US2063740A - Calculating machine - Google Patents

Description

V Dec. 1936- R. R. HENDERSON 2,063,740

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934- C 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 506m 71 Henderson ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1936. R. R. HENDERSON CALCULATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1934 Dec. 8, 1936. R. R. HENDERSON CALCULATING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Y Pow/1 Ef/endersm M ATT/ORNEYS:

Dec. 8, 1936. R. R. HENDERSON CALCULATING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EW/erf 1? H0170 P/zson ATTORNEYS Z Patented Dec. 8 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALCULATING MACHINE Application March 12, 1934, Serial No. 715,074

6 Claims.

This invention relates to calculating machines and is particularly adaptable to key responsive calculators.

Calculators having two or more registers are usually provided with mechanisms by which the totals from one register may be transferred to another register. It is frequently desirable, particularly when computing items involving fractions, to transfer only a portion of the total from one register to another. Accordingly it is the purpose of this invention to provide a control for the total transfer mechanism whereby predetermined digits or columns only will be transferred and certain other columns will not be transferred during a total transfer operation. Other objects and their resultant advantages will appear from the following description.

The utility and applicability of this invention will be better understood by first explaining a typical use of the invention. The invention is of particular utility in general calculating work involving the multiplication of small amounts involving decimals and fractions. In certain transactions of this nature it is desirable to drop the decimal digits or columns of smaller denominations then hundredths or cents before the total is transferred from one register to the other.

A specific example of an application of this invention occurs in accumulating merchandise sales, such as items like 25 yards of cloth at 12% per yard. Ordinarily when using a calculating machine for listing amounts involving fractions or decimals of this character the five right or lowest order register pinions are used for the decimal digits and the remaining pinions to the left are used for the whole digits such as dollars. In making such a calculation of 25 yards at 12%, according to one method of operation, the operator would transpose the 12% to .12'750 and enter this amount in the front register of the machine by depressing the corresponding keys in the five right columns of the machine as numbered in Fig. 1. After setting up the amount .1275 in the left four of the five decimal columns or in columns 2, 3, 4, 5, starting from the right, the amount is multiplied by 25. The front reg ister then contains the amount 3.18750. Any method of operation for performing the multiplication may be used.

It is customary in business to bill only to the nearest cent, and to add one cent to the cents column if the fraction is over a half and dropping the fraction if it is under the half. Accordingly the amount billed for the 25 yards of cloth would be $3.19. Therefore, $3.19 and not 3.18750 should be transferred to the rear register.

To correct the totals in the one register prior to a transfer to the second or grand total register (when calculating in fractions of cents), it is occasionally necessary to raise the decimal amount in the first register to the exact amount placed on the invoice. In order to do this the No. 5 key in column 3 is depressed to add five mills or five units in the third from the right column of the machine. If the column already contains five or more units a carry will be made into the next column to the left, making the necessary correction. Of course, if the third column from the right does not contain five units 15 no carry will take place-and depression of the 'No. 5 key will not create a carry in the cents column. This key is known as the full cent key and is usually provided with a key top of distinguishing color such as red, so that it may be readily detected by the operator.

After the depression of the full cent key in the foregoing example the register would indicate 3.19250. If this amount as indicated were transferred to the second register to be accumulated in the grand total it is obvious that a total taken from an accumulation of such items would still not give the same results as the total of the invoices sent out which invoices included only the dollars and cents. Therefore, it is desirable to provide some means to prevent the transfer of the three right columns indicating 250 to the second register when a total transfer is made from the first to the second register so that the second registerwill indicate the sum 3.19. It is, of course, desirable that the mechanism for preventing the transfer of the three right columns be selectively operable so that the machine may be used in its normal state for ordinary calculating purposes.

