US1960189A - Calculating machine - Google Patents

Description

, May 22, 1934':- E. RAcz I CALCULATING MACHINE Filed July 25,1931 5 Shet s-Sheet l- INVENTOR Ernesf Baez I 2 BY May 22,1934. E. R Ci ,96 89 CALCULATING MACHINE" Filed July 25, 1931- z, Shets-Sheec, 2

INVENTOR I Ernesf Baez M, Mw

ATTORNEYS May 22, 1934. E RACZ CALCULATING MACHINE H Fild July 25, '1931 ssheets-sheet 5 Y. R mf W 2 T WE Patented May 22, 1934 1,960,189

" um'r o STATES PATENT OFFICE,

1,960,189 CALCULATING MACHINE Ernest Raoz, Detroit, Mich assignor to Burroughs Adding Machine Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation oi Michigan Application July 25, 1931, Serial No. 553,055 as Claims. (01. 1o1 -9s) This invention relates to a calculating machine. A more particular object is to provide an im- It is particularly concerned with the paper equipproved paper equipment for calculating machines vment for such a machine and the invention will be that will enable a slip, such as a waiters slip, to be best understood by first explaining one of the exeasily inserted in feeding relation to the platen amples of work that it will do. after which the slip ismoved to and held in a posi- 60 In hotels and restaurants the waiters are usualtion such that the section on which the amount ly provided with paper slips or cards upon which of anitem is to be entered is clearly and easily the items ordered by a guest are entered by the visible to the operator. waiter as the order is received. Whenthe food Another object is to provide a mechanism of 1 is received from the kitchen by the waiter the the character described in the nature of an at- 65 amount of each item must be placed opposite it tachment that can be applied to existing calculatand the waiter is charged with the food at the ,"ing machines without changing their construcprices indicated. It-is desirable to be able to retion. cord the amount of each item by means of ama- Other objects and advantages of the invention chine and to accumulate the total of the items. will hereinafter appear. 70

The present machine has been devised to accom- An embodiment of the invention is shown in the plish this work in a very simple and inexpensive accompanying drawings in which:- manner. Machines have heretofore been de- Figure 1 is a right side elevationof a calculatveloped in which the waiters slips are placed in ing machine with the invention applied thereto, the machine and the items printed but the slip all parts being shown in normal position.

is either-wholly invisible, or the section on which Fig. 2 is 'a perspective view of the top of the entries are made is invisible, or the slip is in an calculating machine with the invention applied awkward position to be seen by the operator. thereto, the parts being in normal position.

The present invention comprehends an im- Fig. 8 is a partial right side elevation and section provement in which a waiters slip may beconshowing the'position the parts occupy when the 0 veniently and quickly inserted in the machine platen is out of pr t o t w th a ca d from the front, after which it is positioned so that inserted. the section on which the amount of the item is to Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the parts be printed is clearly visible to the operator while in the position they occupy after the platen has the slip is held in vertical position in front of the been moved to printing position. 5 operator and just beyond the keys of the key- The nventi n s S w app to a a a board. After the item is entered on the keys, the ing machine known as the Burroughs Portable. machine is operated, whereupon the item is autothe same being disclosed in detail in Horton Patmatically printed on the correct line and the slip ent No. 1,853,050. Inasmuch as the construction is then moved so that the next line for entries of this machine is well known it will be described is visible. This enables the operator to' glance only very briefly. i at the slip and see the character of the item for The machine is provided with a plurality of which the amount is to be entered. For example, amount keys .10 on which items may be enif the item is sa1ad", the salad section is visible tered. After the keys are depressed the ma- -.and-the operator sees the word salad so that chine is given a stroke of operation by first he or she knows what the item is. This desirable rotating the main shaft 11 counterclockwise, result is accomplished by a very simple and inex'- which is called the forward stroke of operation pensive mechanism that may be made inthe form of the machine and, then, returning it clockof an attachment that can be applied to a small wise, which is called the return stroke of op- 45 calculating machine such as the Burroughs Porteration. The shaft 11 may be oscillated by means able without changing its construction. of the usual hand crank or by means of a me- While the above example of work is one of the tor. The machine shown is motor operatedand jobs the machine will perform it' is by no means it is set into operation by d pressing a m r the only one. The machine is useful in preparing bar 12 illustrated in Fig. 1. 50 laundry lists, shoe shop repairtags, oil run tickets, When the drive shaft 11 is oscillated, the

