US1819931A - Combined typewriting and computing machine - Google Patents

Description

18, 1931- H. H. VICKERS 1,819,931

COIBINID TYPIIRITING AND COIPUTING IACHINE Filed June 26, 1925 2 Shoots-Shoot 1 g- 1931- H. H. VICKERS 1,819,931

COIIBINED TYPBWRITING AND COIPUTING MACHINE Filed June 26 1925 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 FRONT VIEW //7 rev; far

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 NI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE mum? n vrcxnns, or 00301, NEW YORK, assienon, BY imam: assrenmmrrs, 'ro ELLIOTT-FISHER comrm, on NEW Yonx, N. Y., A conronnnon or DELAWARE COMBINED TYPEWBITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Application filed June 26,

- it for typing, in red or black, the computed numbers, according to the kind of computa' m tion being performed.

A feature of the invention relates to improved ineans for rendering ineffective the automatic ribbon-setting means, so that all of the numbers in the various columns may be typed selectively in red or black, irresp'ective of the kind of computation (subtraction or addition) being performed.

To this end, there is provided a ribboncontrolling handle which normally may occupy an ineffective position While the automatic ribbon-controlling mechanism is effective. When, however, it is desired to type all of the numbers in red, the handle is moved in one direction from normal position, bringing the red field of the ribbon into use. When it is desired to type all of the numbers in black, the handle is set in the opposite direction from its normal position.

Said handle may be provided upon a bellcrank lever, to one end of which ma be connected a rearwardly-extending lin which link connects to an actuating lever. This lever may have a lateral extension which may be swung forwardly to engage the rear edge of the pendant of the ribbon-shifting mechanism for swinging its lower free end out of cooperative alignment with the state-setting mechanism. Hence when the state-setting mechanism is set for a black subtraction, the black field of the ribbon remains stationary. Should, however, said actuating lever be actuatedsubsequently to setting the machine and lifting the pendant for a red subtraction, the pendant is disabled, and a spring restores the black field of the ribbon for a black subtraction. When the actuating lever is operated in the opposite direction, its lateral extension engages with a rearwardly-extending link connected to the ribbon- 1925. Serial No. 89,650.

shifting pendant to lift said pendant and thus shift the ribbon-mechanism to bring the red field of the ribbon into use.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. V

In the accompanying drawings, I

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation o the machine, showing sufficient of the mechanism to illustrate the application of the invention to the machine. v

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the machine, with the invention applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front view of the machine, showing the ribbon-controlling handle in its neutral or ineffective position.

Figure 4 is top plan view, showing column-stops on the carriage and levers with whichthey co-opera'te. I

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of some of the parts shown in Figure 1, and. shows theribbon-shifting handle in its upper position, the machine being set for red addition.

Figure 6 is a similar view, showing the handle'moved to its lowermost position to render the black field of the ribbon effective.

In the Underwood computing machine, type-bars 10 are operated by numeral-keys 11 and alphabet-keys, not shown, to swing said type-bars upwardly and rearwardly about a common fulcrum 13 to cause types 14 to print, through a bichrome ribbon 15 against a platen 16. The platen is supported in a carriage 17 which travels back and forth in the usual way on a main frame 18, and is urged toward the left of the machine by the usual spring-drum, not shown. The letterspace movements (of the carriage are controlled by the usual escapement mechanism including a frame 20, which has at its forward end a universal bar 21 to be engaged by heels 22 of the type-bars, so as to move said universal bar rearwardly at each actuation of a type-bar to efiect the feed of the carriage, the universal bar being restored to normal by means of a return spring, not shown. I

The ribbon 15 is normally below the printing point, but is vibrated at each actuatiorr,

said ribbon into the of a tytpe-bar to brin 0 this end, the usual path 0 the types.

vibrating lever 23, which is fulcrumed on a fixed pivot 24, is connected to the frame ribbon-vibrating lever to present the black field 30 of the ribbon to the printin Said bracket is shiftable laterally through the medium of a link 31 and mechanism, hereinafter described, to disconnect it from the upper in 26 and connect it with the lower pin 2 which is'nearer to the fulcrum of the ribbon-vibrating lever. Consequently, when the universal bar 21 is operated, the ribbon 15 is raised to a higher position, thus presenting the lower red field 32 to the printing point as fully describedin the patent to W. E, 22, 1912.