Having in mind the foregoing typical example of one use of this invention, the mechanism for accomplishing the desired results will be described in connection with the drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective plan view of a calculating machine illustrating the keyboard and showing the full cent key and the special key for controlling the transfer;

Fig. 2 is a right side sectional elevation of the calculating machine illustrating the mechanism for controlling the transfer from front to rear register;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the blocking means for preventing transfer in the three right register columns; and

, Fig. 4 is a right side elevation with the casing removed illustrating the transfer key and associated mechanism.

General calculator features The calculating machine and mechanism is similar to that shown in the Pasinski Patent 1,909,714 issued May 16, 1933, and in the co-pending application of Walter Pasinski, Serial No. 694,550, filed October 21, 1933.

For an understanding of the details of the calculator mechanisms involved in the machine of this invention, reference is made to the foregoing Pasinski patent and Pasinski application.

The usual depressible amount or digit keys in arranged in banks are supported between the upper keyboard plate H and the lower strip i2 (Fig. 2), the keys being normally urged upwards by compression springs 13. The keys are provided with laterally extending projections l4 adapted when the keys are depressed to engage upwardly extending lugs 16 formed on index bars ll of the differential mechanism, there being an index bar I! for each bank of keys. The lower ends of keys in engage slots I8 formed in slides i9 whereby the slides I! are moved rearward against the tension of springs 2|, there being a slide and spring for each bank of keys. Each slide 19 has a downwardly projecting finger 22 adapted to engage a cross bail 23 provided with a downwardly extending arm 25 adapted to engage and close a pair of switch contacts 26 connected in the motor circuit for starting and stopping the driving motor M, the switch being normally disengaged by the urge of bail 23 which is spring actuated. Under depression of any key ill the bail is rocked and the switch contacts are closed to start the motor.

Motor M through suitable gears (not shown) drives a main operating shaft 29 which latter shaft extends across the entire width of the machine. Fixed to shaft 29 in each of the various banks of the machine is a toothed ratchet disk 3| (Fig. 2) which is rotated counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 2 by motor M. A pawl 32 engages each ratchet 3| under certain conditions to connect index bars IT to ratchet 3i so as to be driven by motor M. For this purpose slide it is connected by an arm 33 to a latch mechanism 34 as shown in the heretofore mentioned Patent No. 1,909,714, which mechanism normally holds pawl 32 disengaged from ratchet disk 3i, but which upon depression of an amount key and the resulting rearward movement of slide 19 releases the latch mechanism 34 to permit pawl 32 to engage ratchet 3|.

The forward end of bar I1 is pivotally connected to a toothed actuator rack 40 engaging a gear 4! which carries a pawl 42 (Fig. 2). Pawl 42 engages studs 43 carried by a gear 44 when gear 4| is rotated counterclockwise but ratchets over these studs when gear 4i is rotated clockwise. Gear 44 is in constant mesh with a gear 46 which rotates the front or item entering register pinions 41. It will be understood that there is a pinion 41 and a set of gears and pawl for each bank of amount keys, the plurality of pinions making up the registering mechanism as a whole. The register pinions are visible through a sight opening 43 in the casing 49.

Accumulating operation Upon depressionof an amount key Ill, slide I9 is moved rearwardly, thereby connecting the motor contacts to start the motor which in turn drives the main shaft 23 and index bar l1 forward, the pawl 32 having been released by movement of latch 34. Bar II moves forward until stopped by the depressed amount key, which is locked in depressed condition. Upon forward movement of index bar l1, pawl 42 carried by gear 4! (Fig. 2) is operated in a clockwise direction and ratchets over studs 43. Upon return movement of the index bar I! gear 44 is rotated counterclockwise by engagement of pawl 42 with studs 43 and accordingly pinion gear 45 and pinion 41 are rotated to accumulate the amount determined by the depressed amount key in the front or item entering registering mechanism.

Rear register A rear register which may be termed a grand total register is provided at the rear of the machine (Figs. 1 and 2) and contains a plurality of register pinions 5| visible through a sight opening 52 in casing 43. The rear register mechanism is constructed exactly the same as the front register mechanism and is indexed by a differential mechanism including actuating racks 53 pivoted at 64 which engage pinions 55 for driving the register pinion 5| as in the case of the front register. Accordingly, amounts may be indexed into the rear register in exactly the same manner as in the front register, 1. e., upon differential clockwise movement or racks 53 normally urged counterclockwise by springs 56. The rear register does not, however, receive amounts directly from the keys as does the front register but receives amounts which are transferred to it from the front register as will now be explained.

Total transfer mechanism Means are provided for transferring totals from the front register pinions 41 to the rear register pinions 5| so that additional items can be accumulated in the front register and transferred into the rear register for a grand total.

Each register pinion 41 of the front register is provided with a snail back cam 6| (Figs. 2 and 3) of uniform rise, which cam is engaged by a stud 32 carried by the upper end of a lever 64 pivoted at 33 and is urged clockwise by the spring 33 into engagement with the cam. Stud 62 engages the low point of the cam in zero position of the pinion 41 as shown in Fig. 3, and is swung outwardly upon progressive rotation of the register pinions to rock lever 34 counterclockwise about its pivot 35. It will be understood, of course, that there is a lever 64 for each order of pinions or bank of amount keys. A lower or depending arm 43 of each lever 64 is connected with a link 31 which is pivotally connected at its other end to an arm 63 of a yoke 63. Yoke 69 is pivoted on a cross shaft II and is provided with a differential cam lever 12 notched as at 13 which notches are engaged by lug 1 4 formed on the forward end of a connecting link 13 slidably supported at its front end by a stud TI. Link 16 extends rearwardly and upwardly to the rear of the machine where it is pivotally connected at I. to a downwardly extending arm 13 lournaled on shaft 34 and secured to the actuator rack 53. The rear register is thereby connected to the front register by a second differential mechanism and is actuated from the front register through this second differential mechanism in accordance with the position of the front register pinions 41.

In normal position, that is, when amounts are 'not being transferred into the rear register from the front register, racks 53 are urged counterclockwise by springs 56 but are retained against movement by a cross bail or shaft 8| supported in arms 82 at each side of the machine. Cross bail 8| engages the lower hooked end 18 of the racks 53 to control movement of the latter and of links 16 which are secured to the lower ends I8 of racks 53.

To permit transfer of an accumulated total in the front register to the rear register, cross bail 8| must be moved rearwa-rdly to permit movement of actuator racks 53 in accordance with the permissible movement of links I6, as determined by engagement of lugs "H with the notches I3 in the diiferential levers 12. The notches engaged by lugs I4 are, of course, determined by the position of the corresponding snail back cams 6| which in turn are positioned in accordance with their associated register pin- I ions 41.

wise under urge of springs 56 until the racks are I arrested by engagement of lugs I4 with the particular notch 13 in cam or index lever I2 as determined by the position of the associated snail back cam SI of the corresponding register pinion positioned in accordance with the depression of a key. Upon return movement of cross bail 8| the actuator rack 53 is returned to initial position and the corresponding register pinion 5| will be rotated to increase the reading thereon, the amount determined by the position of the front register pinion. During the accumulation of items in the front register the rear register mechanism is prevented from movement because of cross bail 8| although the index lever I2 is indexed for each movement of its corresponding register pinion.

Control keys The illustrated machine is provided with bankof control keys including a transfer key T" 0 (Figs. 1 and 4). The transfer key is operated to cause a transfer of the total accumulated in the front register to the rear register.

The transfer key is in the form of a finger bar attached to a sliding key stem 85 intermediate whose ends is connected a crank 86, pivoted at 81 (Fig. 4). The other end of crank 88 is connected to one end of a link 88 normally urged to the rear or the right as shown in Fig. 4 by spring 88. The rear end of link- 88 is slidingly supported by a stud 8| and terminates in a lug 82 which controls the actuator 53 and the bail 8| as will later be explained.

