US1821711A - Transfer mechanism for calculating machines - Google Patents

Description

P 1, 1931- A. A. HORTON TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 11, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO A TTORNEYJ Sept. 1, 1931. A. A. HORTON 1,821,711

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 11, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1, 1931. A. A. HORTON 1,821,711

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 11. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 3 I M ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1931. A. A. HORTON TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 11, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 74 IN! 'EN OR a M? 44% paw )ZMM,

A TTORNEYJ' Sept. 1, 1931. A. A. HORTON 1,711

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 11, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 @zf i/w @ZVW A TTORN YJ' p 1931- A. A. HORTON 1,821,711

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed llay 11, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N VEN TOR A TTORNEYJ Patented Sept. 1, 1931 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALLEN A. HORTON, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO BUBROUGHS ADDING MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Application filed ra in,

This invention relates to a transfer mechanism for calculating machines. It relates particularly to a transfer mechanism that will borrow as well as carry.

Transfer mechanisms of this type are particularly useful in machines in which both addition and subtraction'are performed on the same counter. A transfer segment is provided for each counter pinion and the segment for each pinion is controlled by the pinion of next lowest order so that when the latter moves from 9 to or from 0 to 9 the transfer segment for the pinion of next hi hest order is moved one step. When addition is being performed these ment must be moved in one direction to eect .a carry and when substraction is being performed it must move in the opposite direction to effect a borrow. The present invention concerns an improved construction for changin the direction of movement of the trans er segment and certain other improvements which will later be described in detail.

The general object of the invention is to provide improved transfer mechanism.

A more particular object is to provide an improved transfer mechanism for effecting both a carry and a borrow on the same counter.

' Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved restoring bail control;to provide an improved means for holding the tripping pawls in position to stop the counter pinions in taking a total; and to other features of construction and combinations which will appear from the specification and drawin s.

in embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a calculating machine with the cover removed showing certain of the controls including the controls for the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the rear portion of the machine on the line 2-2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the counter controls showing the counter in engage- 1927. Serial No. 190,396.

ment with the actuator racks and the restoring bail latched down in restoring position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of some of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation and section of the transfer mechanism showing the parts in the position they normally occupy when the transfer mechanism is conditioned for carrying. The parts are not strictly conditioned for a carry and will not be until the pinions have been rotated by the racks.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the counter moved out of engagement with the transfer segments and into engagement with the actuator racks.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the position of the parts at the time a counter pinion is passing from its 9 to its 0 position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the counter in engagement with the transfer segments and the parts in the osition they occupy after a carry has been e ected.

Fig. 9 is an irregular sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation and section of the transfer mechanism in subtraction or borrowing condition, with the parts in the position they occu y at the time a counter pinion is passing rom its 0- to its 9 position.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 with the parts in the position they occupy after a borrow has been effected.

Fig. 12 is a spread perspective view of a portion of the transfer mechanism and associated parts showing more clearly the relation of the parts to one another.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the yoke-shaped pieces for conditioning the transfer mechanism to carry or borrow.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the lock shaft for controlling the trip pawls of the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation and section showing the position of portions of the transfer mechanism at the time a total is being taken.

The transfer mechanism is shown associated with a calculating machine of the type described in detail in my copending application, Serial No. 84,616, filed January 29, 1926, known generally as the Burroughs portable. This machine will be only briefly described in this application and, while the same reference numerals will be used insofar as possible to designate similar operating parts of the machine, different reference numerals will have to be used in connection with the transfer mechanism and the parts immediately associated with it.

The calculating machine is provided with a plurality of banks of depressible amount keys 10, shown in Fig. 2, which control a se ries of stop bars 233 connected to actuator racks or segments 235. The actuator racks 235 are normally held down in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the cross-bar 255 of a bail. During the forward stroke of the machine this bail is moved counterclockwise to release the actuator racks to permit them to ascend counter-clockwise to differential positions determined by the setting of the amount keys. Upon the return stroke of the machine the bail restores all the actuator segments to their normal Fig. 2 position. The actuator segments each carry type bars 264 which are positioned adjacent a platen 266 for rinting.