freight charges, unpaid balances, past due items, calculating mechanism, of which only portions 'anda wide variety of other jobs. I are shown, is operated and the item that has The general object of the invention is to provide been entered on the amount keys is added or an improved calculating machine for handling subtracted in a register or registers of which 55 work of the vcharacterspecified. two, 14 and 15 are shown in Fig. 1. During ing totals and Subtotals.

' Paper equipment The paper equipment is preferably made in the form of an attachment which can be applied to the Burroughs Portable without changing its construction, the attachment being mounted on the outside and on top of the casing in place 'of the ribbon feeding and paper equipment disclosed in Horton Patent No. 1,690,487. 1

The attachment is provided with a frame that includes a base plate and two side plates 21 and 22. This frame is adapted tofit readily on top of the casing of the machine and it is attached thereto by screws 23 or the like. The base plate 20 has two forwardly extending portions 24 and 25 (Fig. 2), one on each side of the group of type bars 16. Mounted on these forward extensions are the ribbon spools contained within suitable housings 26, of which one is shown in Fig. 2. The ink ribbon 27 extends from one spool to the other over guide posts 28, of which one is shown in Fig. 2, and suitable feeding and reverse mechanism is provided as is described in Horton Patent 1,690,487, said mechanism being carried by the base plate 20. The printing ribbon extends along the printing line of the platen 30 (Fig. 4) and it obscures the printing line as will be observed in Fig. 2.

The platen 30 is carried .by a platen frame comprising side arms 31 and 32 pivoted on a cross shaft 33 supported in the side plates 21 and 22 so that the platen can be moved to and. from printing position relative to thetype bars 16 to a front-feed position and vice versa, the platen being shown in front-feed position in Fig. 3 and in printing position in Fig. 4. The platen frame is urged clockwise about its pivot 33 away from printing position by a spring 34, the clockwise movement of the platen frame being limited by the engagement of projections 35 on the side arms 31 and 32 (Figs. 3' and 4) with lateral lugs 36 on the-side plates 21 and The platen can be moved to printing position against the tension of spring 34 by grasping the platen frame or the platen rotating twlrler 37 (Fig. 2) and pushing the platen downward. As it is moved to printing position the platen engages paper feed rolls 38 carried on pivoted levers 39 (Fig. 3) that are urged clockwise about their pivots by springs 40.

When the platen is oved to printing position it is latched in this osition-by means of a latch 41 pivoted at 42 and urged clockwise by a spring 43. This latch has a shoulder 44 (Fig. 4) adapted to engage over a projection 45 on the platen frame. The latch 41 is provided with the handle 46 by means of which it may be released by being pulled forwardly. Forward movement of the latch pulls the shoulder 44 away from projection 45 whereupon the spring 34 moves the platen from the printing position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 3. 1

Positioned in front of the platen and pivoted to the side plates 21 and 22 at 50 and 51 is a paper table or chute 52 for receiving and guiding work sheets or slips ofpaper such as waiters cards. This paper table has a rearwardly extending portion 54 (Fig. 3) having a slot 55 in it engaging over. a stud 56 on the platen frame arm 32. The

connection is such that the paper table is rocked on its pivots when the pla en is moved to and from printing position or, vice versa, if the table is swung from one of its positions to the other, the platen will be moved to and from printing position. For convenience, the position of the paper table or chute when the platen is in frontfeed position as illustrated in Fig. 3, will be called the sheet receiving position and the position when the platen is in printing position will be called the printing position.

