US1946823A

US1946823A - Automatic counter control

Info

Publication number: US1946823A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1934-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1951-02-13

Description

Feb. 13, 1934. lOl 1 SUNDSTRAND I 1,946,823

AUTOMATIC COUNTER CONTROL Original Filed April 17, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed April 17, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1934. o. J. sUNDsTRAND 1,946,823

AUTOMATIC COUNTER CONTROL Original Filed April 1'7, 1929` 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lvao Patented Feb. 1s, 1934 Tr-:sl

PATENT oFFlcE AAu'romrilc conrz'rrsa coivraor.

Oscar J. Sundstrand, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor i to Sundstrand Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April 17, 1929. Serial No. 355,747

Renewed November 15, 1933 19 claims. (c1. 2st- 60)v In my application Serial No. 236,575, filed November 29, 19.27, I have disclosed an adding,

subtracting and printing machine which con-A tains two counters. Manual means is provided whereby either or both counters may be used at the will of the operator.

In certain bookkeeping operations it is desirable to enter amounts in one of the counters and *at other times to enter amounts in both counters. The manual means disclosed inthe above-mentioned application permits of thus entering amounts. 4

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby, when the operator has' set the machine to accumulate amounts in one of the counters, amounts may also atl predetermined times be accumulated automatically in both counters, and without the necessity of man'- ually setting the machine to accumulate in both counters.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental right-hand side elevation of a machine embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of some of the parts constituting the automatic means for controlling the lower counter.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of said parts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental left-hand side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3a is a rear edgeview of the left-hand lever 19.

Fig. 4 is a view of some of the'par'ts shown -in Fig. 3, but illustrating them in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental rear view. y

Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view'.V

I have herein showny the invention as embodied in a machine-of the -general character disclosed in the Sundstrand PatentNo. 1,198,487,

and in my application Serial No. 236,575, filed l November 29, 1927, but it wllbe understood that the invention is'not limited to machines of thattype. .Reference may be made to the above mentioned patent and application for an understanding of vfeatures not fully illustrated or described herein. While the invention is especially @useful in bookkeeping machines, it is adapted for use in other types of adding and/or subtracting machines. l

The work-piece or pieces on which records are to be madeare supported upon a laterally movable carriage 2. The printing of numerals is effected by means of vertically reciprocatory type bars 3 which are raised and lowered by means including arms 10 loosely mounted on a shaft 12. The means for swinging the arms 10 includes two levers 19, one at each side of the machine, said. levers being mounted, to swing on the axis 19. Links 23 are pivoted at. 23 to the lower ends of the levers 19, the forward ends of said links being pivoted to twocr'ank arms 24 xed to opposite ends of the -main rock shaft 26. The shaft 26 is arranged to be rocked by means of a handle or crank 27, said handle being connected to the lvright-hand arm 24 by suitable means, as, for example, that disclosed in the Sundstrand Patent No. 1,611,390. It will, of course, be understood that an electric motor may be used to rock the lshaft 26, if desired.

The computing mechanism (which may be either decimal or non-decimal in character) comprises two counters located between two sets of racks. -Each counter comprises a series of pinions 125 rotatably mounted upon a transverse shaft 126. The shafts 126 are supported for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine to carry the counters into and out of engagement with the racks. Each counter is ar- 'ranged to be moved into mesh with either set of

racks

129 and 130, but both counters are never in mesh with the racks 129 at the same time, nor are both counters in engagement with the racks 130 at the same time. A rack 129 and a rack 130 are attached to each of-'the type bars 3.

Each counter is controlled,'1. e., moved into and out of mesh with the racks, by means of two links, one on each side of the counter, only one of each pair of links being herein shown. The left-hand link for the upper counter is marked 137 in Fig. 3, and the corresponding link for the lower counter is designated 1379. The forward ends of the links have bearings to receive the ends of the shafts 126. The rear ends of the links for the upper counter. are pivoted at 138 to thelower arms of two levers 139 which are rigidlyv secured to' a shaft 140 (Fig. 5) journaled inthe framework of the machine. Similarly, the rear ends of the links for the lower counter are pivoted at 138a to the upper arms of two levers 139 whichl are rigidly secured to a shaft 140qb journaled in the machine frame.

:When the-

levers

139 or 139 are in upright po- -vsition (as in the case of the lever 139e in Fig. 3)

the corresponding counter is in neutral position.