The counter comprises a plurality of toothed pinions 236 rotatably mounted on a shaft 376 (Fig. 12) carried by side arms 377 connected to a rock shaft 378 pivoted in the side plates 55 of the transfer section of the machine. The side arms and shafts form a movable counter frame which may be rocked to move the counter pinions into and out of engagement with the actuator racks. The counter frame is normall urged clockwise to move the pinions out o engagement with the racks by means of a spring 385 connected to an extension of the shaft 376 as shown at the left-hand end of Fig. 12. The counter frame is rocked to move the counter into engagement with the racks by means of the cam-shaped edge of an arm of a yoke-shaped piece 382 which engages a roller 38] on the extension of shaft 376. The yoke 382 is pivoted on a shaft in the frame and has another arm which is connected to the pitman 387 all as clearly shown in Fig. 12. It will be evident by reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 12 that when the pitman 387 is moved rearwardly. the cam 382 is rocked counter-clockwise and the counter frame is cammed to move the counter pinions into engagement with the racks, and, when the itman is moved forwardly, the low part 0 the cam plate is presented to the roller 381 which permits the spring 385 to retract the counter pinions from en agement with the actuator racks. When ad ition is being performed the pitman 387 is moved rearwardly at the beginning of the return stroke of the machine to move the counter pinions into engagement with the acascend to their differential positions.

tuator racks while they are in their raised differential positions. The pinions are then rotated during the return of the racks to normal. When subtraction is being performed, the pitman 387 is moved rearwardly at the beginning of the forward stroke of the machine to move the counter pinions into engagement with the actuator racks before they The pinions are thus rotated during the ascent of the racks and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation for addition. The pitman is then moved forward at the end of the forward stroke to move the counter pinions out of engagement with the racks after the racks have reached their differential position. The details of how the pitman is controlled for forward and backward movement are not important for the purposes of the present invention, it being sufficient to know that the mechanism for moving the pitman backward and forward is conditioned by means of a subtraction lever 226 operating the link 363 shown in Fig. 1. This lever may occupy the full line or addition position of Fig. 1 or it may be moved to the dot and dash or subtraction position shown in the same figure.

Transfer segments tmd latches The transfer mechanism includes a toothed segment 20 for each of the counter pinions, which segments are pivoted at 21 to arms 22 which in turn are pivoted on a shaft 23 supported by the side frames 55. The segments are normally under the tension of springs 24 which act in a fixed direction and constitute an actuating means for moving the segments to effect a carry or borrow as the case may be. turn the segments 20 counter-clockwise about their pivots but, when the transfer mechanism is in condition to effect a carry, such movement is prevented by latches 25 pivoted on extensions 26 of the arms 22 and having lateral lugs 27 on their ends engaging shoulders on the segments. When this occurs the springs 24 cannot move the segments on their pivots but they tend to move the arms 22 about the shaft 23 which moves the teeth of the transfer segment clockwise relative to the counter pinions 236 which is opposite to the direction the teeth would be moved if the segments could turn about their pivots. If a transfer segment is released for a carry, as will be hereinafter described, its arm 22 will move upward a distance sufficient to move its counter pinion one tooth, the movement being limited by the engagement of a projection 28 on the rear end of the arm with a shaft 29, as shown in Fig. 8.

The latches 25 may be moved to free the transfer segments 20 and prevent movement of the arms 22 by a controlling mechanism The springs 24 tend to hereinafter described. When this occurs the latches are moved to the position shown in Fig. 10 where their lateral lugs 27 are behind a. stationary square shaft 30. When the latches 25 are in this position the arms 22 cannot be moved upwardly because, in order to move upwardly, they must move clockwise about the shaft 23 carrying with them the extensions 26 and the latches 25 but the latches abut the square shaft 30 and prevent such movement.

The transfer segments 20 and the arms 22 are normally held against movement by detents 31 of which there is one for each transfer segment including the units order but no means is provided for tripping the latter and it merely acts to prevent the units order segment from being released so that said segment may act as an aligning device or stop for the units pinion when it is out of (ngagement with the actuator racks. The detents are pivoted on a shaft 32 and are in the form of hell crank levers. The upper arm .of each lever has a hook-shaped end 33 engaging over a projection 34 on its transfer segment. The other arm 35 of each detent extends forward for cooperation with a yokeshaped tripping pawl 36. The tripping pawls 36 are pivoted on a shaft 37 and each pawl has a cam faced nose for engagement by a broad tooth or tripping projection 38 on its counter pinion. The shape of the nose is such that the pawls 36 are moved by the tripping projections 38 in both directions of movement of the pinions 236 so that the pawls will be actuated in both addition and subtraction operations. Each tripping pawl 36 has a yoke portion 39 (Fig. 12) which is sufiiciently long to engage under the 'arm 35 of the detent for the pinion of next highest order so that the tripping pawl for one pinion trips the detent of the transfer segment for the pinion of next highest order.