To energize the motor upon depression of the transfer key, a slide 85 (Fig. 4) is provided having a cam slot 86 into which projects a pin 81 carried by a lever 88 pivoted at 88. Upon forward movement of slide 85, caused by engagement of a pin IOI connecting crank 85 to key stem 85, with slide 85, pin '81 is cammed downwardly swinging lever 88 downwardly in a clockwise direction. The rearward end of lever 88 is provided with a downwardly projecting hook portion I02 which engages a laterally proJecting pin I03 extending from an arm I04 extending upwardly from bail 23, whenever slide 85 moves from its rearward position to its forward position. Accordingly, when the transfer key is depressed the motor is energized by reason of movement of slide 85 actuating bail 23 which in turn closes the switch 25.

The transfer key also operates any suitable clutch (not shown). for controlling operation of a transfer from one register to the other. For this reason the rear end of slide 85 is provided with an integral lug I08 (Fig. 4), which engages the upper arm I0I of a three-armed lever pivoted at I08 to bell crank lever I08.

When in normal position, a lower hookedend IIO of bell crank lever I08 lies beneath the nose IIIA of a clutch control disk III, on shaft 28. When the slide 85 is moved to the left or forward position, the hooked end I|0 clears the nose of clutch disk I II and releases the clutch for rotation which causes shaft 28 to rotate. Shaft 28 carries a cam II2, shown in dotted lines. in

Fig. 3, which cam engages a roller II2 on a lever I2 pivoted intermediate its ends. Lever II2 extends rearwardly and engages shaft 8| to withdraw the latter rearwardly and permit a total transfer from the front register to the rear register, as previously described. Shaft 28 also carries a second cam H2 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which cam engages a roller II 4 on lever II4. Lever II4 extends upwardly and is connected to the clearing link II4 for controlling clearing of the front register after a transfer has been made. For further details of the foregoing mechanism, reference is made to the heretofore mentioned Pasinski application.

Transfer blocks As previously stated, when using the machine for transactions working decimals or fractions, control means are provided which when operative prevent the transfer of the first three lowest orders of the machine from the front register into the rear register. The foregoing is accomplished by preventing rearward movement of links I6 and racks 53 in the first three right columns of the machine as viewed by the operator in order to prevent accumulation in the rear register in those predetermined columns during the transfer operation.

Referring to Fig. 3, a bail H5 is pivotally supported on a shaft II and has three upwardly extending hooks IIB, each of which is adaptable to one of the lugs ll of the three first columns of the machine. A stud II'I extends outwardly from the right end of yoke I I5 and is in constant engagement with the forked end II8 of a lever II8 pivoted at I2I to the lower end of a control H key I22.

This control key extends through the keyboard at the right side of the machine and terminates in a key top I23. The shank of the key is provided with a notch I24 to latch the key in depressed condition by engagement with the keyboard. The lower end of the key is slotted to straddle shaft II, and is formed with a forwardly extending arm I26 to which a spring I21 is attached normally urging the key upward and in a clockwise direction to urge notch I24 into locking engagement with the keyboard.

Lever II8 pivoted to the key is formed withan upwardly extending arm I28 urged into engagement with a stud I28 projecting from the key by means of a spring I3I. Spring I3I and lever II8 pivoted to the key provide a yielding connection between the key and the bail.

With'the machine in normal position, i. e., with the control key in its upper position the transfer blocking means is inactive and the machine may be used in a normal way for accumulating amounts. In this position yoke H5 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 where the hooked ends II6 do not engage lugs I4. When control key I22 is depressed to where its notch I24 engages the keyboard, yoke II5 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 3) through the yielding connection of lever I I9 and spring I3I, thus moving the hooked ends IIS directly in the rearward path of travel of the three links 16 for the first three lowest columns or orders of the machine. In this position yoke II5 prevents any rearward movement of the three links I6 for the first three lowest columns of the machine but does not in c any way affect the rocking or indexing of the index levers l2.