When the leversswing clockwise, as viewed in upright position, the counter moves into mesh with the other set of racks.

The means for swinging the levers 139 and 1395 into and out of` upright position to move the counters into and out of mesh with the racks comprises 'two links 141 and 141e. In the forward end of each of said links is an elongated opening 142 to receive

headed studs

143, 143 on a slide 144. The slide 144 is suspended for reciprocation longitudinally of the machine by means of two links 145 which are pivoted at their lower ends to the slide and at their upper ends to the framework of the machine.

The rear end of the link 141 is provided with notches 154 and 155 to receive

pins

156 and 157, respectively, on opposite ends of the right-hand lever 139. Rearwardly of the notches 154 and 155 are

lugs

158 and 159, respectively, which serve to prevent disengagement ofthe lever 139 from the link 141. Similarly, the rear end of the link 141 has notches 154 and 155a to receive pins 156s and 157 on the right-hand lever 139e. The link 141 also has lugs 158a and 159 like the

lugs

158 and 159. The rear ends of the

links

141 and 141* move vertically in unison into and out of engagement with the

pins

156, 157, 156e, 157, said links being connected by means of a. cross link 160. The purpose of such vertical movement is to shift from addition to subtraction or vice versa. A means for thus moving the rear ends of the links 141 and 141'* is disclosed in my application Serial No. 236,575. Said application also discloses a means by which the links 141 and 141a may be moved forward and back to shift the counters into and out of mesh with the racks.

Either counter may be used alone, or both counters may be in use at the same time. The means for determining which counter shall be employed or whether both shall be used com- 'prises a slide 280 mounted on the slide 144 for vertical movement with reference to said slide. In the present instance, the slide 280 is guided by means of headed studs 281 on the slide 144, said studs lying within vertical elongated openings 282 in the slide 280. Manual means, such, for example, as that chown in my application Serial'No. 236,575, may be provided for moving the slide 280 up and down to bring either or both of the counters into use. Herein I have shown a bell crank 282'i (Fig. 1) pivoted at 282b, one arm of the bell crank being connected to the slide 280 and the other arm being connected through a link 282c to a manually operable lever 282". On the upper end of the slide 280 is a cam surface 283 adapted to coact with the forward end of the link 141. The slide 280 also has a cam surface 284 to coact with the forward end of the link 1419. A contractile spring 285 connected to the link 160 urges the links 141 and 141B toward the slide 280. v

When the slide 280 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, it prevents lost motion between the link 141 and the slide 144; consequently rthe upper counter is moved into and out of mesh with the racks as the slide 144 is moved back and forth. The movement of the slide 144 is imparted to the link 141 through the slide 280, the spring 285 holding the forward end of the link 141 against the vertical rear edge of the slide 280. In this adjustment of the slide 280, it is not in position to prevent lost motion between the link 141a and the slide 144; therefore if other means were not provided to prevent such lost motion the link 141EL would not receive anymovement from the Slide 144, as the stud 143a would move idly in its elongated opening 142. The spring 285 would hold the link 141EL forward as far as possible, that is to say, the lugs 158a and 1592L would lie in contact with both of the pins 1569 and 157a thereby holding the lever 139u in its upright position Whrein the lower counter is in neutral position.

When the slide 280 is in its lowerrnost position, theportion o its vertical rear edge above the notch 284 lies in engagement with the forward end of the link 141n and prevents lost motion between the link 141a and the slide 144; conse quently the lower counter will be placed in and out of mesh with the racks.' The upper end of the slide 280 is then down out of the way of the link 141so that lost motion may occur between said link and the slide 144; hence the upper counter will remain idle.