Whenever a counter pinion for a particular tripping pawl 36 turns to cause the tripping projection 38 to pass the nose of the pawl, said pawl is cammed clockwise which lifts the arm 35 and turns the detent 31 clockwise to move its nose 33 out of engagement with the projection 34 on its transfer segment 20. When this occurs the transfer segment, or the arm 22 on which it is mounted if the segment is blocked against movement relative to the arm, may be moved by the spring 24 to effect a transfer. After the detent 31 has been moved to tripped position, it is latched in said position by a latch 40 pivoted on a shaft 41 and provided with a lateral lug 42 which moves behind a shoulder 43 on a downward extension of the detent. The latch is urged to latching position by a spring 44. After the tripping projection 38 passes the nose of pawl 36, the pawl returns to its Fig. 8 position by gravity.

Restm'z'ng baiz'l Whenever a transfer has taken place it is necessary to restore the tripped transfer segments 20 or arms 22 to normal position. For this purpose a single restoring bail has been provided which acts to restore either the segments 20 or the arms 22 depending upon phich has been moved-in effecting the trans- The restoring bail which comprises a cross rod 50 carried by side arms 51 and 52 pivoted to the shaft 29, is normally urged upwardly and held out of restoring position by means of a spring 53 (Fig. 2). The cross-shaft 50 has an extension 54 (Fig. 12) which projects into the path of a hook-shaped portion 56 of the cam plate 382 that rocks the counter frame. By reference to Figs. 2 and 12 it will be observed that when the cam plate 382 is moved counter-clockwise to rock the counter into engagement with the actuator racks and out of engagement with the transfer segments, the book 56 will engage the extension 54 and move the restoring bail downwardly to restoring position, shown in Fig. 7. If a carry had taken place in the previous operation resulting in the upward movement of some of the arms 22, the ends of said arms will be engaged by the cross-shaft 50 and the arms will be moved back to normal position where they will be held by the detents 31 whose hooked ends 33 will move over the projection 34 on the transfer segments 20 carried by the arms. If a borrow had taken place in subtraction, the transfer segments 20 will have moved counter-clockwise tolthe position of Fig. 11. In such event, when the restoring bail moves downwardly the crossshaft 50 strikes the curved surfaces on the upper ends of the tripped transfer segments 20 and cams them clockwise back to normal position where they are latched by the latches 31.

By reference to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be observed that the trip pawls 36 are moved and the detents 31 released while the counter pinion 236 are in engagement with the actuator racks. But itis not desired to have either a carry or a borrow take place until the counter pinions have been moved into engagement with the transfer segments and, consequently, some provision must be made for preventing the carryor borrow movement until the counter pinions have been moved out of engagement with the actuator racks and into engagement with the transfer segments. The restoring bail is employed for this purpose and provision is made for latching it in restoring position to prevent movement of the transfer segments, the latch being under the control of'the counter so that as the counter moves into engagement with the transfer segments the restoring bail is released.

The restoring bail is latched in restoring position by means of a pivoted hook-shaped latch 57, illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which hooks over the extension 54 of the cross-shaft 50. As the extension 54 moves downwardly from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 4, it cams the latch 57 backwardly until the extension passes the nose of the latch after which the latch moves to latching position (Fig. 3) to prevent upward movement of the bail. When the restoring bail is latched down it occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 where it contacts the ends of the arms 22 and the transfer segments 20 so that even though these parts are released by the detents 31 they cannot move until the restoring bail has been released. The restoring bail is released by means of a stud 58 carried by the cam plate 382 for rocking the counter into and out of engagement with the actuator racks. As this cam plate moves clockwise the stud 58 contacts the lower end of the latch 57 and moves it to disengaging position. The timing is such that the latch is released just after the cam plate 382 reaches a position to permit the counter pinions to be drawn into engagement with the transfer segments. In other words, the restoring bail is not released until the counter pinions are moved into engagement with the transfer segments so that when a carry takes place the proper counter pinions will be rotated.

