distribution field, a cross totalizer, a device adapted to be tripped to test said totalizer for clearance and trip mechanism acting only during the return motion of the carriage from the distribution field into the amount computing field.

5. The combination with a carriage and printing means of a vertical totalizer located in a field for the computation of the amount of a transaction, a series of vertical totalizers located in a distribution field, all of said vertical totalizers traveling with said carriage, a jumping cross totalizer, a device adapted to be tripped to test said cross totalizer for clearance, said cross totalizer acting during the jump back to restore said trip device in case said totalizer is clear, trip mechanism acting only during the return of the carriage from said distribution field into said computing field, and means in said computing field to pick up said cross totalizer and allow it to jump back in order to complete the test for clearance.

6. The combination of a carriage, printing means, Vertical totalizers certain of which a are in a field devoted to a computation involving the items of a bill and certain of which are in a field devoted to distribution items, a cross totalizer, and clearance proof mechanism for said cross totalizer including trip mechanism acting only during the return motion of the carriage from said distribution field into said computing field.

7 The combination of a carriage, cross totalizing mechanism, and proof of clearance mechanism including two cooperating trip devices, one of said devices being on the carriage and the other operated by the first and being on the stationary framework, and the trip device on the carriage being adapted to to yield in one direction only so as not to operate its companion device during the step by step travel of the carriage but only during the return motion of the carriage.

Signed at Seattle, in the county of King, 5 and State of Washington, this 23rd day of March, A. D. 1927.

ROY PEN NICOTT.

Images