When the slide 280 is in its middle position, the vertical rear edge of said slide between the portion 283 and the notch 284 lies in engagement with both links 141 and 141it and both counters will be moved into and out of mesh with the racks when the slide 144 is reciprocated. l

In order automatically to place the lower counter in and out of use when the slide 280 occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, I provide means (which in this particular instance is under the control of the paper carriage 2) for eliminating lost motion between the link 141a and the slide 144. In the form herein shown, said means comprises a member 290 (Figs. land 2a) having a portion 291 arranged to be interposed between the stud 143e and a headed stud 292 on the link 14111. The member 290 has a slot 293 through which the stud 292 extends, the member 290 being thus guided to move up and down so as to place the portion 291 between the studs y1143* and 292 or to Withdraw said portion. The lower end of the member 290 is pivoted at 294 to a crank arm 295 nxed on a shaft 296 which extendstransversely through the machine frame. On the lefthand end of the shaft 296 is a device which virtually constitutes a yieldable crank arm, said device comprising a plate 297 (Fig. 4) fixed on the shaft 296 and a plate 298 pivoted on the plate 297 at 299. 'A contractile spring 300 is anchored atA one end to the plate 297 and is connected at its other end to a pin 301 on the plate 298. The spring 300 normally holds the pin 301 against the adjacent edge of the plate 297, the

plates

297 and 298 thus 4normally moving as a unit. In order yieldingly to hold the member 290 in either of its two positions, I provide a pivoted spring-actuated detent 301 comprising a pin 301b adapted to lie in either of two notches 301c in the plate 297.

To the crank arm composed of the

parts

297 and 298 is pivoted at 302 a link 303, the upper end of which is guided, for` convenience, upon a headed screw on the axis 19a. The link 303 is arranged to be moved up and down to bring -the portion 291into and out of effective position by means including a bell crank pivoted in the machine frame to swing on the pivot rod 304. Said bell cranky comprises an arm 305 having an elongated opening 306 to receive a stud 307 on the link 303.

The arm 305 has a cam surface 308 and a dwell 309 arranged for engagement by the portion 310 of a stud 311 xed on the left-hand lever 19. The stud 311 has a clearance space or recess 312 (Fig. 3a) therein. The bell crank is slidable upon the pivot rod 304 so as to place the arm 305 in the vertical plane of the portion 310 or in the vertical plane of the recess 312. o,

The bellcrank further. comprises an upwardly extending arm 313 (Fig. 4) having a cam surface 314 and a dwell surface 315 for engagement by a stud 316 on the left-hand lever 19. When the arm 305 is in the vertical plane of the portion 310, the arm 313 ris out of the vertical plane of movement of thestud 316. It will be seen that the portion 310 acting upon the arm 305 serves to push the link 303 downwardly, and that the stud 316 acting upon the cam 314 causes upward movement of the link.

Means under the control of the paper carriage 2 is provided for moving the bell crank 305, 313 laterally so as to place the bell crank alternately within the range of action of the

parts

310 and 316. This means 'comprises a slide4 317 (Figs. 5 and 6) guided in the machine frame for horizontal `Vmovement transversely of themachine. The left-hand end of the slide 317 carries a fork 318 (Fig. 6) in which the arm 313 is Yslidably embraced. The right-hand end of the slide 317 is connectedto a slide 319 which'is one of a number of slides compactly grouped adjacent to the path of travel of the paper carriage 2, as will appear more fully by reference to my application Serial No. 118,628, led June 26, 1926 (French Patent No. 625,678 and German Patent No. 480,- 384 correspond generally to said application). The slide 319 has a stop lug 320 which is arranged for engagement byl one or more stop pins 321 on the lower side of a stop plate 322 attached to the paper carriage and extending longitudinally thereof. The' stop plate 322 is pivoted on the axis 323 so that it may be tilted up out of ene gagement with the lug 320 on the slide 319. A contractile spring 324 (Fig. '6) tends to move the

slides

317 and 319 toward the right of the operator, said spring thus normally holding the slide 319 away from a xed abutment 325 (Fig. 5) and also normally holding the bell crank 305, 313 in the lateral position wherein it is subject to movement by the stud 316 and is not subject to movement by the portion 310.

Thus it will be seen that the spring 324, the stud 316 and the detent 301a'normally place and hold the interponent 290 down in' inoperative position, the spring 285 placing the lower counter in inoperative position when the machine cycles.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that thehandle 27 and the stud 316 are in initial position, and that in the cycling of the machine the stud 316 describes an arc, with the pivot 19EL as its lcenter of movement, without moving the arm 313.

Assuming the operator desires that in ay certain columnar position or positions, the amount added or stbtracted in the upper counter shall also be simttaneously added or subtracted inv the lower coul ter, he provides the paper carriage 2 with a stoy plate having a stop pin 321 for each of such columnar position.