The restoring bail also controls the latches 40 which hold the detents 31 in released position. The side arms 51 and 52 which carry the restoring bai 50 also carry a cross rod 60 (Fig. 5) positioned in the lower extensions of said arms and in a position to contact. the tail pieces 61 of the latches 40. When the restoring bail is in the restorin position illustrated in Fig. 7, which is the position the parts occupy at the time the detents 31 are.

released, the cross shaft 60 is out of the path of the tail pieces 61 and the latches 40 are free to latch the detents 31 when they are tripped. When the restoring bail is raised from the Fig. 7 to the Fig. 8 or the Fig. 11 position, the cross shaft 60 contacts the tail pieces 61 of any latches 40 that have moved to latching position and moves them back to normal position. This frees the detents 31 for movement back to normal under the tension of the springs 44, but, as soon as the restoring bail is raised, the arms 22 move to the position of Fig. 8 if a carry is taking place, or the transfer segments 20 move to the position of Fig. 11 if a borrow is taking place, and the detents 31 cannot move to their latching position because the hooked endsc33 cannot pass over the projection 34 on the segments. Accordingly. even though the latches 40 release the detents 31, these detents cannot move back to normal position until after the restoring bail has again descended to move the transfer segments back to nor- Controlling mechanism for determining whether a. carry 01 barrow shall take place As previously explained the latches 25 prevent movement of the transfer segments 20 relative to the arms 22 when a carry is taking place but these latches may he moved to a position to release the transfer segments and block movement of the arms 22 so as to permit a borrow to take place. The latches 25 are controlled by the means for conditioning the machine for addition or subtraction .in the following manner:

The rear ends of the latches 25 are provided with extensions 70 having arcuate slots 71 for the reception of a cross shaft 72 carried by arms 7 3 of a yoke-shaped member 74 illustrated in detail in Fig. 13. The curvature of the arcuate slots 71 is such that when the latches are in the position of Fig. 5 the slots are concentric with the shaft 23 on which the arms 22 are pivoted, so that the movement of the arms 22 in effecting a carry is not obstructed by the cross shaft 72.

\Vhen it is desired to condition the trans fer mechanism to effect a borrow the arms 7 3 are rocked counter-clockwise which causes the cross shaft 72 to engage the inner side 100 of the slots 71 and cam the latches 25 counter clockwise to the position of Fig. 10. In this position movement of the arms 22 is positively blocked by the engagement of the ends of the latches 25 with the square shaft 30.

The yoke-shaped member 74, illustrated in Fig. 13, is provided with an arm 75, carrying a stud 76 which limits the movement of the yoke 74 and consequently the arm 22 by contact with either end of the slot 76 in 110 plate 55 (Fig. 1). One end of a spring 437 is connected to this stud and the other end is connected to a stud carried by a pivoted arm 439 shown in Fig. 1. The arm 439 has another stud on a lateral projection at its 115 upper end engaging in a slot in a bell crank lever 362 whose other arm is pivoted to the link 363 which, in turn, is connected to the subtraction lever 226.

When the machine is to be conditioned for 120 subtraction the lever 226 is moved from its full line to its dot and dash position of Fig. 1. This moves the bell crank lever 362 counter-clockwise and it. in turn, swings the arm 439 clockwise which throws the spring 125 437 over center and tensions it in the oppo site direction. The spring then moves the arm 75 counter-clockwise, thereby swinging the cross shaft 72 upwardly to move the latches 25 down behind the square shaft 30 13:.

or addition position there shown, the bell crank lever 362 is rocked clockwise which moves the arm 439 counter-clockwise and through the medium of the spring 437 the arm 75 is moved clockwise to return the latches 25 to position to block the transfer segments 20 and free the arms 22.

From the above it will be clear that when the lever 226 is moved to condition the machine for subtraction. the transfer mechanism is automatically conditionedto borrow instead of carry, and vice versa, when the machine is conditioned for addition the movement of the lever 226 to addition position automatically conditions the transfer mechanism to carry instead of borrow.

