US1840424A

US1840424A - Calculating machine

Info

Publication number: US1840424A
Application number: US144410A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wittenmyer Carlos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-10-27
Filing date: 1926-10-27
Publication date: 1932-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-12

Description

Jan. 12, 1932. c ,w T 1,840,424

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i D 05 0 0 I o INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEY.

Jan. 12, 1932. c. WITTENMYER 1,840,424

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed 00% 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y 6' Z I'NVENTOR.

A) BY A 107 A TTORNE Y.

1932- c. WITTENMYER CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. mnyl/i/ ATTORNE Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES CARLOS wrr'raumn, or MOUNT crnmmrs, moment CALCULATING MACHINE Application filed October 27, 1926. Serial No. 144,410.

This'invention relates toimprovements in key operated instruments wherein a plurality of keys are used to cause the instrument to function. It relates more specifically to 5 calculating machines and in its preferred form is shown as applied to a calculating machine of the type shown in the patent to Dorr E. Felt 1,07 2,933, dated September 9, 1913.

In such devices as are shown in the patent mentioned various calculations may be carried out, all depending upon the fact that when a key is properly depressed, a number wheel is rotated to present to view a number corresponding to the particular key or to the sum of that number and the number corresponding to previous actuations of the wheel. One of the common modes of operation of the machines is to use only the keys representing the smaller digits. For example, it is com mon practice to operate the number four #4) twice, instead of operatingthe number eight (#8) The result of this is that sometimes the operator fails to make a complete stroke of the key for one of the fours. A similar failure to completely operate a key may result from other causes. The result of these partial strokes is a faulty calculation. In some of the patented machines, attempt is made to overcome the difficulties incident to a partial key depression by providing means to lock the keys of alldenominations except thatin which the. mistake occurred. After this happens one more key in the same denomination maybe depressed and then all of the keys look. When all of the keys have thus been locked, the discovery of the mistake depends on the application of certain rules by the operator andin some instances the machine must be cleared and the whole'calculation started anew.

The principal objects of the present invention, therefore, include the prevention of this difficulty by locking all of the keys against depression immediately after one has been partially depressed.

Another object is the locking of the partially depressed key in a position below its normal level so that it may be detected without difficulty. 1

Still another object is the unlocking, of the partially depressed key so that its stroke may be completed.

A further object is the unlocking of all of the keys upon completion of the stroke of the partially depressed key.

Still further objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and drawings in which I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a calculating machine with parts broken away and arts in section, showing the application 0 the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the locking bar and certain of the co-operating parts;

Fig. 3 is the same showing these parts in another position;

Fig. 4: is a view showing the relation of the locking'bar and a key in locked position;

Fig.5 is a detail view of the resetting bar;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the lock bar operating piece; I

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the means for locking the accumulating mechanism when a key has been only partially depressed and also for releasing such mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail in section on line 88 of is indicated in the drawings, the major portion of the mechanism of the calculating machine may be similar in construction an function to that of the machine shown in the patent referred to and will not be dementioned which are modified.

Referring to Fig. 1, the mechanism 1s so scribed 'in'detail. Only those parts will be a constructed and arranged that the proper depression of a key 20 will push down a lever 21 carrying a rack 22 a distance corresponding vto the particularkey, so that when the key is released the number wheel .N'vill be rotated a distance corresponding to t e number of the key. The distance to which the rack may be depressed is determined by the teeth 24, also carried by lever 21, coacting with

stop levers

25 or 26, the latter carrying laterally projecting plns which move 1n between the teeth.' During the downward motion of rack 22 the wheel 266, which carries a gear (not shown) meshing -w1th atrain adapted to rotate number wheel 23, is kept from rotating backwards by means not shown,

while forward or clockwise movement is prevented by a hook 27. As the rack reaches pin 28a and yoke 29, moves hook 27 out of engagement with wheel 26?). So that, when the key is released the rack 22 moves upwardly and rotates wheel 26?) and through suitable gears the number wheel 23. On the downward movement of rack 22 the pinion with which it meshes turns freely with reference to wheel 26?) but is connected to wheel 26 by a ratchet (not shown) when the rack moves upward.

Whenever, a key is only partially depressed, the

stop lever

25 or 26 is not actuated as described and therefore the hook 27 is not lifted from wheel 26?) and the latter cannot rotate. Consequently, the rack 22 is held down and remains down until the depression of the key is completed.