The manual means for adjusting the slide 280 is operated to place said slide in the lposition i the arm 305, whereby the shaft 296 is turned in the direction to -raise the member 290 and thus insert the portion 291 between the

studs

143a and 292. During the early portion of the return stroke of the handle the slide 144 is moved rearwardly, thus pushing the links 141 and 141e rearwardly and thereby placing each counter in mesh with one of the sets of racks, whereby the amount set up by the operator is added or subtracted, as the case may be, in both counters. 'Ihe amount is also printed on the-work sheet (unless nonprint means has been actuated) and the carriage 2 moves toward the left of the operator into the next columnar position. If there `be no stop pin 321 for that columnar position, the early portion of the next handle pull causes the slide 144 and the links 141 and 141EL to move forward to place both counters in neutral position, the following portion of the handle pull causing the stud 316 to engage and .push back the arm 313, whereby the shaft `296 is turned in the direction to withdraw the portion 291 from between the

studs

143a and 292.

If no amount be setup when the carriage is in a columnar positionyvhich is distinguished by the provision of a stop pin 321, the slide 144 will remain at rest in its `.rear position when the handle is pulled; consequently the portion 291 is prevented from rising into` its operative position. In such anl event, the spring 300 (Fig. 4) yields to prevent breakage.

While I have herein shown the element 290 as under the control of the paper carriage, it will vbe understood that it may be otherwise controlled;

hence certain of the following claims are not limited to control of the counter by the carriage.

Furthermore, it will be evident that the member 290 may be automatically operated to insert the part 291 between the stud 143it and the pin 292 without regard to the position of adjustment of the manually operated lever 2829. Thus the invention makes possible the automatic selection of one of the counters for actuation upon each excursion of the paper carriage to a predetermined columnar position, or, to a plurality of predetermined columnar positions, and the lever 282d may be independently set to select the same counter, the other counter, or both of the counters in each of those respective positions, the cony struction being such that the lever' 282d may be permitted to remain in any of its positions of adjustment without disturbing the predetermined setting of the automatic means. Hence great flexibility of machine operation is made possible without the necessity of frequent readjustments of the manual and automatic means relied upon to select the respective counters for actuation.

In the rst half of the cycle of operations of the machine with lever 232d in its two-counter position, the part 144, together with its assocated slide 280, is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. During this leftward movement the spring`285, acting through the l'nk 160 will shift the parts 141 and 141a to the left, the

lugs

158, 159 and 158, 159n acting to rotate the parts 139, 1393 until the

pins

156, 157 and 156, 157a are in vertical alinement and simultaneous contacting engagement with their respective lugs.

Referring now to Fig. 1 and assuming that the machine is in its initial position or position of rest, it will be evident that when lever 282*i is positioned to select only the upper counter the notch 284 in part 280 will be opposite, and in alinement with, 1418. Assuming alsothat the carriage is not operating to select the lower counter, then interponent 291 will be in its lower position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the spring 285 acting immediately upon the setting of the lever 282d in upper-counter position to shift 141a to the left, its leftward limit of movement -being determined by the position in which pins 156a and '7a are simultaneously in contact with'their respective lugs 158e, 159e. This movement of link 141a will have occurred as stud 143a remained stationary.

Now as the machine commences a cyclic operation, parts 144 and 280 move leftward, but link 141 is restrained because pins 156a and 157el are both in contact with their respective lugs. Hence stud 143 will move toward the left end of its slot and this movement will be an idle one with respect to link 141e. Thus, with the manual lever 282d in either its upper counter or its two counter position, the interponent 291 will actually be positioned intermediate the

studs

143a and 292 in the event that the carriage control is set to render the lower counter ellective in any columnar position.

The utility of this construction will be understood by reference to the multiple column worksheet diagrammatically indicated below, thisbeing only one of many possible combinations ln which the counters may be employed:

U C L C L C L C L C U C U C always only always always` always always or infre- L C quently and U C always In column 1, for example, the upper counter the, lever 282d in column 2 each time that the use of the lower counter was desired, but the carriage 4could be set to condition the lower counter in each of columns 3, 4 and 5. Now suppose, for example, that after having had occasion to resort to one of these infrequent usesyof the lower counter in column 2, the operator cycles the machine and permits it to pass on to the third, fourth and fth columns without having restored the lever 282d to its upper counter position. The carriage control of the lower counter in those respective columns will nevertheless function precisely as though the manual control, were not set to effect its operation, no damage being done to the machine as a result of-.this conjoint selection of the lower counter by both the manual and carriage control means. It will be apparent that great ease of operation results from such an arrangement, because the operator is not obliged to invariably determine whether both manual and automatic selecting means are operable. It is only necessary that either one be operative but the operativeness of both is such as not to cause the one to interfere with the other.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a counter, controlling means for the counter including a connection capable of lost motion to render the controlling means ineffective, a member arranged to be interposed in said connection to eliminate such lost motion, means for operating said member including a bell crank, a reciprocatory portion to engage one arm of the bell crank and a reciprocatory stud to engage the other arm of the bell crank, said bell crank being laterally movable alternately into the path of said portion and said stud, a spring tending to move said bell crank into one of its lateral positions, and a laterally movable paper carriage having means for moving the bell crank into its other lateral position.

2. The combination of a counter, controlling means for the counter including a connectionrcapable of lost motion to render the controlling means ineffective, a memberarranged to be interposed in said connection to eliminate such lost motion, yieldable means for operating said member including a bell crank, a reciprocatory part to engage one arm of the bell crank and a reciprocatory part to engage the other arm of the bell crank, the bell crank being laterally movable alternately into the path of said parts, a -spring tending to move said bell crank into one of its lateral positions, and a laterally movable paper carriage having means for movingthe bell crank into its other lateral position.

3. The combination of two counters, means to actuate the counters, means for moving either counter into and out of operative relation to the actuating means, and means for determining which of the counters shall be so moved, the lastmentioned means including a member capable of assuming three positions, in one of which positions only one of the counters is moved, in another of which positions only the other counter is moved,

4and in the third of which positions both counters are moved, a laterally movable paper carriage, and means controlled by the carriage for determining that a certain one of the counters shall be moved.

4. The combination of two sets of rackswhich face each other, two counters mounted on parallel axes between said sets of racks, and means to control the engagement of the counters with said sets of racks, said means including automatically actuated mechanism to control the engagement of a certain one of the counters with said sets of racks.

5. The combination of printing mechanism and aI paper support movable laterally relatively to each other to produce columnar spacing, a counter, means for actuating the counter, counter-controlling means including a connection capable of lost motion to render the controlling means ineffective, and means controlled by such relative movement for eliminating lost motion from said connection to render the controlling means eective.

6. The combination of a counter, means to actuate the counter, means for moving the counter into and out of operative relation to the actua ting means, the last-mentioned means including a slide and a link connected to said Vslide by a lost-motion connection, a member adapted to be inserted in said connection to eliminate lost motion, a laterally movable paper carriage, and means actuated by the carriage for operating said member.

7. The combination of two counters, means to actuate thev counters, means for moving either counter into and out of operative relation to the actuating means, the last-mentioned means including a slide andtwo links connected to said slide by lost-motion connections, and automatically-actuated mechanism for eliminating lost motion in the connection between one of said links and said slide.

8. The combination of two counters, racks to actuate the counters, means for moving either counter into and out of mesh with the racks, said means including a reciprocatory member and two links connecting the counters to said member. the connection between each link and the member consisting of a stud on one part and an elongated slot in the other part, and means for determining which of the counters shall be moved into and out of mesh with the racks, said determining means including a slide on said member capable of assuming three positions with relation to said member, in one of which positions said slide prevents relative movement between one of said studs and the corresponding slotted part and leaves the other stud and slotted part free to move relatively to each other, in another of which positions the slidel prevents relative movement between the last-mentioned stud and slotted part and leaves the first-mentioned stud and slotted part free to move relatively to eachother, and in. the third of which positions the slide prevents relative movement between both studs and their slotted parts.

9. The combination o f two counters, racks to actuate the counters, means for moving either counter into and out of mesh with the racks, said means including a reciprocatory member and two links connecting the counters to said member, the connection between each link and the member consisting of a stud on one part and an elongated slot in the other part, and means for determining which of the counters shall be moved into and out of mesh with the racks, .said determining means including a slide on said member capable of assuming two positionswith relation to said member, in one of which positions said slide prevents relative movement between one of said studs and the corresponding slotted part and leaves the other stud and slotted part free to move relatively to each other, and in the other of which positions the slide prevents relative movement between the last-mentioned stud and slotted part and loaves the rst-mentioned stud and slotted part free to move relatively to each other.

