US1813037A - Rack controlling means for calculating machines - Google Patents

Description

E. J. ENS

July 7, 1931.

BACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 22, 1928 E. J. ENS

July 7, 1931.

RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 3% N% g au u NQ Qhk\ R M 1 r July 7, 1931.

RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 22, 1928 'E. J. ENS

July 7, 1931.

RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed June 22. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m as \m Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMIL JOHN ENS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIS ADDING TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW J ERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR OALCULATING MACHINES Application filed June 22,

The present invention relates to means for automatically checking or controlling the adding racks of machines of the Ellis type such as are set forth, for instance, in the patents to Ellis Nos. 1,197,276 September 5, 1916 and 1, 203,863 November 7, 1916, for the purpose of preventing the racks from jumping rearwardly after the accumulator wheels have been operated by the racks and have disengaged from them and the aligning bar has released the racks.

The invention has particular usefulness during a total-taking operation where the accumulator wheels are engaged with the racks the beginning of the rearward travel of the racks in the machine because as soon as the accumulation in the accumulator wheels has been transmitted to the racks and they, in turn, have operated the mechanism for printing the total, in the Ellis machine, the bail or leading and restoring frame is then in advance of the racks and the springs connecting said frame and racks are then under tension, so that when the accumulator is disengaged from the racks and the aligning bar unlocks, them, the racks in the Ellis machine jump rearwardly somewhat violently until they are arrested by the bail or leading frame. This action results in a considerable jar occurring in the machine which at times has a tendency to cause the adding hooks of the accumulator to release one or more of the transfer cams on the accumulator wheels which results in carrying one to the next column, thus giving a false result.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide improvements which, while not interfering with the rearward movement of the racks when the machine is put through its cycle of operation for the purpose of cooperation of the racks with the accumulator and for printing, will, nevertheless, after this action has taken place, automatically check or stop the racks from further rearward movement so that they cannot jump rearwardly until arrested by the bail or leading frame, but will remain in the positions to which they have moved so that the bail or leading frame may pick them up and restore 1928. Serial No. 287,480.

them to normal position as the cycle of the machine is completed.

While I have specified the improvements as peculiarly adapted for use in connection with the Ellis machine, it is to be understood that they are also adapted for use in connection with any calculating machine employing reciprocatory racks which co-operate with an accumulator and which may be subject to the difiiculty which my invention overcomes.

A practical embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a vertical center section of the calculating machine of the Ellis Patent No. 1,203,863 November 7, 1916 to which my improvements may be applied, the racks of said machine being in normal position;

Fig. 2, is a'detail side elevation, partly in section, showing one of the racks and associ ated parts such as the leading frame and a part of the accumulator, equipped with the present improvements, the parts being shown in the position they will assume at the end of the rearward or advance stroke when taking a tool, the particular rack illustrated being in the 3 position;

Fig. 3, is a view like Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts after the aligning bar and accummulator gears have disengaged from the racks and the leading frame or bail has started on its restoring stroke;

Fig. 4,-is a plan view of Fig. 2, certain parts being omitted and others broken away and only a few of the racks being shown;

Figs. 5 and 6, are opposite face views of the controlling or checking plate and the shaft which carries it; and

Figs. 7 and 8, are detail sections thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine has a rack R50 for each bank or row of numeral keys, mounted to slide on two slotted cross bars K3 and R92. The movement of each rack R50 backward is limited for the purpose of addition and subtraction by the stops K secured to the vertical sliding key stems of the keys, K K K etc., to K. The key, K does not limit the travel of the rack, but permits it to go its full stroke which is limited by the downward projections at the ends of that part of R which slides in the groove in the bar K These stops, K are so arranged that they engage steps on the upper edge of the rack R and these steps and the stops, K are arranged Vernier fashionso that from the first step to the first stop, K on thev key stem K the rack R could move a distance of one tooth, While stop K on the second key K would permit the rack R to move a distance of two teeth and the stop K on the key stem of K would permit the rack to move a distance of three teeth, etc., up to K, which serves the purpose of unlocking the rack R, by releasing therack lock 68 and permitting the rack, R to move its full travel or nine'teeth.

The racks R are moved in a rearward direction by means of the springs, R1 which are connected at their rear ends to a bar, R extending between the side members of a bail, which bail is secured to the shaft R and rotates with it. Mounted on the shaft R are a series of hell cranks, R having three projecting arms, one projecting forward for the purpose of operating the O printing triggers, P, the other arm extending rearwardly. for the purpose of connecting to the link P which serves to rotate the type sector P and if the bell crank, R is rotated about the shaft R the connecting link P will cause the type sector P to rotate about its center and bring the desired type to the printing line. The third arm from thebell crank, It extends in a downward direction and carries a pin R which engages a vertical slot in the lower, side of the rack, R so that when the rack R moves forward and backvward it communicates this motion to the bell crank B through the pin R and when the bail 45 is moved to rotate toward the rear or right, in Fig. 14, the spring R which connects the bar R and the bell crank R tends to move the rack R in a rearward direction until this travel is checkedby one of thb stops K or some other obstruction to its movement.

The segmental rack, R mounted on the lower extending arm of the bell'crank, R is for the purpose of obtaining forced alignment ofthe type on the sector P and this alignment segment R is secured firmly to The the lowerarm of the bell crank R alignment ofthe type through the segment R is brought about through the insertion of the blade R mounted on the forward side of the aligning frame R which in turn is mounted upon the shaft R The handle, or the motor drive of the machine is adapted to cause partial rotation or reciprocation of shafts 01, R1 and R2, as explained in Ellis No. 1,203,863.

At the right of Fig. 1 appear the adding and subtracting accumulators corresponding to those shown and described in Ellis Patent No. 1,203,863 and reference is to be had to that patent for a full disclosure of the construction of the accumulators and the manner in which they may be conditioned for addition, subtraction, or the taking of a' total or sub-total, and their, co-operation with the racks R50. The upper accumulator is shown as set for addition and the lower accumulator as set for subtraction.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the lower accumulator is entirely omitted to simplify the disclosure and only the adding hook N60 appears to illustrate how this hook co-operates with the cam N51 of the accumulator wheel N50 when a total is taken. For the sake of clearness, the other parts of the accumulator are omitted as they appear in Fig. 1 and in Patent No. 1,203,863.

The present improvements contemplate the provision of means for preventing the rack .bars R50 from jumping rearwardly after the accumulator wheels N50 have disengaged from the racks R50 and the aligning bar R93 has disengaged from the racks or combs R52 so that, once released, and the springs R being under tension, the racks cannot jump rearwardly until arrested by the leading frame 45R.

Each rack bar is provided with ratchet teeth R5OA.

F rictionally carried by the shaft 0.1 is a plate 6&0 which is provided with resilient pawls 660 adapted for engagement with the ratchet teeth R50A under the conditions hereinafter set forth but at other times to be free of said ratchet teeth, the purpose being to have the pawls 660 disengaged from the ratchet teeth R50A when'the machine is in normal condition and when the racks are moving rearwardly for the purpose of engagement with the accumulator but have the pawls to serve as abutment's or stops for the racks to prevent the false operation which might result if the racks were free to jump rearwardly when the accumulator wheelsare released therefrom and the racks are freed by the aligning bar.

it has been found that the embodiment set forth satisfactorily carries out the purpose of the improvements.

The plate 640 has openings 1640 through .which the bent, free ends of the resilient pawls 660 extend so that said ends are on the upper side of the plate 640 and extend in position to be adapted to engage the ratchet teeth R50A of the different racks, there being a pawl for each rack and each rack is provided with ratchet teeth R50A for engagement by the said pawl. The pawls 660 are secured to the plate 640 at their ends nearest the shaft 01 by rivets 0280.

The plate 640 is permitted a limited up and down play by reason of the provision of a hook 640C which isbent up from the edge of the plate and straddles the head of a screw 18T entered in the stationary side frame B46. This hook permits the plate 640 to be turned by the shaft 01 into either of the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Further turning of the shaft G1 is permitted by reason of the frictional connection of the plate 640 with the shaft 01. The plate 64:0 has curved fingers 640A which engage shaft O1 at the ends of the plate. The wiper 100 which is carried by the shaft 01 and serves a certain purpose disclosed in the Ellis patents aforesaid, and a screw O20 carried by the shaft 01, engage the ends of the plate 640 and prevent said plate from shifting lengthwise of the shaft 01.

The frictional connections which mount the plate 6&0 on the shaft 01 comprise clamp arms 640B and 650 which have divergent ends connected by springs 80R. As shown, there are but two of these friction clamps but as many may be used as found to be necessary. One of the members of each clamp, for instance the member 64013, may be integral with the rear edge of the plate 640 and the other member may be riveted thereto. The members have curved parts conforming to the shaft 01 and they frictionally embrace said shaft as shown in Figs. Q'and 3, it being understood that the shaft 01 is rocked by a handle or motor drive to put the machine through its cycle of operations, the operation of the present improvements being as follows: As suming that a total is to be taken, and printed if desired, the handle or the motor is used to turn the shaft 01 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown by the arrow adjacent the shaft 01 in Fig. 2. In the Ellis machine, the accumulator wheels N50 engage the racks R50, when a total is to be taken, before the said racks move rearwardly, that is, before said racks move in the direction indicated by the arrow thereabove, Fig. 2. The turning of the respective accumulator wheels for the different racks R50 continues until the respective trip cams N51 abut the ends of the hooks N60 as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the racks can travel no further. In Fig. 2, the particular rack shown has moved to the number .3 position.

Ihe immediate turning of the shaft ()1 has, however, lowered the plate 640 so that all of the pawls 660 are free of the ratchet teeth RSOA. The downward swinging of the plate 640 is arrested by the contact of the hook 640C with the screw or stud 18T but the shaft 01 can continue its turning because the engagement of the plate 64.0 with the shaft 01 is of the nature of a frictional slip o1nt.

(In the return stroke of the handle or drive for the shaft 01, said shaft O1 at the very beginning of the restoring stroke raises the plate 640 from the position shown in Fig. 2

to the position shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the pawls 660 are then positioned so that the racks R50 cannot jump rearwardly. Therefore, when the accumulator wheels N50 disengage from the racks R50, and the aligning bar R93 disengages from the racks or combs R52, even though the racks which previously moved to the right are under the tension of the springs R80, and the lea ding frame or bail 45B is located ahead of the racks, nevertheless the racks cannot jump tothe right on their release fromv the accumulator wheels and the aligning bar, which prevents the troublesome concussion or jar which has heretofore taken place in this type of machine and which has sometimes resulted in causing the adding hooks U60 to release one or more of the carrying cams N51 and thus carry one to the next column, with a resultant error.

On the return stroke the shaft 01, turning clockwise in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3, eventually brings the bail or leading frame 45R into engagement with those of the racks which have previously advanced, and they are picked up by said frame and restored to normal position, during which movement the ratchet teeth R5OA ride idly over the spring pawls 660.

What I claim is:

1. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators, of automat ically operated pawl and ratchet means for holding the actuators against further advance movement after they have been initially set, operating means, and a friction clutch interposed between said operating means and the pawl and ratchet means aforesaid.

2. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators, of auto1nat- ,ically operated pawl and ratchet means for holding the actuators against further advance movement each time they are set, and frictionally operated means for limiting the relative movement of the pawl and ratchet means for engagement and disengagement.

3. In a calculating machine, the combination, with accun'iulator actuators having ratchet teeth, of an operating shaft, and a plurality of pawls frictionally secured on said shaft to turntherewith, said pawls being adapted for engagement with, or to be freed from, the ratchet teeth of the respective actuators for the purpose of freeing the actuators for proper advance and to check them against further advance each time they are set.

4;. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators having ratchet teeth, of an operating shaft for setting and restoring said actuators, and a plurality of pawls frictionally secured on said shaft to turn therewith when said shaft turns, said pawls being adapted for engagement with, or to be freed from, the ratchet teeth of the respective actuators for the purpose of freeing the actuators for proper advance and to check them against further advance after they have been initially set when the operating shaft is turned, and means for arresting the pawls to limit the distance through which said pawls may turn with said shaft, whereby the shaft may turn as a unit with said pawls, or, independently of the pawls when the pawls are arrested.

5. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators having ratchet teeth, of an operating shaft for setting and restoring said actuators, a plate frictionally secured on said shaft to turn there with when said shaft turns, spring-actuated pawls carried by said plate and adapted to move with the plate, said pawls being adapted for engagement with, or to be freed from, the ratchet teeth of the respective actuators for the purpose of freeing the actuators for proper advance and to check them against further advance after they have been initially set, and means for arresting the plate to limit the turning movement of the plate in respect to the turning of the shaft whereby the shaft may turn as a unit with said plate, or, independently of the plate when the plate is arrested.

6. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators, of means for holding the actuators against further ad- 'vance movement after they have been ini- Y vtially set, means for putting the machine through its cycle of operations, and an auto- 3 matically yielding clutch interposed between said operatingmeans and the actuator holding means, said clutch being automatically operated each time the machine goes through its cycle.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

EMIL JOHN ENS.

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