In the mechanism of the patented structure, whenever a key is only partially depressed, in addition to the failure to lift hook 27, another action takes place. Through mechanism, described in detail in the patent, the shaft 30 is rocked in a clockwise direction allowing the hook levers 31 to move and permit hooks 32 to engage hooks 33 carried by levers 21, so as to lock in up position all of the levers 21 except that one which has been partially depressed.

In addition to the patented mechanism, the present device includes notched bars 100 slidably mounted above the other mechanism which will be moved forward a short distance by the rocking of shaft 30. For this purpose the shaft 30 will'be provided with finger pieces 35 having upwardly extending fingers 36 embracing lugs 37 on the bars 100.

In order to co-operate with the bars 100, the keys 20 will be provided with laterally projecting lugs 101 (see Fig. 1) which will lie normally over the bar and opposite a notch 102. However, when, because of a partial depression of a key, the shaft 30 rocks forward, the bar 100 moves with it and moves the notches 102 out of line with the lugs 101, so thatall of the keys are locked in up nosition except the one partially depressed. This key having been moved so as to bring its lug 101 below the bar 100. is locked at a lower level than normal by the lug 101 beneath the bar. This position of the partially depressed keyjs a clear indication to the operator of the mistake and of the particular key which was partially depressed. Another indication of a mistake having been made is the fact that all of the keys are locked. Even the key upon which the mistake was made'is locked against completion of the stroke, thereby preventing a second stroke on the same key before proper accumulation of the first. For example, if the four key is struck twice to add eight, and the first stroke was incomplete, the machine would accumulate only four. In the present device in such cases the key is locked against the second stroke. This is accomplished by the means shown in Fig. 7. In this figure, the bar 100 is shown as provided with a spring 105 on its lower side, which spring is formed with a shoulder 106 and a continuation 107 beyond the shoulder which rests on a cross rod 108. Immediately below the spring is a lever 109 fixed to a shaft 110 and adapted to be moved by shoulder 106 as indicated. The lower end of lever 109 has connected to it a slide member 111 whose free end is bowed upwardly as at 112. The free end of member 111 rests upon the hook lever 27 as shown and between it and the end 113 of the ratchet-locking pawl 114. In the full line position of this member 111, the pawl 114 and hook 27 are separated sufficiently to act as an escapement mechanism for wheel 266 but in the dotted line position the wheel 26?) is locked by these parts against turning in either direction, as these two parts are pulled together by a spring (not shown). Forward movement of the bar 100 moves the upper end of lever 109 to the dotted line position and withdraws part 112 from between 113 and 27. At the same time the end 107 of spring 105 rides up on rod 108 and lifts shoulder 106 above the end of lever 109 so that the latter may be moved back by the means provided for the-purpose. This means consists of an arm 120 on lever 109 adapted to eoact with a depending arm 121 on bar 100. And the bar 100 is mounted at its forward end in such manner as to be movable downwardly a short distance. This mounting is shown in Fig. 8. The front end of bar 100 extends through an eye 122 in a frame part 123 and is supported upon a spring pressed plunger 124, the stem of the latter and the spring being indicated at 126 and 137 respectively.

The lever 109 is fixed to shaft 110 which extends across the machine and carries fixed to it a lever 109 for each row of keys. When, therefore, a partial depression causes a key to become locked against a succeeding depres sion it may be unlocked for completion of the stroke by striking any other key on the machine.

In the patented machine, after a partial stroke has been completed, the keys are all unlocked by means of a special key arranged to rock shaft 30 in a counter-clockwise direction. In the present device, the entire key board is unlocked by the completion of the stroke of the partially depressed key.

This is accomplished by the means shown in Figs-1, 2, 3, and 6, particularly Figs; 2,3 and 5. In these figures the stop levers 25 and 26 are shown as pivoted on the same rod 103 and each is shown as having a bent over

portion

25a and 26a above the rod. Also pivoted on rod 130 is an actuating piece 131, shown in. detail in Fig. 5. This piece131 extends rearward from rod 130 and upward to m have its upper end 132 extend into a notch 133 in bar 100. This notch is'wide enough to allow the bar to be moved forward to locking position without moving the piece 131. The side of the notch in forward position, however, is close to or against the end 132, so that,

when a key stroke is completedand stop lever or .26 moves to function the piece 131 is moved backward and carries with it the bar 100. In moving backward the bar 100 carries the finger piece 35 and thereby rocks counter-clockwise the shaft 30 and unlocks all of the keys both from the hooks 32 and the. bars 100.