A number, when it is being typed, is also set'u on com uting bars by indexing pins, not 5 own, w ich are operated by pin-setting linkages 33 connected to numeral-keyoperated rock-shafts 34. After'the number has been set up, it is run into the register by means of a general operator, not shown,

which is actuated to engage the set indexing pins and, operate the computing bars through distances corresponding in magnitude to the values of the set pins. On the return stroke of the general operator, the pins are restored to normal or ineffective ositions to clear the computing bars, so t at the next succeeding number may be set up. As the carriage travels through the computing zone, the various computing bars are selected successively in their denominational order, so as to bring the pins of each bar into register with the pin-setting linkages 33. This denomination-selecting mechanism includes jacks 35 arranged at the back of the machine, said jacks being actuable, one at a time, successively, by one or more selectors 36 supported on bars 37 and 38 secured to the carriage, each selector being provided with a tappet 4O constructed to actuate the jacks only when the carriage travels in a letter-space direction.

The carriage may be quickly located in any denominational position of a colunm by means of the usual tabulator mechanism includin denominational stops 41 operable indivi ually by the usual keys, not shown, to bring them into the path of any one of a 'adjustably supporte point. I

lBarnard, No. 1,041,722 of October series of counter-sto s or' column-stops 42 on a stop-bar 43 secured to the typewriter-carriage.

The machine is normally set for addition, but may be caused to subtract by the complementary method. To set the machine for subtraction, there may be provided a key connected'through suitable mechanism, not shown, to rock a shaft44 having a pawl 45 to normally hold a subtraction-setting slide 46 against the tension of a spring 47. The

key, when operated, withdraws the pawl 45 from the sli whereupon the spring draws the slide rearwardly, thus rocking a shaft 48 through the medium of a downwardly-extending arm 50 secured to said shaft and havin a pin-and-slot connection 51 with said side. The shaft 48 is provided with a forwardly-extending arm 52 having a pinand-slot connection 53'with an arm 54 extending rearwardly from a bar 55 pivoted at its upper end in cars 59 secured to a fixed frame 57. The bar 55 engages in slots 58 formed in all of the key-operated rock-shafts 34, so that, upon the actuation of the subtraction-setting slide, all of the rock-shafts 34 are 'moved forwardly to connect them with the pin-setting linkages of complementarly value for subtraction.

he machine may also be set to the state of subtraction automatically. For this urpose, stop 42, set at a column in whic it is desired to subtract, is provided with a leftwardly-extending arm 60, which, as the carriage enters the computing zone, engages a do 61 of a lever 62 pivoted on a stud 63 on tie tabulator-bracket 64- to draw upwardly on a link 65 connected to mechanism illustrated in said Kupetz patent, to rock the shaft 44, and thus withdraw the pawl 45 from the subtraction-setting slide, onabling the latter and the connected mechanism to be operated by the spring 47, as previously described. Ordinarily it is desired to type all of the computed numbers in black when adding, and in red when subtracting. The machine is normally in the state of addition, and, accordingly, the black field of the ribbon is normally effective. To render the red field of the ribbon effective when the machine is set for subtraction, the rock-shaft 48 is provided with a rearwardly-extending arm 66 carrying at its free end a plum er 67 which is thrust upwardly thereby. gaid plunger 67 engages the lower end of a ndant 68 associated with the ribbon-shifting mechanism. Said pendant is pivotally connected at 70 to an arm 71 secured to a rock-shaft 72 to actuate the latter. The rock-shaft 72 is provided with a second arm 73 connected to the ribbon-shifting link 31 to draw the latter outwardly, thus shifting the bracket 25 to disengage the upper pin 26 of the ribbon-vibrator and engage the lower pin 27, so that,

when the universal bar is operated by. the printin ty e-bars, thelower or red field 32 of t e ri bon is brought to the printing point. Under certain conditions,'as brought out in the Kupetz patent, page 4, lines to 48, it is desirable to type a subtracted number in black in a predetermined column. To bring this about, means is provided which includes an extension 74 on a subtractionsetting column-stop 42", mounted on the carriage to travel therewith, said extension being broad enough to not only actuate the subtraction-settin lever, but to also actuate a ribbon-control ever 75, to ull upwardly on a link 76 to rock a shaft 7 in a clockwise direction through the medium of an arm 78 connected to said shaft. The shaft 77 is provided with a second arm 80 connected to a link 79, extending forwardly to the pendant 68 of the ribbon-shiftin mechanism to move the free end of sai pendant out of co-operative alignment with the plunger 67 associated with the subtraction-setting mechanism, thus enabling the latter to be actuated without rendering the red field of the ribbon effective.

Provision is made to indicate the kind of computation (addition or subtraction), and to indicate the color of the effective ribbonfield (black or red) while the com utation is being performed. To indicate t e color of the effective ribbon-field, the ribbonshifting rock-shaft 72 is provided at its forward end with a signal-device 81 rovided with a black field 82 and a red eld 83 which may be viewed, one at a time, through a circular opening 84 in'a coverplate 85 attached to, the frame of the machine. The black si a1 82 is normally effective. When the re field of the ribbon is rendered effective, however, through the lifting of the pendant 68, as previously described, the shaft 72 is rocked, thus bringing the red surface 83 of the signal to the sight-opening .84.

To indicate the kind of computation being performed, there is provided a second signal 89 which is located "behind the ribbon signal 81. The signal 89 is provided with indications A and S representing addition and subtraction, respectively. Normally this signal is in a position, indicated in Figures 2 and 3, where the A may be'read at the sight-opening 84 and through an aperture 85 in the black field 82 of the ribbon si nal. Thus the'operative, in observing t e sight-openin sees the black signal 82 and the indicatlon A and knows that the machine is set for black addition. When the machine is set for subtraction, the plunger 67, inaddition to engaging the ribbon-shifting plunger, also engages a second pendant 86 connected to an arm 87 of a bail 88 pivotally supported on the rock-shaft 72, said bail carrying at its forward end the computation signal 89. From this'it follows that when the plun er moves up wardly, both pendants 68 an 86 are moved upwardly thereby to shift their associated signals 81 and 89, respectively, against the tension of return springs 81' and 89", thus indicating red subtraction at the sight-opening '84, the red field of the color slgnal being provided with anaperture 87 through which the S of the computation signal may be observed.

The operations thus far described are common to the Underwood bookkee ing machine. It has been found desirab e in certain kinds of work, also to be performed on this machine, to render the automatic ribbon-shifting means ineffective, so that all of the numbers in the various columns may be typed selectively in red or black, irrespective of the kind of computation being performed.

When it is desired to have all of the numtending link'94 to a lever 95 to actuate it.

in a clockwise direction. The lever 95 is pivotally sup rted on a rod 96 supported in brackets 9 a secured to the main frame of the machine. The lever 95 is held in position on said rod 96 by two collars 97, one at each end thereof. Said lever 95 is provided with a lateral extensionor crankarm 98 to engage behind the pendant 68 to swing the latter forwardly so as to take its lower end out of co-operative relation with the plunger 67. To retain the pendant indefinitely in this position, the bell-crank is provided with a detent 100 to engage in a notch 101' formed in a plate 102, which plate is held in position by a screw 103, which secures the usual front plate to the machine-frame, and a screw 104. Thus it will be understood that the machine may add or subtract and the computed numbers be tgped in black while the ribbon-shifting pen ant is held in its forward position, the plunger 67 moving upwardly idly past the pendant 68 while the machine is being set to subtraction.

When it is desired to type all the numbers in red, the setting device 90 is swung upwardly from its normally neutral or ineffective position to swing the connected lever in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 5), thus causing the lateral extension 98 toengage the link 79 connected to the ribbon-shifting pendant 68 to 11ft the latter to vibrate the link 31 and con uently change the connection of the brac et 25 with the ribbon-vibrator 28, so that the red field 32 of the ribbon is vibrated to the printing point upon the actuation of the type-bars 10. The setting device 90 may be retained in its upper osition indefinitely, to keep the red field o the ribbon in use,

by means of the detent 100 which engages.

in an 11 per notch 106 of the detent plate 102. When it is desired to restore the ribbon-shifting mechanism to its normal state so that the ribbon may be shifted automatically as previously described, the setting device is moved to its intermediate or neutral position of Figure 1 where it is held by means of the detent 100 engaging in an intermediate slot 107 of the detent plate 102.

It will be understood that the setting device 90 may be operated at any time after the carriage has entered the computing zone to shift the ribbon from black to red or vice versa.

A credit-balance key 110, shown in the above-mentionedKupetz patent, may be operated to actuate a lever 111 provided with a cam 112 to engage the lower end of the ribbon-shifting pendant 68 to raise the latter to render the red field 32 of the ribbon effective.

From the above description it will be noted that when the credit-balance key 110 is depressed, the computative state of the machine is set for a red subtraction record, and the manipulation of the bell-crank 90 will cause the arm 98 to push the raised pendant 68 off the cam 112 and under the tension spring 81*, the pendant 68 will drop, the previously set red field of the ribbon will be superseded by the black ribbon field, and the typed record will be entered as a black subtraction in the red subtraction column; that when the credit-balance key 110 sets up the red ribbon subtractive state, and it is desirable to automatically change the character of the computation within a certain zone from a red subtraction to a black subtraction, the movement of the carriage to said zone carries the stop 42* and its extension 74 into a position to engage and vibrate the lever 75 connected to push the link 79, to force the pendant 68 off the cam 112 and condition the machine for a black subtraction, and should it be required to enter a red subtraction record in the black subtraction column, manipulation of the bellcrank 90 vibrates the arm 98 to lift the link 79 and the pendant 68 and hold the red field'ot the ribbon for a red subtraction entry; and that the manipulation of the bell-crank 90 within a black addition column will operate to lift the pendant 68 and present a red ribbon field for a red addition ent in a black addition column.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

aving'thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a ty writing and computing machine normal i set for addition, the combination state-setting mechanism, with a ribbon havin a black field and a red field, automatic ri bon-field-shiftin mechanism including a pendant operab e by the statesetting mechanism while the machine is being set to the state of subtraction to render the redfield of the ribbon effective, a carri age and carriage-operated means includin a link connected to said pendant to shi t said pendant out of co-operative relation with the state-setting mechanism automatically, of a manually-controlled lever operable in one direction to engage said pendant to shift the latter out of co-operative relation with the state-setting mechanism to render the black field of the ribbon effective while the machine is in the state of subtraction, said lever being operable in the other direction to engage said link to lift the pendant to render the red field of the ribbon effective when the machine is in the state of addition.

2. In a ty writing and computing machine normal y set for addition, the combination with subtraction-setting mechanism, a ribbon having a black field and a red field, and ribbon-field-shifting mechanism including a device which is operable by the sub-' traction-setting mechanism to render the red field of the ribbon effective when the machine is set to a state of subtraction, of means including a finger-piece actuable in one direction and operatively connected to shift said device out of engagement with the subtraction-setting mechanism to render the black field of the ribbon effective while the machine is in the state of subtraction, said finger-piece being shiftable in the opposite direction and operably connected to actuate said device to render the red field of the ribbon effective while the machine 'is in the state of addition.

3. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with state-setting mechanism, a ribbon having fields of different characteristics and ribbon-field-shifting mechanism including a pendant normally co-operative with the state-setting mechanjsm, 'of manual means operable to shift said pendant out of co-operative relation with said state-settin mechanism, or operable to lift said shifted pendant to change the ribbon-field previously set up by the state-setting mechanism.

4. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with state-setting mechanism, a ribbon having a black and a red field, and ribbon-shifting mechanism including a pendant operatively lifted by the state-setting mechanism when the machine is bein set to the state of subtraction to render t e red field of the ribbon effective, of manual means operable to release said pendant lifted by the state-setting mechanism and restore the black field of the ribbon for a black subtraction record.

5. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with state-settin mechanism, a ribbon having fields of di erent characteristics, and ribbon-field-selecting mechanism including a device normally co-o rative with the state-setting mechanism, 0 means operable to shift said ribbon-shift device out of co-operative relation with said statesetting mechanism or operable to actuate said. ribbon-shift device to change the ribbon-field previously set up by the statesetting mechanism, said shifting means including a finger-lever at the front of the machine operative between two positions fixed by indexing stops.

6. In a typewriting and computing machine, the combination with subtractionsetting mechanism, a ribbon having a black and a red field, and automatic ribbon-shifting mechanism including a device normally operable by the subtraction-setting mechanism to shift the red field of the ribbon to the typing position, of manual means operatively connected to render said ribbonshift device inoperative to the subtractionsetting mechanism said means also operatively connected to actuate the ribbon-shift device to shift the red, field of the ribbon to the typing position at any stage of a computation.

7. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with subtraction-setting mechanism, a ribbon having a black field and a red field, and automatic ribbon-shifting mechanism including a device normally operable by the subtraction-setting mechanism to shift the operative field of the ribbon from black to red of a finger-lever having connections that are shiftable by the lever to one position to disable the ribbon-shifting device to the subtraction-setting mechanism, to type in black within a su traction zone, and shiftable by the lever to another position to actuate the ribbon-shifting device and shift the ribbon-field to red within an adding zone. I

8. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with a power-driven carriage,-

state-setting mechanism rendered operative during the travel of the carriage to establish a subtraction zone, a ribbon having a normal black field and a shiftable red field,

fective upon the ribbon-field-changlng mechanism to temporarily reverse either ribbon-field setting established through the movement of the carriage for any subtractron zone.

9. In a ty ewriting and computing machine norma 1y set for addition, the com-- bination with a power-driven carria e and an inkin ribbon having a black fie d and a red fie d, subtraction-setting mechanism automatlcally actuated by the travel of the carriage to predetermine a subtraction zone, and ribbon-field-changing mechanism cooperative with the subtractlon-setting mechanism to automaticall predetermine a normal setting for the rlbbon-fields for typing m either black or red within said separate subtraction zones, of manual means operatively connected to the ribbon-field-changmg mechanism to reverse, at will, the ribbon-field settings automatically established by the travel of the carriage. I

10. In a typewriting and computing machine, the combination with a power-driven carriage, an inking ribbon having fields of different characteristics, a computing mechanism, mechanism operating automatically at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriage to establish a computing zone for the computing mechanism, and mechan 1sm operating automatically at the establlshed computing zone to effect a shifting of the ribbon-field for a computing operation, of manual means operatlvely connect edvto vlbrate in two directions and control" the ribbon-shifting mechanism to change either field of the ribbon established by the carriage for a computing zone.

11. In a typewriting and computin machine, the combination with a powerriven carriage, an inking ribbon havin a black field and a red field, and a computing mechanism including a subtraction-setting mechanism automatically actuated by the travel of the carriage to predetermine a subtraction zone for the computing meclgmism, of 'ribbon-field-changing mechanisms for typin in both black and red within the Same su traction-zones, one ribbon-field-changing mechanism automatically 0 erable through the travel of the carriage or set ting up a black or a red subtraction, and the other ribbon-field-changing mechanism operable by hand to reverse the automatically set color fields of the ribbon.

to disable it and set u 12. In a ty writing and computing machine normali set for addition, the combination with state-setting mechanism, a two-color ribbon having a red field, automatic ribbon-field-shifting mechanism including a pendant which 1s operable by the state-setting mechanism while the machine is being set to the state of subtraction to render the red field of the ribbon efiective, a carriage, and means operable by the movement of said carriage to shift said pendant the machine for a black subtraction, sai means including a link connected to said pendant, of manua lyoperated means to engage said link to lift the previously disabled pendant and render the red field of the ribbon efiective for a red subtraction record within a carriage-set black subtraction zone.

13. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with a carriage, ribbon-mechanism including a ribbon havin a black field and a red field, the black fie d being normally effective, subtraction-setting mechanism, means operable by the movement of the carriage to actuate the subtraction-setting mechanism, and means operable b the subtraction-setting mechanism to shi t the ribbon-mechanism to render the red field of the ribbon efiective for a red subtraction entry in the red subtraction column, of a shift-key, and mechanism operable by said key in one direction of its movement, to disable the ribbon-mechanism set up by the carriage for a red subtraction and restore the black field of the ribbon for a black subtraction record in the red subtraction column.

14. In a ty ewriting and computing machine normal y set for addition, the combination with a traveling carriage, types, a subtraction-mechanism settable by the carriage, a ribbon having a black and a red field, and automatic ribbon-field-changing mechanism including a pendant controlled b the travel of the carriage to present either a red field or a black field to the types'for a red subtraction or for a black subtraction record, of manual means efiective upon the pendant to reverse the carriage-settings of the ribbon-fields, so thatboth black and red subtraction records may be typed in either column normally predetermined by the carriage for black subtraction or for red subtraction.

15. In a typewriting and computing machine normally set for addition, the combination with a traveling carriage, types, a snbtraction-mechanism settable by the carwage, a ribbon having a black and a red field, and automatic ribbon-field-changing mechanism including a pendant controlled by the travel of the carriage to present either a red field or a black field to the types for a red subtraction or for a black subtraction record, of a shift-key including a bell-crank o rable to convey motion in reverse direc- 't1ons, and means operably connected with to said means.

HARRY H. VICKERS.

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