When the platen is in front-feed position as illustrated in Fig. 3, the paper table occupies a substantially horizontal position so that it will guide the paper slips under the platen from the front. This makes it easy and convenient for the operator to put the slips in the machine. When the platen is moved down to printing position the paper table is swung rearwardly to a substantially vertical position, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This movement causes the unfed end of an inserted work sheet or slip to be swung about the platen and causes the portion of the paper slip on which entries are to be made to be held in a vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the slips are inserted from the front of the machine it is desirable to have them guided to and arrested in a predetermined position. The paper table 52 guides the slips under the platen from the front as shown in Fig. 3. The rear ends of the slips are also guided by a paper guide 58 comprising a metal plate extending between the side plates 21 and 22 of the main frame. The slips are arrested by a wide stop plate 59 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is mounted in an inclined position so as to guide the paper slip down to a given position on the stop.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the paper guide 58 extends upward in front of the platen and is provided with two sight openings 58 and 58 The stop plate 59 is positioned so that when a slip is inserted in the machine and the platen moved to printing position the first section or line for entries will be visible above the printing ribbon through openings 58 and 58 as illustrated in Fig. 2. This enables the operator to read the item with regard to which the amount is to be entered. For example, in the illustration of Fig. 2, the first item is salad and the operator knows that the amount to be entered on the amount keys is the cost of the salad. The salad section of the slip is very clearly visible immediately in front of the operator and with the card in a vertical position so that the item can be easily read.

However, with the slip positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2, the space for entry of the amount of the salad is above the printing line and in order for the amount to be properly entered on the slip, the slip must be moved backward to the printing line. Mechanism has been provided for this purpose.

stud '71 onthe platen side frame 31 and urged 150 4, two ratchet wheels clockwise by the side frame 21. This arm also carries a roller line. During the return stud (Fig. 4) which, when the attachment is placed on the calculating machine, engages in a slot 76 in a member 77 that projects upwardly from the calculating mechanism, said memberbeing given a rearward and a forward stroke of movement at each operation of the machine.

During the forward stroke of operation of the machine the member 77 rocks clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 and the pawl 65 engages its ratchet wheel 60 and rotates the platen 30 backward a given distance, which, in the machine illustrated, corresponds to two line spaces. This brings the previdusly visible line for entries back to the printing line of the platen. At the end of this forward stroke of the machine the printing mechanism is operated to print the amount of the entry on said stroke of the machine the member 77 rocks counterclockwise whereupon the pawl 66 becomes active and engages its ratchet wheel 61 to rotate the platen forward a given distance, which, in the machine illustrated, corresponds to four line 'spaces, that is, the platen is returned through the two line spaces through which it was moved by the pawl 65 and is then moved forward two more line spaces so as to bring the next line for entries to a position to be visible through the openings 58 and 58 The different line spacing operations trolled by the location of the cam surfaces on the upper edges of the pawls, which surfaces engage a stud 78 (Fig. 4) that disables the pawls after they have moved a given distance. This automatically places the slip in position so that the second section is visible to the operator and he or she can then enter the amount of the second item on the,amount keys and give the machine a second stroke of operation whereupon the amount will be printed on the proper line and the slip moved forward again so as to make the third section visible. This operation continues until all the items have been entered after which the operator may take a total, if desired, and the total will be printed on the check. As the items are entered in the machine they are accumulated in one or more of the registers 14 and 15.

It is to be understood that inreferring to the line or section for entries on the paper slip, the reference is not to a narrow ruled line but to a portion or section of the slip of suflicient length and width to receive the name of an item and its amount, the terms line or section for convenience.

From the above it will be clear that a slip may be inserted in the machine in and it will be guided to and arrested in proper position. The platen may then be moved to printing position and the machine given a stroke of operation. During this operation the platen is first rotated backward which will move the slip backward or to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. If the stop 59 were to remain in the full line position of Fig. 3, it would tend to interfere with the backward movement of the slip although the slip would be free for some movement and could bend slightly because it would be in the position of Fig. 4 relative to the stop. Nevertheless it is desirable to move the stop 59 out of the way and provision has been made for automatically doing this.

it will be noted that the stop a yoke 80 slidably mounted Referring to Fig. 3, plate 59 iscarried by on a rod 81 carried by for the pawls are conbeing used horizontal position downwardly projecting lugs 82 and 83 on the plate 58. The yoke 80 is urged to the left as' viewed in Fig. 3 by a spring 84, the movement of the yoke being limited by an adjustable stop 85 on the rod 81. The side plates 31 and 32 of the platen frame extend rearwardly (Figs. 3 and 4) and these rearward extensions support a cross shaft 86 on which is pivoted a yoke 87 having a rearwardly extending arm 88 slidable on the rod 81. The arm 88 is constructed so that, when the platen frame is rocked from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, to move the platen to printing position, the arm engages the yoke 80 and moves it rearward thereby moving the stop 59 rearward to the dot and dash position of Fig. 3. This automatically'moves the stop to a position such that it will not interfere in any way with the rearward movement of the paperslip during initial operation of the machine above described.

lnterlocks release latch 41 while the machine is operating and they also prevent depression of the motor bar while the platen release latch is in released position.

The motor bar 12 (Fig. 1) has a stem 90 slidably mounted on a stud 91 on the machine side plate, the bar being urged upwardly by a spring 92. This stem is also mounted on a stud 93 on another slide 94 which is H-shaped and slidably mounted on the stud 91 and on a shaft 95 near the lower part of the machine frame. The two slides are also connected by a spring 96. The slide 94 has a rearward extension 97 over a stud 98 on an arm 99 loosely pivoted on the shaft 95. ,This arm is yieldingly connected by a spring 100 to .a second arm 101 which is fixed to the shaft 95,'the arm 101 havingan offset lug extending over arm 99. When the motor bar 12- is depressed, the stem 90 moves downwardly, and, through the engagement with stud 93, moves the slide 94 rocks the arm 99 clockwise which, through the spring 100, rocks the arm 101 clockwise thereby rocking the shaft 95 give the machine a stroke of operation. The slide 94 has an upper projection 102 positioned under the total and sub-total key stems so that depression of either of these keys will rock arm 99 and cause the motor to give the machine a stroke of operation. These parts operated by the motor bar are part of the regular equipment of the machine. In order to permit downward movement of the slide 94, when the total or sub-total keys are depressed, without depressing the motor bar 12, the stud 93 projects through a slot in the lower extremity of the stem 90 of the motor bar. The upper lefthand extension of the H-shaped slide 94 is slotted and slidably mounted on the stud 91 so that when either the total or sub-total keys are depressed the stud 93 will move in the slot in the lower extension of the stem 90 and the slot in the upper left-hand extension'of the slide 94 will permit said slide 94- to move downward and trip the motor without causing the motor bar to move down with it. V d

The arm 99 that is rocked by depression of the motor bar is connected by a link 110 to one arm 111 of a yoke 112 pivoted at 113 on a crossshaft positioned downwardly. The slide 94 which causes the motor to of the machine. This yoke has a second arm 114 (Fig. 4) provided with ing with the lower end a lateral lug 115 cooperatof the platen release latch 41. The lower end of this latch has a curved portion 116 and a shoulder 117.

When the motor bar is depressed, the link 110 is pulled downward which rocks the yoke 112 counterclockwise. This moves the arm 114 downward, so that its lateral lug 115 is in front of the curved portion 116 of'the latch 41 which blocks the latch against movement. The result is that the platen cannot be released while the motor bar is depressed.

.Inasmuch as the motor bar is released as soon as pressure on it is relieved and before the machine has completed its operation, provision is made for retaining the yoke 112 in its looking position until operation of the machine has been completed. This provision comprises a latch 120 pivoted at 121 (Fig. 1) and urged counterclockwise by a spring 122. This latch has a rear arm 123 provided with a hooked end adapted to engage over a lug 111 on the arm 111.

When the arm 111 is moved downwardly by depression of the motor bar, the hooked end of the latch snaps over the lug 111 and holds the arm 111 downward until the latch 120 is released.

The latch is released by movement of the latch plate 124 that releases the depressed control keys in the bank containing the total, subtotal, etc., keys. This latch plate 124 is moved rearwardly near the end of the return stroke of the machine, the movement being accomplished by mechanism that is part of the regular equipment of the machine.

The drive plate 125 that oscillates during each operation of the machine carries a stud 126 which engages a slide 127 during the return stroke of operation of the machine, said slide being urged rearward and upward by a spring 128 so that, at the end of the forward stroke of the machine, a shoulder 129 on said-slide is immediately behind a control rod 130 carried by arms 131 pivoted at 132. As the machine moves through its return stroke of operation, the stud 126 moves slide 127 forward and shoulder 129 moves control rod 130 forward. Control rod 130 engages pivoted zero stops 133 and rocks them clockwise. These zero stops are connected to the latch plates 124 with the result that the latch plates are moved rearward. The plates engage the latch 120 and rock it clockwise to move the hooked end of arm 123 away from lug 115 to release the arm 114 and yoke 112 which move back to normal under the influence of spring 122.

When the motor bar is undepressed and when the platen release latch 41 is pulled forward the shoulder 11'? on the latch 41 moves under the lug 115 as illustrated in Fig. 3.. This looks the arm 114 against movement which blocks yoke 112, link 110 and arm 99 so that the motor bar cannot be depressed while the platen release latch is forward in released position.

Operation Although the operation'of the machine should be clear from the description already given, a brief summary will be made.

When the operator receives the waiters. slip or card, he places it face downward on the paper table, which should be in the position of Fig. 3, and pushes it rearward until it is arrested by the stop 59. He then pushes down on the platen twirler 37 and pushes the platen to printing position where it is latched by the latch 41, or, if he chooses, pushes the paper table or chute rearwardly which moves the platen to printing position. As the platen moves down it carries the slip to the position of Fig. 4, the stop 59 moving rearward out of the way.

The portion of the slip on which entries are to be made is then held in vertical position and the section or line for the first entry is visible through the openings 58 and 58 in the paper guide. This position of the slip is very convenient as it is directly in front of the operator in vertical position and just beyond the keys "of the keyboard. The operator can see and read the decription of the food for which the amount to be charged must be entered and is not confused by any other entries. For example, the first entry in Fig. 2 is for salad. The operator sees only the word salad and knows that the amount to be entered on the keys should be'the charge for salad. He need not keep the fact that the entry is for salad in his mind by first reading the card and then putting it in the machine nor need he determine that the entry is to be for salad by identifying salad with some particular aligning mark on the machine. All he needs to do is to look at the visible portion of the card after it is in the machine.

He next enters the amount of the item on the amount keys and depresses the motor bar. 12. The machine operates automatically to move the slip to position to receive the printing impression on the proper line after which the slip is moved so\that the next line for entries is visible. The operator can'then easily see what the next food item is and he sees only the item for which a charge is to be entered instead of a list of items.

During these operations the amounts are accumulated in the register or registers as desired and after all the charges have been made a total can be printed on the check by depressing the total key.

The operator then pulls the handle 46 of latch 41 forward whereupon the platen automatically moves to the position of Fig. 3 and theslip can be removed. The paper table is then in position to receive anew slip.

It is to be understood that while the invention has been shown applied to a calculating machine, it might be used with other machines of the same general nature. Also 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 in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A calculating machine having amount keys, a printing mechanism, means for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position, a stop for arresting said slip in a predetermined horizontal position, means for moving said slip to a substantially vertical position with the portion thereof on which an entry is to be made visible in vertical position in front of the operator, and

means acting automatically during an operation of said calculating machine to print on said visible section of said slip an item entered on said amount keys and to then move said slip to make the next section for entries visible.

2. A calculating machine having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice-versa, means for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position and for guiding it under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, a stop for arresting said slip in a predetermined horizontal position, and means causing reaches printing position,

from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, a stop for arresting said slip in a predetermined position, and means acting to automatically move said stop away from said slip as the platen is moved to printing position.

12. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means associated with said platen for guiding a paper slip under it from the front while the platen is in front-feed position, a stop for arresting said slip in a predetermined position, mechanism for operating said platen to line space it backward after it and means acting automatically to move said stop away from said slip as said platen is moved to printing position to thereby permit said backward line spacing.

13. In a machine of the class described, a platen carried by .a frame which is movable to move the platen from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means associated with said platen to guide a paper slip under it from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, a stop for arresting said slip in a predetermined position, and means operated by said platen frame as it is moved to move the platen to printing position acting to move said stop away from said slip.

14. In a machine of the class described, a platen carried by a pivoted frame which is movable to move the platen from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, a paper table in front of the platen for guiding a paper slip under said platen while it is in front-feed position, a stop) at the rear of said platen for arresting said slip in a predetermined position, and connections between said pivoted platen frame and said stop acting to move said stop rearwardly as said platen frame isswung to move the platen to printing position.

15. In a machine of the class described, a

main frame, a platen carried by a platen frame pivoted to said main frame to permit the platen to be moved from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, a paper table for guiding a paper slip under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, a stop slidably mounted on the rear of said main frame for arresting said slip in a predetermined position, said stop being urged by a spring to a predetermined position, and connections between said platen frame and said stop acting to automatically slide said stop rearwardly as said platen frame is swung down to move the platen to printing position.

16. An attachment adapted to be attached to a calculating machine having amount keys and printing mechanism without changing the construction ofsaid calculating machine, comprising a frame, a platen on said frame, and means on said frame for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position, said means having portions movable to'move said slip to a substantially vertical position in front of the operator with the section for a particular item visible in vertical position in front of the operator while the amount of said item is being entered on said keys.

1'7. An attachment for calculating machines that have amount keys and printing mechanism, comprising a frame adapted to be attached to a calculating machine without changing its construction, a platen on said frame, a paper table on said frame for receiving a paper slip in substantially. horizontal position and for guiding it under said platen from the front, means for mov-- ing said paper table to substantially vertical position and means acting automatically as said paper table is moved to vertical position to move said slip to vertical position, said last named means having openings through which the section of said paper slip for a particular item is visible in vertical position in front of the operator while the amount of said item is entered on said amount keys.

18. An attachment for calculating machines that have amount keys and printing mechanism, comprising a frame adapted to be attached to a calculating machine without changing its construction, a platen on said frame movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, a paper table on said frame for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position and for guiding it under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, connections between said platen and paper table for moving said paper as said platen is moved to printing position to thereby move said slip to substantially vertical position, and a guide for holding said slip in vertical position, said guide having openings through which the section of said paper slip for a partable to substantially vertical positionpositioned in front of said platen, and connections between said platen and table acting to position said table in substantially horizontal position when the platen is in front-feed position and to position said table in substantially vertical position when the platen is moved to printing position.

' 20. An attachment comprising a frame adapted to be applied to calculating machines of the class described without changing their constructioma platen mounted on said frame so as to be movable from a printing to a front-feed position, and vice versa, a paper table pivoted to said frame in front of said platen for guiding a paper slip under the, platen from the front while the platen is in frontfeed position, and connections between said paper table and platen for moving the paper table with the platen as the latter is moved to and from printing position, said table occupying a substantially horizontal position when the platen is in front-feed position and a substantially vertical position when the platen is in printing postion.

21. An attachment for calculating machines comprising a frame adapted to be applied to calculating machines of the class described without changing their construction, a platen mounted on said frame to be movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means urging said platen out of printing position, and a re-' leasable latch for holding said platen in printing position when moved to such position.

22. An attachment comprising a frame adapted to be applied to calculating machines of the class described without changing their construction, a platen mounted on said frame to be movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means urging said platen out of printing position, a latch for holding the platen in printingv position when said platen is moved to said position, a paper table pivoted in front of the said slip to be automatically moved to and held 'the amount of said item is entered on said amount in substantially vertical position as said platen is moved to printing position, said holding means having open spaces between its holding parts through which the portion of said paper slip on which an entry is to be made is visible in substantially vertical position in front of the operator.

3. A calculating machine having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa, a pivoted paper table positioned in front of said platen for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position and for guiding it under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed posi-- tion, and means associated with said paper table causing said slip to be. automatically moved to and held in substantially vertical position as said platen is moved to printing position, said holding means having openings therein through which the portion of said paper slip for receiving an entry is visible in vertical position in front of the operator.

4. A calculating machine having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice-versa, a pivoted paper table positioned in front of said platen for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position and for guiding it under said platen from the front while the latter is in front-feed position, connections between said platen and paper table acting to move said table to substantially vertical position as said platen is moved to printing position, and a paper guide in front of said platen acting in conjunction with said paper table to cause said slipto be moved to and held in substantially vertical position as said platen is moved toprinting position, said guide having openings therein through which the portion of said paper slip for the receipt of an entry is visible in verti' cal position in front of the operator.

5. A calculating machine having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from printing posi-- tion relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa, a paper table for receiving papers in substantially horizontal position and for guiding them under said platen from the front while the latter is in front-feed position, connections between said platen and paper table for moving said table to substantially vertical position as said platen is moved to printing position, means urging said platen away from printing position, and a releasable latch for holding said platen in printing position when moved to such position, said connections moving said paper table to substantially horizontal position as said platen moves ,out of printing position when said latch is released.

6. A calculating machine having calculating mechanism including amount keys upon which items may be entered; a printing mechanism, a platen, a paper table for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position and for guidingit under said platen from the front, and means for moving said paper table to substantially verti- ,cal position, said paper table cooperating with a holding means to move the portion of said slip on which an entry is to be made to vertical position, said holding means having openings through which the section of said paper slip for a particular item is visible in vertical position in front of the operator and beyond said amount keys while items may be entered, a printing mechanism, a

platen movable from printing position to a frontfeed position and vice versa, said platen being urged out of printing position, a paper table for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position, said paper table beingpositioned so as to guide said slip under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, means moving said paper table to substantially vertical position as said platen is moved to printing position, a paper guide acting to move said'slip to substantially vertical position as said platen is moved to printing position, said guide having openings therein through which the section of said slip for a partcular item is visible while the amount of said item is entered on said amount keys, and a latch for holding said platen in printing'position.

8. A calculating machine having a calculating mechanism including amount keys on which items may be entered, a platen having a printing line, a printing mechanism including a printing ribbon obscuring said printing line, means for receiving andholdinga paper slip with the portion thereof on which an entry is to bemade positioned vertically in front of the operator with the section of said slip for a particular item visible to the operator while the amount of said item is being entered on said amount keys, and means operating automatically as said machine is operated to move said slip to move said visible section to said printing line to receive said item and to subsequently move said slip so that the next section for entries is visible to the operator.

9. A calculating machine having a calculating mechanism including amount keys upon which items may be entered, a platen having a printing line, a printing mechanism including a printing ribbon obscuring the printing line of said platen, means for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position, a portion of said means being movable to move said slip to substantially vertical position with the section for a particular item visible in vertical position in front of the operator and beyond the keyboard said keys, and means operating automatically as said machine is operated to move said slip to move said visible section to said printing line andto subsequently move said slip to make the next section for entries visible.

10. A calculating machine havinga calculating mechanism including amount keys on which items may be entered, a platen having .aprintingline, a printing mechanism including a printing ribbon obscuring said printing line, a paper table for receiving a paper slip in substantially horizontal position, means for moving and holding said slip to substantially vertical position, 'said holding means having openings therein through which the section of said slip for a particular item is visible above said printing ribbon while the item is being entered on said keys, and means acting automatically as said machine is operated to move said slip to move said visible section to said printing line and to subsequently move said slip so that the next section for entries is visible through said openings.

11. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means associated with said platen for guiding a paper slip under the same ,while the amount of said item is being entered on cillated at each operation of the machine pro--v connections between said paper table and platen for moving the table with the platen as the latter is moved to and from printing position, said table occupying a substantially horizontal position when the platen is out of printing position and a substantially vertical position when the platen is in printing position.

23. An attachment for calculating machines of the class described having a member that is osjecting upward at the top of the machine, comprising a frame adapted to be attached to the top of said machine without changing its construction, a platen rotatably mounted on said frame, a paper table carried by said frame for guiding a paper slip under said platen from the front, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said platen, said pawl and ratchet mechanism having portions cooperating with said movable member when said attachment is placed on the machine so as to be operated by said member, said pawl and ratchet mechanism being constructed to move said platen one step of movement in one direction upon movement of said member in one direction and two steps of movement in the opposite direction upon the movement of said member in the opposite direction.

24. An attachment for calculating machines of the class described having a member projecting at the top of said machine and operated at each operation of said machine, comprising a frame adapted to be attached to the top of said calciflating machine without changing its construction, a platen carried by said frame and mounted so as to be movable from a printing to a frontfeed position and vice versa, a pawl and ratchet mechanism on said frame for rotating said platen, said pawl and ratchet mechanism having portions cooperating with said movable member as the frame is placed on said calculating machine, a paper table carried by said frame, said table being positioned to guide a paper slip under said paten from the front, and connections between said platen and paper table for moving the platen table with the platen when the latter is moved to and from printing position.

25. An attachment for calculating machines of the class described having a member project-' ing at the top of said machine and movable at each. operation of the machine, comprising a frame adapted to be attached to the top of said calculating machine without changing its construction, a ribbon feeding mechanism carried by said frame, a platen rotatably mounted on said frame, said platen being also mounted so as to be movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, a pawl and ratchet mechanism on said frame having portions positioned for cooperation with said movable member when said frame is placed on the calculating machine, a paper table pivoted on said frame and positioned in front of said platen to guide a paper slip under the same from the front, and connections between'said platen and said paper table for moving the table with the platen when'the latter is moved to and from printing position.

26. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means'for guiding a paper slip under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, a stop for arresting said slip ina predetermined position as it is positioned under said platen, and means controlled by said platen acting automatically to .move said stop to inactive position as said platen is moved to printing'position and to return said stop to active position as said platen is moved in front-feed position.

27. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means urging said platen out of printing position, a pivoted paper table in front of said platen for guiding a work sheet in substantially horizontal position under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, connections between said table and platen such that, by swinging said table to substantially vertical position, said platen is moved to printing position, and a releasable latch for holding said platen in printing position.

28. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means urging said platen out of printing position, a releasable latch for holding said platen in printing position, means for setting said machine into operation, and means preventing release of said latch during an operation of said machine.

29. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means urging said platen out of printing position, a releasable latch for said latch until said machine operation is com-- pleted even though said manipulative means is released.

i 30. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front -feed position and vice versa, means urging said platen out ofprinting position, a releasable latch for holding said platen in printing position, means for setting said machine into operation, and means conditioned by said latch as it is released for preventing said machine being set into operation while the latch is released. l 31. In a machine of the class described, a platen movable from a printing to a front-feed position and vice versa, means for supporting and guiding a work sheet in substantially horizontal position under said platen from the front while said platen is in front-feed position, and a paper guide and apron under said platen having a substantially vertical portion in front of the printing position of said platen and a curved bottom sloping upward very gradually to the rear whereby, as said platen is moved to printing position, the horizontally positioned worksheet is bent to cause the front portion thereof to assume a substantially vertical position without disturbing the line-position of said sheet relative to said platen.

32. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen having a printing line, said platen being movable from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa, a movable paper chute in front of said platen for guiding a work sheet under said platen from the front and into line-space position relative to the printing line of said platen while said moving said chute from sheet-receiving to print- 5 ing position, said platen is moved to printing position, said paper chute having means associated therewith acting, automatically to swing the unfed end of an inserted work sheet about said platen as said chute is moved to sheet-holding position.

33. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen having a printing line, said platen being movable from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a. front-feed position and vice versa, a pivoted paper chute in front of said

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