It is of course, to be understood that the 5 parts described as new will beduplicated as many times in a machine as there are vertical rows of keys. It is also to be understood that instead of a sliding bar, its equivalents suchas a turning for tumbling bar, an eccentric, a pivoted lever, etc., may be substituted.

Now, having described the invention and a preferred form of embodiment thereof, it is 'to be understood that the said invention is not to be limited to the specific details herein described and illustrated but only by the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim 2- 1. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of. keysin a plurality of rows are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to lock all of the keys against normal operation and means to furnish a visible indication to the operator key.

2 In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys in aplurality of rows are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to look all of the keys against normal operation and means to re- 4. In a calculating machine having a plu-- rality of rows of keys adapted to be depressed to cause the machine to function, a bar adjaof the identity ofthe incompletely operated.

3. In a key operated instrument wherein cent each row andprovided with a notch normally opposite each key therein, a lug on each key normally positioned over each notch, and means actuated by incomplete depression of any key to move all of the bars and thereby the notches out of alignment with the lugs whereby to prevent the incompletely depressed key from returning to its original level and prevent depression of any of the other keys.

5. In a calculating machine having a row of keys adapted to be depressed to cause the machine to function, a bar adjacent the row and provided with a notch normally opposite each key therein, a lug on each key normally positioned over a notch, means actuated by incomplete depression of one of the keys to move the bar and thereby the notches out of alignment with the lugs whereby to prevent the incompletely depressed key from return: ing to its original level and prevent accumu- "lating depression of any of the other-keys and means actuated by said bar to lock the incompletely depressed key against completion of its stroke.

6. In a calculating machine having a row of keys adapted to be depressed to cause the machine to function, a bar adjacent the row and provided with a notch normally opposite each key therein, a lug on each key normally positioned over a notch, means actuated by incomplete depression of one of the keys to move the bar and thereby the notches out of alignment'with the lugs whereby to prevent the incompletely depressed key from returning to its original level and prevent accumulating depression of any of the other keys, means actuated by said bar to lock the incompletely depressed key against completion of its stroke and means operable by any other key to unlock saidincompletely depressed] key whereby its stroke may be completed.

7. In a calculatingv machine having a plu-' rality of keys in a plurality of rows adapted to be depressed to cause said machine to function, means to lock all of the keys against accumulating depression when a key has been given an incomplete stroke, means to unlock said latter key whereby its stroke may be completed, and means actuated by said key in completing its stroke to unlock all of the keys.

8. In a calculating machine having keys and accumulator wheels actuated thereby escapements for controlling movement of said wheels, means for bringing together the' jaws of said escapements'whereby to form locks for said wheels and means for separating said jaws whereby to permit operation of said wheels.

- '9. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys in a plurality of rows are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated-by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to lockall of the keys against normal operation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position.

10. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys in a plurality of rows are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to lock all of the keys against normal operation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position, and means connected to the remaining keys whereby the retaining means may be released by any one or more of the remaining keys.

11. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys in a plurality of rows are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to look all the keys against normal operation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position, and means to unlock all keys when the operation of moving the retaining means is completed.

12. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys in a plurality of rows are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to look all of the keys against normal operation and means to re tain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position, and means connected to the remaining keys whereby the retaining means may be released by any one or more oi? the remaining keys, and means to unlock all keys when the operation of moving the retaining means is completed.

13. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys are used to cause the 1nstrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to lock all of the keys against normal operation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position.

14. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to look all of the keys against normal oper ation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position, and means connected to the remaining keys whereby the retaining means 'may be released by any one or more of the remaining keys. I 4

1b. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of thekeys to lock all of the keys against normal operation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position, and means to unlock all keys when the operation of moving the retaining means is completed.

16. In a key operated instrument wherein a plurality of keys are used to cause the instrument to function, means actuated by the incomplete operation of any one of the keys to lock all of the keys against normal operation and means to retain the incompletely operated key in a position other than its normal rest position, and means connected to the remaining keys whereby the retaining means may be released by any one or more of the remainin keys, and means to unlock all keys when the operation of moving the retaining means is completed.

CARLOS WI'ITENIVIYFE, l