Operation of transfer mechanism in effecting a carry Assumingthat the machine is in addition condition and that it is to be 0 rated to add numbers so that a carry shou (1 take place, the operation of carrying is as follows:

At the beginning of operations the parts occupy the position of Fig. 5 where the counter pinions are in engagement with the transfer segments and the transfer segments are blocked against movement relative to the arms 22 by the latches 25, the arms 22 being held down b the detents 31. During the forward stro e of the machine no change takes place in the transfer mechanism but the actuator racks 235 are released and ascend to differential positions corresponding to the amount that is set u on the keyboard. At the beginning 0 the return stroke the counter controlling pitman 387 is moved rearwardly and this moves the counter pinions out of engagement with the transfer segments and into engagement with the actuator racks to the F1 6 position. Simultaneously the restorin ail 50 moves downwardly and if any of tge arms 22 have been tripped in a previous operation they are restored to normal position. The cross rod 50 is latched down in its restoring position by the latch 57 as previously explained and the cross shaft 60 moves to the Fig. 7 position to free the latches which then move clockwise until their lugs 42 strike the bottom edges of the detents 31, but the latches cannot move behind the shoulders 43 because the detents are not in position to permit such movement. The clearance between the face of the projection 34 and the nose 33 is such that the detent 31 can move slightly counterclockwise after the detent has been tripped to its Fig. 7 position and after the detent has been released by the release of pawl 36, the segment 20 having, in the meantime, moved so that the face of projection 34 is in front of nose 33. This slight movement of detent 31 is enough to move shoulder 43 to a position such that the latch 40 cannot move behind the shoulder when said latch is released by bail 60. Instead the lug 42 will strike the bottom edge of the detent 31.

During the descent of the actuator racks 235 the counter pinions 236 are rotated counter-clockwise and these pinions which pass from their 9 to their 0 position cause their tripping projections 38 to pass the noses of their trip pawls 36. The position of the parts at the time one of the transfer projections actuates its tri pawl is illustrated in I Fig. 7. As the tripping projection 38 moves past the nose of its pawl 36 the pawl is moved clockwise and its yoke 39 raises the arm 35 of the detent 31, thereby moving the hooked end 33 out of engagement with the projection 34 on the transfer segment 20. This releases the transfer segment of next higher order but it cannot move relative to its arm 22 because of the latch 25. The arm 22 cannot move upwardly because it is held in position by the cross shaft of the restoring bail. As the detent 31 moves to releasin position the latch 40 snaps behind the shou der 43 to hold the detent in such position. Consequently, when the tripping projection 38 passes the nose of the trip pawl 36 the detent 31 cannot move back to position because it is held by the latch 40.

At the end of the return stroke of the machine, the counter controlling pitman 387 is moved forward which rocks the cam plate 382 clockwise to the position of Fig. 2. Just before the cam reaches this position it presents its recessed face to the roller 381 so that the spring 385 may pull the counter out of engagement with the racks and into engagement with the transfer segments. The position of the parts at the time this is about to occur is illustrated in Fig. 3. After the counter pinions engage the transfer segments the stud 58 engages the latch 57 and releases the restoring bail which is then automatically pulled upward out of restoring position by the spring 53. This frees the arms 22 and those whose detents 31 have been tripped snap upwardly to rotate their counter pinions one step in a counter-clockwise direction. As the restoring bail moves upward the cross shaft 60 engages the tail pieces 61 of the latches 40 and moves them to the position of Fig. 8 which frees the detents 31 for return to normal position, but as previously explained, these detents cannot return at this time because they strike the ends of the projections 34 as illustrated in Fig. 8. They can only return to position in the next operation of the machine when the restoring bail is moved down to restore the arms 22 to normal position.

Operation of transfer mechanism in efl'ectz'ng a borrow square shaft as illustrated in Fig. 10, the

operation of the parts is as follows:

At the beginning of the forward stroke in subtraction the counter controlling pitman 387 moves rearwardly at once and moves the counter pinions out of engagement with the transfer segments and into engagement with the actuator racks. As this occurs the restoring bail moves downward to the position of Fig. 10 and restores any tripped transfer segments. It is latched downwardly in this .position by the latch 57 as heretofore explained. The cross shaft 60 moves away from the latches 40 to free them for move meat and their lateral lugs move against the transfer edges of the detents 31 but not behind the shouiders 43 as the detents are not in position to permit such movement.

As the actuator racks move upwardl the counter pinions 236 are rotated cloc wise and; in .therase of those which ,pass from their 0 to their 59 position or beyond, the rojections38 pass the noses of the trip paw s 36. Whenthis occurs the trip awls aTB mOVBdfdOCk'WiSB-ES illustrated in Fig. 10 and each tripped pawl raises the arm 35 of itsdetent 31 and moves it to the position of Fig. 10 where it is latched by the latch 40 which snaps behind the shoulder.

' 43. This frees the transfer segments in all orders in which the trip awls of next lower order have been moved ut these segments cannot move under the action of the springs 24 because they are held by the-cross shaft of the restoring bai-l.

At the end of the forward stroke the counter pinions 236 are rocked out of engagement with the actuator racks and into engage ment with the transfer segments. When this occurs the stud 58 releases the latch 57 and permits the restoring bail to be moved upwardly by the spring 53. Upward movement of the restoring-bail releases the transfer segments and those whose detents 31 have been tripped are moved counter-clockwise by the springs 24 toefi'ect a borrow. The movement of the teeth of the transfer segments is in an opposite direction to their movement in effecting a carry. The extent of movement of the transfer segments is limited by studs '77 which permit a movement suflicient to move the counter pinions one step.

As the restoring bail is moved to its upper position the cross shaft 60 engages the tail pieces 61 of the latches 40 and returns them to the position of Fig. 11 which releases the detents 31 but these detents cannot return to normal because their hooked ends cannot move over the projections 34 as will be clear v by reference to Fig. 11. The detents can move to normal position only after the restorin bail has moved downward in the next operation and restored the tripped transfer se ments to normal. I

be above operation is repeated in each operation of the machine when a borrow takes place while subtracting. The transfer segments which may have been tripped in a preceding o eration are restored at the beginning of t e forward stroke of a new operation and they are again tripped to effect a borrow after the counter pinions have been moved out of engagement with the actuator racks and into engagement with'the transfer segments at the end of a forward stroke.

Totaling operation In taking a total it is necessary to stop the counter pinions in their zero positions as these pinions act as stops for theactuator racks to arrest the racks in the proper position for obtaining a total. The counter pinions are stopped y means of the trip pawls 36 which are blocked against movement by a shaft 80 illustrated in blocking position m Fig. 15. This shaft has a cut-away ortion 81 which is positioned-to ermit free om of movement of the trip paw s 36 when the surface is in the positionillustrated in Fig. 5. However,

when the shaft 81' is turned throu h a quarter revolution'to the position of l ig. 15, the tail pieces 82 of the trip pawls engage the surface of the shaft 80 and the trip pawls cannot be moved clockwise so that they then act as stops for engaging the tripping projections o the counter pinions to )lOCk rotation of said pinions when they reach their zero positions. It is impossible to take a subtraction total on this machine, consequently the pawls 36 will only arrest the pinions when a total is taken in adding condition.

The shaft 80 is rocked to block the trip pawls 36 by means of an arm 83 forming an extension of a lever 367 operated by the total and sub-total keys of the machine. The end of this lever is forked and it straddles a stud 84 on a crank arm 85 connected to the shaft 80. Whenever the total or sub-total ,key is depressed the arm 83 is raised in a counterclockwise direction to rotate the crank 85 counter-clockwise through a quarter revolution to move the shaft 80 to the position of Fig. 15.

In the taking of a total the counter pinions are moved into engagement with the actuator racks at the beginning of the forward stroke of the machine and prior to the ascent of the racks. The depression of the total key conditions the machine for this purpose and also moves the shaft to the position to block the trip pawls as heretofore explained. As the racks 235 ascend they rotate the counter pinions until the tripping projections of the pinions engage the ends of the trip pawls 36 whereupon rotation of the pinions is stopped at their '0 positions, and the racks are arrested in differential positions corresponding to the amount which was in the counter. At the end of the forward stroke these pinions are moved out of engagement with the actuator racks which are then returned to normal and at the same time the totaLkey mechanism is released and the lever 83 is moved back to normal by the spring 86 which returns the shaft 80 to normal and releases the trip pawls 36.

In the taking of a sub-total the action is the same as in taking a total except that, at the end of the forward stroke, the pinions are not moved out of engagement with the actuator racks but remain in engagement with them so that the counter pinions are first rotated to their 0 position and then returned to the position that they occupied prior to the taking of a sub-total. During the return stroke the sub-total key is released and the arm 83 is moved clockwise by the spring 86 to return the shaft 80 to normal to release the trip pawls 36 so that, in the next opera tion of the machine, an amount may be added or substracted as the case may be.

It is to be understood that the construction shown is for purposes of illustration and that variations may be made in it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer se ment adapted to move a pinion of a multiple pinion counter to effect a transfer, a single actuating means for said segment acting in a fixed direction, a detent for said segment releasable by the counter inion of next lower order by movement of t 1e latter through its zero osition in either direction, and means setta le to cause said segment, when released, to be moved by said actuating means either forward or backward-to effect a carry or a borrow. v

2. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer segment adapted to move a pinion of a multiple pinion counter to effect a transferi a spring acting in a fixed direction on sai segment to move it, a detent for said segment releasable by the counter pinion'of next lower order by movement of the latter through its zero position in either direction, and mechanism settable to cause said segment, when released, to be moved by said spring either forward or backward to efi'ect a carry or a borrow.

3. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer se ment adapted to move a pinion of a multi e pinion counter to effect a transfer, a mova le arm upon which said segment is movably mounted, a detent for said segment releasable by the counter pinion of next lower order by movement of the latter through its zero position in either direction, actuating means for said segment and arm, and controlling mechanism adapted to be set in one position to prevent movement of said segment relative to said arm but to permit movement of said arm and in another position to permit movement of said segment relative to said arm but to prevent movement of said arm.

4. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer segment adapted to move a pinion of a multiple pinion counter to effect a transfer, a detent for said segment releasable by the counter pinion of next lower order by movement of the latter through its zero position in either direction, a pivoted arm'on which said se ment is pivoted, a sprin connected to said segment for urging it an said arm in a given direction, and controlling mechanism settable to one position to prevent movement of said segment relative to said arm but permitting said arm to move to thereb effect a carry when said segment is release and to another position to free said segment for movement relative to said arm but preventing movement of said arm to thereby effect a borrow when said segment is released.

5. In a transfer mechanism for a multiple pinion counter of a calculating machine that has a means for conditioning it for both addition and subtraction, a transfer segment adapted to move a counter pinion to effect a transfer, a movable arm on which said segment is movably mounted, actuating means for moving the arm and for moving thesegment relative to the arm, and controlling mechanism governed by the means for conditioning the machine for addition or subtraction for determining whether, when said seg ment is released, said actuating means shall move the arm and the segment together or move the segment relative to the arm.

6. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer se ment adapted to move a pinion of a multi Ie pinion counter to efiect a transfer, a move le arm on which said ent is movably mounted, a detent for saiii segment releasable by the pinion of next lower order when the latter moves through its zero position in either direction, means for moving the arm and for moving the segment relative to the arm, controlling'mechanism for determining whether the segment shall move relative to the arm or with the arm, and a. single restor ing bail for restoringto normal position the arm on which said segment is pivoted, a detent for said segment releasable by the pinion of next lower order when the latter moves through its zero position in either direction, a spring connected to said segment for moving it on its pivot relative to the arm and for moving the arm on its pivot, controlling mechanism for determining whether the spring shall turn the segment relative to the arm or the arm on its pivot, and a single restoring bail for restoring to normal both the arm and the segment relative to the arm.

8. In a transfer mechanism for a multiple pinion counter of a calculating machine that has a means for conditioning it for both addition and subtraction, a transfer segment adapted tomove a counter pinion to effect a transfer, a movable arm on which said segment is movably mounted, said segment being movable with the arm to effect a carry and relative to the arm to effect a borrow, actuating means for moving the arm and for moving the segment relative to the arm, a detent controlled by the pinion of next lower order and released by movement of the latter through its zero position in either direction, and controlling mechanism governed by the means for conditioning the machine for addition or subtraction to free the arm and prevent movement of the segment relative to the arm when the conditioning means is set for addition and to free the segment for movement relative to the arm and for preventing movement of the arm when the conditioning means is set for subtraction.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

ALLEN A. HORTON.

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