Accordingly, with the key I22 in depressed position links 16 in the first three columns of the machine are prevented from moving during the transfer operation and do not engage index levers 32. Therefore, no amount can be entered in the first three columns of the rear register. During the transfer operation, however, levers I2 are permitted to return to their zero position during the cancelling or zeroizing movement of the front register.

The rear edges of the hooked ends IIB of yok II5 are beveled to provide an angular or camlike edge to rock yoke II5 clockwise in the event that the control key I22 is mis-operated such as by being depressed during a transfer operation while the links are in their rearward position. If this occurs lugs I4 upon their return stroke to forward positions engage the bevelled edge of thehooked ends and rock yoke I I5 clockwise. This is permissible because. of the yielding connection provided between the pivoted lever H9 and the key stem I22.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that should the operator desire to accumulate fractions or decimals and transfer only the full cents it is merely necessary to depress the full cent key to insure that the full cent is entered into the machine and then depress the control key top I23 to prevent transfer of the amounts indicated in the last three columns of the front register to the rear register. When it is desired to return the machine to normal condition for normal calculations it is only necessary to unlatch the control key I22 and the machine is returned to normal condition.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the foregoing invention is adaptable to many applications and uses and that the mechanism disclosed is given by way of example only, and does not limit the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A calculating machine having depressible amount keys, differential mechanism controlled by said keys, a register mechanism having pinions controlled by said differential mechanism, ascoond register mechanism, means for transferring totals from said first register to the second comprising independent means for transferring the indication of each register pinion of one register to the corresponding pinion-of the second register, and adjustable means operable when in one position to prevent the operation of predetermined elements of said independent means upon transfer operations.

2. A calculating machine having depressible amount keys, differential mechanism controlled by said keys, a register mechanism having pinions operated from said differential mechanism, a second register mechanism, means for transferring totals from said first register to the second comprising a second differential mechanism, means for positioning said second diflerential mechanism in accordance with the position of the pinions of said first register, means for actuating said second register mechanism from said second differential mechanism, and means for blocking portions of said actuating means against operation upon transfer operations.

3. A key responsive calculating machine having banks of depressible amount keys, an index bar for each bank of keys movable to differential positions determined by the keys depressed, a register mechanism operated from said bars, a second register mechanism, mechanism for transferring totals from the first register to the second, and means for preventing operation of predetermined portions of said transferring mechanism upon transfer operations.

4. A key responsive calculating machine having banks of depressible amount keys, an index bar for each bank of keys movable to differential positions determined by the keys of its bank, a register mechanism having pinions operated from said bars, a second register mechanism, means for transferring totals from said first register to the second comprising a second differential mechanism, means for positioning said second differential mechanism in accordance with the positions of the pinions of said first register, means for actuating said second register mechanism from said second differential mechanism, and adjustable means operable when in one position to prevent operation of predetermined portions of said actuating means upon transfer operations.

5. A key responsive calculating machine having banks of depressible amount keys, an index bar for each bank of keys movable to differential positions determined by the keys of its bank, a register mechanism having pinions operated from said bars, a second register mechanism, means for transferring totals from said first register to the second comprising a second diflerentialmechanism, means for positioning said second differential mechanism in accordance with the positions of the pinions of said first register, means for connecting said second register mechanism to said second diflerential mechanism, and adjustable means operable when in one position to disable predetermined portions of said connecting means upon transfer operation.

6. A key responsive calculating machine having banks of depressible amount keys, an index bar for each bank of keys movable to differential positions determined by the keys of its bank, a

- register mechanism having pinions operated from said bars, a second register mechanism, means for transfen-ing totals from the first register to the second comprising a second. differential mechanism, means for positioning said second difi'erential mechanism in accordance with the positions of the pinions of said first register, means connecting saidsecond register mechanism to said second diflerential mechanism, and adjustable means common to a plurality of connecting elements and operable when in one position to disable said connecting elements upon transfer operations.

ROBERT R. HENDERSON.

Images