10. The'combination of two counters, racks to actuate the counters, means for moving either counter into and out of mesh with the racks, said means including a reciprocatory member and two links connecting theA counters to said member, the connection between each link and the member consisting of a stud on one part and an elongated slot in the other part, and means for determining which of the counters shall be moved into and out relative movement between one of said studs andvl the corresponding slotted part and leaves the other stud and slotted part free to move relatively to each other, and inthe other of which positions the slide prevents relatite movement between both studs and their slotted parts.

11. The combination-of a counter, racks to actuate the counter, means for moving the counter into and out of mesh with the racks, said `means including a reciprocatory member havother of which positions the 'slide leaves the stud.'

and slotted part free to move relatively to each other, and meansfor adjusting said slide. n

12. The combination of two counters, racks to actuate the counters, means for moving either counter into and out of mesh with the racks, said means including areciprocatory member having lost-motion connections with the counters. each lost-motion connection consisting of a stud on one part and an elongated slot in the other part, manual means for eliminating lost motion in one of 'said connections, and means for eliminating lost motion in the other connection, the last- 'mentioned means comprising a member adapted to be inserted between said stud and slotted part to eliminate lost motion therebetween.

13. The combination of a paper carriage, a

counter, means to place the counter in and out of use, said means including a bell crank, an oscillatory member having two parts adapted vto engage said bell crank, and means to cause relative movement between said bell crankand said two parts so as to ,render one or the other of said partseffective to move the bell crank, said means for causing relative movement by the paper carriage.

being controlled 14. A machine of the class described.'compris 115 ing in combination, two counters, means to actuate the counters, means for moving either or both counters into and out of operative relation to the actuating means, manual counter selecting means and automatic counter selecting means, said counter selecting means ,being effective to jointly or independently select one of said counters for actuation, one of said selecting means being effective to independently select the other counter or to independently select both counters or to independently select one counter while selecting the other counter in conjunction with said other ing means and automatic `counter selecting means, said manual selecting means including a manipulative element elective in one position to select one of said counters for actuation, effective in a second position to select the other of said counters for actuation and effective in a third position to select both of said counters for actuation, said automatic selecting means being adapted to select one of said counters when the other is selected by the manual means, or to select one of said counters conjointly with the selection of the same counter by said manual 16. The combination of printing mechanism and a paper support movable-laterally relatively to each other to produce columnar spacing, two

counters, means to actuate the counters, means for moving either or both counters into and out of operative relation to the actuating means. and manual and automatic counter selecting means, said last mentioned means including a manipulative element effective in one position to select one of said counters for movement into operative relation with said actuating means, in which position of said manipulative element the automatic means may,V remain adjusted to select the same counter for such movement.

17. The combination of printing mechanism and a paper support movable laterally relatively to each other to produce columnar spacing, two counters, means to actuate the counters, means for moving either counter into and out of operative relation to the actuating means, and manual and automatic counter selecting means, said manual means including a single manipulative element effective in one position of adjustment to select one of said counters, effective, in a second position to select the other oi said counters and effective in a third position to select both oi said counters, said automatic means being controlled by relative movement between the paper support and the printing mechanism to select one of said counters eithertconjointly with, or

' independently of said manual means.

18. The combination of printing mechanism and a paper support movable laterally relatively to each other to produce columnar spacing, two counters, means to actuate the counters, means for moving either or both counters into and out of operative relation to the actuating means, manual counter selecting means and automatic counter selecting means, said manual selecting means including a single manipulative element eiective in one position of adjustment to select one of said counters, effective in a second position to select the other of said counters and effective in a third position to select both of said counters, said automatic selecting means being controlled by relative movement between the paper support and the printing mechanism to select one of said counters, said manual and automatic means being arranged to operate Without interference so as to effect the selection o1 one counter by adjustment of said manipulative element to one of its positions and selection of the other of said counters by said automatic means, or conjoint selection of one counter by both the manual and the automatic selecting means.

19. A machine oi' the class described comprising in combination, two counters, means to actuate the counters, manual counter selecting means and automatic counter selecting means, one of said selecting means being adjustable to control actuation of either or both of said counters, the other `of said selecting means being adjustable to control actuation of one of said counters either independently of, or in conjunction with the simultaneous control of the same counter by said one selecting means.

OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND.