US2118860A - Combined typewriting and computing - Google Patents

Description

H.- L. PITMAN COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE May 31, l 938.

6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 17, 19u32 H L. PITMAN May 31,'1938.

COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE 6 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 17, 1932 ATT ff- NEY.

H L. PITMAN May' 31, 193s.

COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATAZORNEY.

May 31, 1938.

Fild May 17, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 H L. PITMAN May 3l, 1938.

COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTINGVMACHINE Filed May 17,11932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 @w M im:

B* @ciw/KXY.

@N GE H L. PITMAN May 31, 1931s.

COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Petenxed Mey 31, 193s UNITED STATES A aussen comme mawm'rmc' AND comme MACHINE Henry L. Pitman, Westfield, N. J., aligner, by

mesne assignments, to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 17, 1932, Serial No. 611.838

36 Claims. (Cl. 23S-60) This invention relates to combined typewriting and computing machines in which indexing mechanism is operated by the numeral-type-keys to set digit-pins in one or more sets of bars for driving the registers. Into said registers 4the indexed amountmay be accumulated byy a cycling mechanism after said amount is typed on the work-sheet. v

This application discloses a novel elimination or throw-oi! key mechanism for selectively suppressing one or more registers during a cycling operation. Other improvements relate to novel organizations of the machine conducing to eiliciency of operation and economy of manufactures The Underwood bookkeeping machine has devices whereby the letter-feeding carriage as it enters a computing zone selects the sets of pinbars in which an amount is to be indexed, the arrangement being such that, in different computing zones, different individual registers are called into action. The individual pin-bars of whatever setyis selected are indexed in denominational order as the carriage advances step by step in a computing zone in response to actuation of the numeral-type-keys, it being understood that indexing may be eilected simultaneously in more than one set of -pin-bars in any zone, or in different individual sets of pin-bars in different zones. Denomination-selecting trains extend from'difierent sets ofpin-bars to the carriage which carries tappets to actuate said trains. Other trains,l each individual to a corresponding set of pin-bars, also extend to the carriage for enabling the latter to select by means of other tappets the one or more sets of pin-bars to be indexed.

As set forth in my co-pending application,

' serial No. 324,353, med December '1, 192s (new Patent No. 1,927,951, dated September 26, i933), the pin-bars have drive-racks and sets of idlers permanently in mesh therewith, the computing pinions being normally out of mesh with both racks and idlers. When said pinions are in mesh with the racks they are rotated in one direction, as for addition. When they are meshed with the idlers, they are rotated reversely, as for sub traction, each set of computing pinions being mounted in a shiftable frame, so that said pinions may be meshed either with the racks or the idlers. l

As set forth inmy co-pending application, Serial No. 472,610, nledAugust 2, 1930, a single or trunk set of denominational trains extending from the carriage is ramiiled by means of a series of denominational cross-shafts and distributing arms thereon to serve the several sets of pin-bars. Each set of distributing arms has shiftable couplers normally displaced from the pin-bars, but shiftable as a group into effective 5 position, so that the seriatim rocking of said shafts may advance corresponding pin-bars t0' pin-setting position under a set of pin-setting linkages extendingacross all the sets of pinbars, and thus being capable of serving any set. It'is by the shifting of any set of couplers into effective position that a corresponding set of pin-bars is selected for indexing. From each set of couplers there extends.' therefore, to the carriage, a train which is actuated by a tappet 15 on said carriage.

As set forth in my co-pending application, Se-

rial No. 607,275, filed April 25, 1932 (now Patent No. 2,091,717, dated August 31, 1937 ,.there are provided state-controlling means individual to each register, the function of which is to predetermine, upon proper setting thereof, whether the computing pinions are to mesh with the racks for addition, or whether they are to mesh with the idlers for subtraction, during the cycling operation. it being understood that in said cycling operation, the indexed amount is run 'into the selected registers.

A feature of the present improvements is directed to individual throw-of! key mechanisms for the several registers. According to the usual practice, an elimination key is used to silence a register, so that an amount indexed in its pinbars will not be run,into said register. For example, if Vit is desired to take the total indicated in one register, the indicated total is typed on the work-sheet and corresponding index-pins are set in the pin-bars of said register. The register is then conditioned for subtraction and l the machine is cycled, causing said register, from which the total was transcribed, to be cleared. Y The set-up of the carriage-tappets, however, may be such that the amount corresponding to said'total is also set up in some of the other pinbars, in which .case other registers would erroneously register said amount during the cycle initiated to clear the one register. To obviatc this, it has been the practice heretofore to press the elimination key for each of the registers except the one from which he total was to be transcribed, said elimination key heretofore actuating mechanism to restore the digit-pins of the pin-bars for the registers whose disuse was desired during the total-transcribing operation. Such being the function of the elimina- Y tion key heretofore, that is, to'reset index-pins,

it was necessary that said key should be operated after the amount was typed. Sometimes an operative would inadvertently operate the elimination key or keys before the amount was typed and then proceed with the typing. It is evident that premature operation of the elimination key would not eliminate the unwanted settings of the pins, and consequently amounts would be wrongly registered in some of the registers.

To overcome this dliiculty, the novel throw-oifkey mechanism for each of the registers is arranged so that it may be operated without regard to prior operation of the numeral-keys. For example, if computation has been effected in one zone by typing an amount and accumulating said amount in one or more registers, and it is then desired to transcribe a total from one of the registers, the novel throw-oif-key mechanism may be operated at any time between the completion of said computation and the cycling or" the mechanism for clearing the register from which the Atotal is to be transcribed. The operative may tabulate the carriage to the position in which it will be when the total is transcribed, and press the throw-ofi. key after transcribing said total; or she may operate said key before the total is transcribed, or she may even operate said key before tabulating said carriage. In any case, the

-novel throw-off-key mechanism will be effective to silence its corresponding register.

To this end, the throw-oif-key mechanism may interact with the state-controlling means of the corresponding register, said state-controlling means assuming diiferent positions, depending on whether the register is to be conditioned for addition or subtraction. Means are provided whereby operation of the throw-oil key restores the state-controlling means to neutral position and latches said means in said position where they are held until the computing mechanism is cycled for clearing the register from which the total is transcribed. Upon such cycling of the computing mechanism, it is contrived to automatically releasel the previously set throw-oif-key mechanism, and the state-controlling means thereupon automatically becomes free again to assume any subsequent position determined by the carriage, whether it be in the same zone in which the total was transcribed or in another zone. It will be understood that the throw-oI-key mechanism may be used on other occasions than the transcription of a total, as, for example, when an amount is to be accumulated in a less number of registers than the number of registers called into action by the carriage.

Another feature of improvement relates to the arrangement of the keys of the typewriter-keyboard. In the improved Underwood typewriter with which the computing mechanism is combined,arow or bank of denominational tabulating keys is arranged behind the rearmost row of the usual four-bank typewriter-keyboard. For joint use with the usual computing mechanism upon which the typewriting machine is superposed, there are sometimes provided extra registers directly operated by the numeral-keys and arranged to move with the typewriter-carriage, as set forth, for example, inthe Kurowski Patent 1,835,165, dated December 8, 1931. Such carriage-borne registers and controlling mechanism therefor overhang the keyboard, making it inconvenient for the operative to give a directly downward thrust to the keys, particularly the tabulating keys and the keys of the rearmost bank of the typing keyboard. To overcome this diculty, the keys themselves are pitched forwardly at graded angles, that is, the keys of the rearmost or tabulating row are pitched the most, the keys of the next row to the front of the machine, which is the rearmost of the regular keyboard, being pitched at a less angle. The keytops of the keyboard as a whole, therefore, present a gradually increasing upward slope which is conducive to ease of key-operation, and is of benefit even though the typewriter does not have the overhanging carriage-borne registers and associated controlling mechanism.

Another feature of improvement relates to the arrangement of the means whereby the typewriter is supported above the computing mechanism. Heretofore the denominational tabulating key-levers extending from the front to the rear of the typewriter were arranged below the typewriter-base, the tabulating keys being at the front of the typewriter-keyboard and outside of the typewriter-framework. With the tabulating keys arranged behind and above the regular keyboard, as aforementioned, it is feasible to lower the entire typewriter with respect to the computing mechanism. The computing-mechanism framework, therefore, including the casing, has formed in the top of said casing a depression, channel, or opening into which the typewriter is set, the casing rising at the sides of the typewriter suilciently to aiford room for certain controlling keys of the computing mechanism. The novel arrangement of said casing is conducive to neatness of appearance and compactness.

Another feature of improvement relates to the pin-setting mechanism. In said mechanism, there is provided for each numeral-key a 'rockshaft to operate a parallel motion linkage extending across all the pin-bars. Each rock-shaft has an arm for engagement by its numeral-key and an additional arm rising upwardly from said shaft for thrusting a horizontal transverse bar endwise. An associated bar is depressed edgewise for depressingr the index-pins, the two bars being linked at their ends by bell-cranks which translate the endwise movement of the upper bar into edgewise downward movement of the lower bar. It is desirable to keep these bars light to minimize inertia, thereby conducing to easy keytouch. As has been stated, said bars span the several groups of register-pin bars, and, where many of said pin-bar groups are employed, there is a correspondingly wide span between the points at which said bars are supported by the bellcranks, and there is apt to be considerable deflection in the downwardly edgewise moving bar as it attempts to set a pin in any middle group of 'pin-bars. To avoid this difficulty, the vkey-controlled rock-shaft has an additional arm, which, when said rock-shaft is actuated bears on and therefore braces the downwardly moving pinsetting bar and substantially minimizes upward deection thereof as it sets a pin. The transverse span of the group of key-operated rock-shafts is no greater than the span of the numeral-key row, and, in the case of a multiple-register machine, the span or length of the pin-setting bars extends considerably beyond either side oi the group of rock-shafts. Thus, by means of the aforesaid addition rock-shaft arm, bearing on the descending pin-setting bar, there is afforded an i11- termediate support against deflection between the bell-crank supported `ends of said pin-setting bars.

The pin-bars are advanced seriatim by the carriage to bring their pins under the transverse pin-setting bars, each pin-bar after having been so advanced being restored to its fully retracted position by a spring-device, as the carriage steps ahead and causes the advance of the next pinbar to pin-setting position. For proper meshing of the computing pinions with the pin-bar racks or with the idlers, the teeth of said racks must be in transverse valignment. If, for any reason, as for example, in speedy operation of the machine, the pin-bar is not fully restored by said spring-device, the computing pinions, which are themselves in transverse tooth-alignment, will not mesh properly and may jam or they may register an amount incorrectly.

A further feature of improvement is the provision of means for positively aligning the pinbars transversely before the computing pinions are shifted into mesh. A transverse aligning member engaging notches in the pin-bars is provided, and it is contrived to operate said member positively to insure alignment of al1 the pin-bars,

and then to withdraw said aligning member from the notches of the several pin-bars before the latter are advanced to rotate the computing pinions.

The aligning member is in the form of a straightly elongate blade which is positioned'on edge and spans all the pin-bars. Normally said blade has its lower edge within the aforesaid notches of. the several pin-bars, said edge being advanced from the rear edges of said notches, so that 'the pin-bars may be -advanced slightly to pin-setting position. The blade is swingably mounted so that its lower edge may be swung backward, said edge then abutting the rear edges of said notches and having then effected the retraction of any pin-bar that was out of alignment. After the alignment of the pin-bars has been assured by swinging the blade, it is contrived to raise the latter to withdraw it from the notches, so that the pin-bars may advance for rotating the computing pinions. Swinging and withdrawal of the blade are effected by the cycling mechanism, the swinging taking place at the beginning of a cycle, just before the computing pinions are meshed. The withdrawal of the blade may be done concomitantly with the pinion-meshing operation, and it will be understood that this meshing is completed before, the pin-bars advance. At the end of the cycle the aligning blade is permitted to drop into its normal position again within the aligning notches of the pin-bars, which will have been restored to normal position at said end of the cycle.`

The cycling mechanism or general operator has a reciprocatory cross-bar for engaging the depressed pins of the pin-bars to advance the latter for rotating the computing pinions. Said pin-bars also have lugs engageable by said crossbar to effect restoration of the pin-bars. The engagement of the reciprocating cross-bar with the depressed pinsin'the forward stroke or with the lugs in the rearward stroke is noisy. VIt is contrived to minimize the noise by providing the cross-bar with cushioning devices, in the form of coiled springs, that is. closely-wound helices, secured to the front and rear faces of said crossbar, to span transversely the different sets of pin-bars. The springs are backed, up by resilient padding and may be retained within grooves in said cross-bar faces. A rod extends through the spring and projects beyond either end thereof, so that it may be secured by screws. As previously stated, the pin-bars are restored to a fully retracted position from which they are advanced seriatim for pin-setting, and are also retracted seriatim by the aforesaid spring-devices against an abutment. Said abutment may also be provided with a cushioning device formed ofa coiled spring, a resilient backing and an internal retaining rod.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. f

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a skeleton perspective view of a register and a state-determining controller therefor, and illustrates the novel throw-off key and its relation to said controller.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the combined typewriting and computing machine, many wellknown parts being omitted to clearly illustrate the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of two registers, showing the throw-off key and associated mechanism for one register in operated position, the similar parts for the other register being shown in normal position.

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation of a register, illustrating how the non-operation of the throw-oli key permits the computing-pinion-engaging mechanism to be effective.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating how operation of the throw-off key causes the operation of the computing-pinion-engaging mechanism to be ineffective to shift the computing pinions. i

Figure 6 is a skeleton perspective, showing the several throw-off keys and associated mechanisms, the novel restoring means for the several state-controllers, and the organization of novel mechanism for operating the index-pin-restoring mechanism.

Figure 'I is a perspective view, illustrating how the throw-off-key mechanism may be operated to interlock with the state-controller and hold the same, even though said controller has not been released by withdrawal of its latches by the carriage.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation, showing details of an individual state-controller for one of the registers and the relation of the novel throw-off key to said details. Figure 9 is a skeleton perspective similar to Figure 6, showing the operated position of the restoring means for the state-controllers, and showing how the restoration of a subtractionsetting rock-shaft is eilected, and indicating the restoration of the several throw-off-key mechanisms.

Figure 10 is a partial side view, illustrating particularly the operated position of the indexpin-restoring devices.

Figure 11 is a perspective view, showing the improvements in the pin-setting linkages.

Figures l2, 13 and 14 are views showing details of devices for minimizing noise, Figure l2 being a front view of a cushioning device for the pinbars, Figure 13 presenting a side view of said devices, and Figure 14 a top plan view of one of said devices.

Figure l5 is a front elevation, illustrating the novel arrangement for superposing the type- Figure 17 is a partial side view, showing de-` anism 25 actuated in the usual manner when the types 22 print. Said carriage, propelled by. the spring 26, is guided on rails 21 fastened to the typewriter-framework 28, which surmounts the framework of the computing mechanism. Alphabet-keys 29 on hey-levers 30 operate similarly to the numeral-keys 2D and their levers 2i to swing alphabetical types to the platen. Behind the rearmost row oi the usualfour-bank typewriter-keyboard, there is arranged a row of tabulating keys 3i on tabulating hey-levers 32 (partly shown), connected as shown in Helmond Patent 1,858,447, dated May J7, .1.632, to elevate denominational stops 33 into the path of a stop 34 settable along a rack 35 carried by the typewriter-carriage 24.

The numeral-key-levers 2| have each a pendant-stem 36, which, when said lever 2| is depressed, rocks a shaft 31 by engaging an arm 38 fast to said shaft and underlying said pendantstem 36. Said shaft 31 and its arm 38 form part of the usual Underwood indexing mechanism. 'I'here is one shaft 31 and arm 38 for every numeral-key 20, that is, for every digit from zero to nine, inclusive. Each shaft has an upwardly-extending arm 38 fastened thereto, whereby rocking of said shaft shifts a transverse horizontal bar 40 endwise to depress another transverse horizontal bar 4| edgewise. The endwise movement of bar 40 is translated into downward edgewise movement of bar 4| by bell-cranks 42, which link said bars 40, 4|, at their ends, to form a parallel motion linkage, seen in Figure 11.

The pin-setting rock-shafts 31 are journaled in plates 64 forming front and rear sides of a frame for the pin-setting mechanism, said frame including'side bars 65, Figure 11,` to the ends of which said plates 64 are fastened. A common fulcrum-rod 66 serves for all the bell-cranks 42 at each side of the pin-setting linkages, each rod 66 being retained between the plates 64. The side bars 65 have slots 61 for guiding and spacing the ends of the depressible pin-setting bars 4|. Springs 68 pulling upon the upper bars 48 yieldably hold the pin-setting linkages in normal positions. The assembled pin-setting frame is retained between side members 10 of the computing-mechanism framework by screws 1|, Figure 16, spacers 12 locating the pin-setting frame side- Wise and facilitating its easy removal.

When the machines have more than three sets of pin-bars 44, the span of the bars 40, 4| between the bell-cranks 42 is proportionately greater, and, when setting pins in a middle set of pin-bars, the pin-setting bars 4| are subject to upward deflection due to the increased span and the lightness of the bars. It ls desired to maintain said lightness so as to minimize inertia and thereby conduce to lightness of key-touch. To overcome the upward deflection of the bars 4|, there is fastened to each rock-shaft 31 an additional arm '69, which, as seen in Figure 11, may be formed integral with the arm 39 on said shaft. Said arm 69 has a tab 69a bent therefrom and rounded, as shown, to overlie the pin-setting bar corresponding to the rock-shaft to which th'e arm is fastened. Said arm may be of such length that, in the normal position of the rock-shaft 31, the tab 69a does not contact with the pin-setting bar 4|, but does bear against said bar 4| when the rock-shaft is fully turned by the descending pendant-link 36, as shown in Figure 11. Figurell shows four sets of pin-bars to illustrate how the new arms 69 afford supports intermediate of the bell-crank supported ends of the bars 4|, it being understood that each rock-shaft 31 may have one of the additional arms 69, each having a tab 69a. l

Downward movement of a digit-bar 4| as effected by operation of a numeral-key 20 is utilized for depressing a corresponding digit-pin 43 in a pin-bar 44 extending from front to rear of the computing mechanism, and having at its forward end a rack 45 for rotating a computing pinion 36, to `which a dial-wheel 41 is xed. There are ten digit-pins 43 in. every pin-bar 44, there being one of the latter for every computing pinion 46. iThe computing pinions 46 are arranged in sets to constitute registers, each set ci pinions having a corresponding set of pin-bars or drivers 44. As set forth in aforesaid application No. 324,353, each pin-bar rack 45 has permanently in mesh therewith arb idler 48 which may also act as a driver for the corresponding computing pinion 46, the pinions 46 of each set being normally out of mesh from both the racks 45 and the idlers 48. The pin-bars 44 are guided for reciprocatory movement, at their front ends in a guide 49, and, at their rear ends, in a slotted comb-plate 5|), the latter rising upwardly from a rear cross-member 5| of the computing-mechanism framework. Normally the'pin-bars 44 stand in their retracted positions, so that their pins 43 are offset from the pin-setting bars 4|, as seen in Figure 2. To enable a descending pin-setting bar 4| to depress a pin 43, said pin-bar 44 is slightly advanced, so that its pins will directly underlie said pin-setting bars 4|. This forward displacement of the pinbars is effected seriatim in denominational order as the carriage passes step by step through a. computing zone.

As set forth in the aforesaid application No. 472,610, a single or trunk set of denominational trains is operable by the carriage and is ramied to the several sets of pin-bars, so that said carriage operating upon said trains may advance corresponding pin-bars of one or more sets of the latter, t'o position them under the pin-setting bars 4|. The stop or dog 34, which is used for denominational tabulating, as aforesaid, is provided with a tappet 62 which rides over a. row of jacks 53 bearing upon the upper ends of jointed rods 54. To ramify said rods to the different sets of pin-bars, a. series of denominational rock-shafts 55 extend transversely of; the several sets of pin-bars 44, each roclr-shafi` inving a rearwardly-extending master arm 56, to which a corresponding jointed rod 64 is connected, see Figure 2. Each rock-shaft 55 also has for each pin-bar group apendant-arm 61, the pendant-arms 51 on the rock-shafts collectively being thus arranged in groups corresponding to the groups of pin-,bars which they serve. Each pendant-arm 51 has a forwardly-extending coupler 58 for advancing its pin-bar to indexing position relatively to the digit-bars 4|. couplers 58 swingable about their points of pivotal attachment to the pendant-arms 51 are normally positioned so that their forward ends are out of operative alignment with the pin-bars 44,

Saidcov 34. If only one register is to be operated, then bars 4|.

as seen in Figure 2 or Figure 17. That is to say, when said forward ends of the couplers 58 are down, a forward thrust of a coupler is ineffective to advance its pin-bar to pin-setting position.

To shift `the groups of couplers 58 upwardly into effective positions, their forward ends are slidably retained in individually swingable balls 58. Thus each group of couplers 58 may be shifted upwardly as a unit, and the arrangement affords means for selectively calling into action different sets of pin-bars, and hence dierent sets of computing pinions 48. The selective shifting of the groups of couplers into effective positions is done by the carriage as it enters a computing zone. In one zone there may be required the operation of only one set of computing pinions 45, and hence the corresponding group of couplers 58 is shifted in to position as the carriage enters said zone. Similarly, in another zone, two sets of computing pinions may be required to effect the computation, and hence two corresponding sets of couplers 58 willbe shiftedinto position. Each stop or dog 84 is therefore provided with one or more tappets 88, to depress jointed rods 8|, and thereby rock corresponding levers 82 to elevate corresponding coupler-shifting bails 58, the latter being connected to said lever 82 by links 88.

For each set of computing pinions, there is, therefore, an individual train including the parts just described for shifting its corresponding group of couplers 58 into effective position when desired in a certain computing zone. The drawings, generally, show three registers, and hence, as shown in Figure 6, there are indicated three sets of coupler-shifting'trains, which, in fact, constitute register-selecting trains.

As the typewriter-carriage is tabulated to a computing zone, the dog 34 corresponding to said zone co-operates with the selected decimal-tabulating-stop 38 to position said carriage in the desired computing column. For. whatever register or registers it is desired to operate in said zone, there is a corresponding tappet 58 on said dog there is only one tappet 58. If two or more registers are to be operated, there are two or more tappets'positioned in the several available slots in the dog 84, according to'which particular registers it is desired to operate. As soon as the carriage enters a computing zoneone or more tappets 68 depress corresponding vertical slides 13, to depress the jointed rods 8| for elevation of corresponding coupler-shifting balls 58. The

carriage having been tabulated to the desired denominational` column, a corresponding denominational rod 54 will have been depressed to advance the corresponding pin-bar 44 to pinsetting position. Upon operation oi.' a numeralkey 28 to type the rst digit, a corresponding digit-pin 48 is set and the carriage escapes to the next denominational position, releasing the previously depressed rod 54, and, in turn, depressing the next rod 5'4, so that the next pin-bar 44 is advanced to pin-setting position under the digit- The second digit is then typed, there being an accompanying setting of a digit-pin 48 followed by escape of the carriage to the next denominational position.

Thus, the indexing of -the pin-bars 44 proceeds seriatim in denominational order as the carriage moves step by step through a computing zone. t each forward step of the carriage, the previously advanced pin-bar 44 is released and returns to its normal retracted position under the pull of a spring-pressed lever 14, best seen in Figure 17, there being one of said levers l 14 for each pin-bar, each lever having a projecting pin 15 which bears against a corner 15 of the pin-bar to retract the latter after its pin has been set and the carriage escapes to advance the next pin-bar to pin-setting position. The carriage advances toward the left, the highest denomination of the series of jointed rods 54 being therefore at the right. Inasmuch as the pin-bar of highest denomination is at the left of its group, the necessary denominational transposition is obtained by suitable arrangement ofthe pedantarms 51 on the denominational rock-shafts 55, as set forth in said application No. 472,610.

The amount having been typed and the corresponding pins 48 having beenset in one or more sets of pin-bars 44, the computing mecha- 4nism is cycled to shift the selected groups of computing pinions L4,8 into mesh either with the racks 45 or with the idlers 48, this shifting taking place at the very beginning of the cycle and preceding advance of the pin-bars 44. Such advance of the pin-bars will thereupon in the continuation of the cycle rotate the dials 41 to extents determined by whatever pins 48 were depressed in` the several pin-bars plus extra carrying steps determined by a carrying mechanism, not shown, but set forth in my co-pending application No. 601,173, filed March 25, 1932 (now Patent No. 2,078,274, dated AApril 27, 1937).

I'he cycling mechanism includes a general operator formed by a pair of reciprocatory racks 18, guided along the inner sides of the side membersl 18 of the computing-mechanism framework, said racks being spanned by a cross-bar 18, the racks' having fastened thereto side plates 88, to which the ends of said cross-bar 18 are attached, as seen in Figures 6 and 9. Said racks 18 are constrained to move in unison by means of a crossshaft 8| journaled in the side members 18, and said cross-shaft has fastened thereto a pair of sectors 82, one for each rack 18, each sector being connected with its rack through an intermediate pinion 88, pivoted upon the adjoining side same. In any pin-bar, the depressed digit-pin 48- forms a downwardly-extending lug which lies in the path of a finger 85, Figures 17 and 18, formed on the end of a lever 88, pivoted upon the crossbar 18.

'I'he forward and rearward reciprocation or cycling of the cross-bar 18 for operating the pinbars- 44 may be effected in any suitable way, as for example, by a handle on the cross-shaft 8|, as shown in the patent to Hanson, No. 1,278,812, dated September 10, 1918, or by a motor connected by a clutch to a driver 11 engaging one oi' the racks 18, as shown in the Hart Patent No.

1,171,483, of February 8, 18,18.v

When the cross-bar 18 advances, there is first an idle period in said advance, as will be evident from an inspection of Figures 17 and 18, which show the highest pin to be depressed, and which also show that there is a substantial gap between' the finger and said highest pin which must be taken up by the advance of the cross-bar before the latter can'advance the pin-bar. 'lhis idle period of the cross-bar advance affords time for meshing the computing pinions either with the racks 45 or the idlers 48. -The arms 81 of the levers 88 are backed up by a novel cushioning device in the form of a coil-spring 88 as the fingers 65 strike the depressed digit-pins 43, this cushioning device substantially minimizing the noise of the impact, and thus conducing to quiet operation of the machine. Detail description of said cushioning device and other similar devices will be made later on. The lever 86, of which there is one for each pin-bar, is part of the carry-over mechanism, and briey described, its function is to advance a pin-bar an extra carrying step. To do this, said lever is caused to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction in which its finger v85 moves forwardly from the cross-bar 19 to ed'ect said extra step.

'I'he indexed pin-bars 44 having been fully advanced, the computing pinions 48 arenext unmeshed from the racks 45 or from the idlers 48 before said pin-bars may be returned. For effecting the return of the pin-bars 44, the crossbar 19 in its return movement engages downwardly-extending lugs 90 of said pin-bars, and carries the advanced pin-bars backwardly with it.

' At the beginning of the cross-bar return move- Figure 1.

ment there is also an idle period before said crossbar reaches any lug 90, said idle period affording time for the unmeshing of -the pinions 46. The rear face of the cross-bar also has a cushioning device in the form of a coiled spring 9| to minimize the noise of the impact against the pin-bars.

'I'he cross-bar 19 does not itself fully return the pin-bars, the completion of the return being effected by the aforesaid spring-pressed levers 14, which, when the pin-bars are returned as far as the cross-bar 19, can carry them, snap over .the

`corners 16 of said pin-bars, and move the latter farther until they strike the comb-plate 50, which also has a cushioning device in the form of a coiled spring 84 to absorb the shock of the im-7 pact. 'I'hus there is left between the lugs 90 of the fully returned pin-bars and rear face of the cross-bar 19 a gap 92 which affords room for the aforementioned slight advance of the pin-bars to pin-setting position.

For shifting the computing pinions 46 into or out of mesh, each set of pinions mounted on an arbor 94 is retained in a shiftable frame 95, Each shiftable frame includes side plates 96, spaced apart by the arbor 94 and by a tie-rod 91. The several frames 95 are each retained sidewise between plates' 98, rising from a front cross-member 99 of the'computing-mechanism framework, each pair of said plates 98 being spanned by a tie-rod |00, upon which the idlers 48 may rotate. Between said plates 98 the pin-bar guide 49, Figure 2, is also retained. The shiftable frame-plates 96 have slots |0| which embrace fiattened collars |02 loose on the tie-rod |00, said slots 0| standing horizontally when the shiftable frame is in such position that its computing pinions 46 are unmeshed from racks 45. Thus the rear end of the frame 95 is supported on the tie-rod |00. The forward end of the frame 95 is supported by an arm |03 extendhing. rearwardly from a main rock-shaft |04, said arm having a slot |05 embracing the tie-rodv 91, said slot extendinghorizontally when the arm is in normal position. Thus each frame by means of the slots, |0| and |05 is guided for forward and backward movement to mesh and unmesh .the

computing pinions 46 with and from the idlers 49. Downward vand upward movement of the pinions 46 to mesh and 'unmesh with the racks 45 is effected by swinging the arm |03 downwardly and upwardly, said arm, however, being loose on the rock-shaft |04 and being connectible thereto by selectively operable coupling means, as set forth in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 607,275, and 'which means will be presently described. Similarly, vertical arms |06, one on each side of the frame 95, are connected by a cross-bar |01 to form a bail |06", which is also loose on the rock-shaft 04, but which may be connected to said shaft by said coupling means. I'he vertical arms 06 are connected to the frame 95 by links |08.

For connecting either the horizontal arm |03 or the .bail |06 to the rock-shaft |04, there is provided for each register a sliding coupler, see Figure 1, on said shaft formed by a cross-bar |09 having downwardly-extending ears ||0 at each end, so that the coupler may slide lengthwise of said shaft. The cross-bar |09 of each coupler has a rearwardly-projecting lug to engage the horizontal arm |03. 'I'he ears||0 of said coupler have each a forwardly-extending lug ||2 to underlie the cross-bar |01 that connects-the pair of vertical arms |06. The coupler, generally indicated by 3, is keyed to the rockshai't by means of a key ||4 fastened to said rock-shaft, said key having a notch ||5 which slidably fits over the coupler-bar |09. Said key ||4 has a rearward extension ||6, from which there projects a pin |1 normally underlying and abuttingthe horizontal arm |03. Springs |34, Figure 1, uphold the computing-pinion-shifting frame when the pin ||1 recedes from the horizontal arm |03 in the rocking of the shaft |04. Said pin ||1 will so recede when the subtractionbail |06n is coupled to said rock-shaft |04, or when the register is neutral during rocking of said shaft during a cycling operation. 'I'here is one of said springs on each side of the frame 95.

l Studs 89 on said frame 95 abut edges of stops 93, said springs |34 pulling on said studs, and being connected to said stops as shown, said stop edges permitting sliding of said studs therealong as the frame 95 is shifted rearwardly and forwardly for subtraction. The key ||4 also has a forward extension H8, which is received in a slot 9 of the bar |01 of the subtraction-bail |06, By means of said extension ||8, said bail |06 is retained lengthwise of the rock-shaft |04,

, and said extension also serves to restore said bail after it, together with the rock-shaft, has been rocked to mesh the pinions 46 with the idlers 48.

The coupler ||3 stands normally in such position (neutral), see Figure 1, that its lugs and ||2 are ineffective to rock the arm |03 and the arms 06, respectively, the bar |01 which conn ects said arms |06 having clearance notches |20, normally overlying the lugs H2, and the lug in the neutral position of the coupler being y to the left of the arm |03. Shifting the coupler clockwise rotation of the shaft |04 will swing said vertical varms |06 rearwardly andl cause the pinions 46 to be meshed with the idlers 48. With certain exceptions to be explained later,

g the position of the coupler ||3 is determined by the carriage as it enters acomputing zone. That is to say, there extends from said carriage a train operative to shift the coupler from its norauaeeo y at its lower end, for vertical movement, in a plate |26, fastened to the bottom of the crossmember of the computing-mechanism framework, and is further guided by a slotted block |36, fastened to the pin-bar-guiding comb-plate 56. Withdrawal of the latch |26 from the state-controller slide |24 of a register is .effected when the pin-bar coupling bail 56 for said register is caused to be shifted upwardly as the carriage enters a computing zone. The latch |26 has its upper end |3| formed so that it may be engaged and lifted bythe bail 56. Withdrawal of the latch |26 causes the slide |24, under the pull of the spring |25, to move forwardly until the rear edge of a notch |33 in said slide strikes a second latch |32. The slide |24, moving forwardly until arrested by the latch |32, will cause, by means presently to be described, the rock-shaft coupler ||3 to be shifted to the right. The latch |32 constitutes a subtractionlatch. In other words, when said latch |32 is also withdrawn, the slide |24 will advance further forwardly for causing the rockshaft coupler ||3 to be shifted toward the extreme left. Each slide |24, in order that it may shift its rock-shaft coupler ||3 to the right or the left, from a neutral position, has, at its forward end, a cam-head |35 in which there is.

formed a cam-groove |36, as seen in Figures 6 and 9. Co-operating with said cam-groove |36 is a transverse slide |31, having a lug |33 ernbraced by said cam-groove. Said slide |61 is mounted for endwise movement, parallel to the rock-shaft |64, on a plate |36 extending across the -front of the cross-member 66 of the frame.- work of the machine. Each slide |31 has slots |43 slidably fitting collars I4|, projecting from said plate |36.' The slides |31 do not rock, but they may, nevertheless,'shift the rockable rockshaft couplers ||3. Each slide |31 has, therefore, a notch |42 to receive an ear |43 of-its coupler ||3, said notch |42 being deep enough to permit the coupler to be rocked with its shaft |34. In the neutral positions of the slides |24, |31, the lug |33 occupies the dwell at the forward end of the cam-groove |36, as seen in the two cam-grooves at the right of Figure 6. From said dwell, the cam-groove slants to the right, to terminate in another dwell-portion |44 which is occupied by the lug |36 in the intermediate position assumed bythe slide'i24 upon withdrawal of the addition latch |26 alone. In this position the slide V|31 and coupler ||3 will have been shifted tothe right, causing the horizontal arm |33, now overtopped by the lug of said coupler, to be coupled to therock-shaft |34, as aforesaid. From the dwell |44, the cam-groove slants to the left to terminate in another dwell |46, which is occupied by the lug |33 when the subtraction latch |32 has been released also. The slide |31 and coupler ||3 will then have been lshifted to the extreme left, causing the subtraction-bail |36, which includes the vertical arms' |33, to be coupled to the rock-shaft |64, the lugs ||2 of the coupler then abutting the lower edge of said bail |36", and the lug being' clear of the horizontal arm |33.

The addition latches |26 are withdrawn individually, that is, the withdrawal of one of said latches accompanies the selection of a register through elevation of the pin-bar coupler-bail 56 by the carriage as the latter enters a computing zone. The subtraction-latches |32 for the several registers are withdrawn simultaneously either automatically as the carriage enters a computing zone, or by means of a manually operable subtraction-key |46 and a train operated thereby.

-For simultaneous withdrawal of the subtraction-latches |32, there is provided a rock-shaft |46 journaled in the side members 16 ofthe framework, or in any other suitable member of saidmachine. thereto arms |56, to which the upper ends of the subtraction-latches are connected. 'I'he general Said rockshaft`|46 has fastened A subtraction-key |48 is slidably guided in a front portion |5| of the casing, and has a rearward extension or bar |52 guidedA on a stud |53 projecting from the framework side member 16, said bar having an elongate slot |54, which slidably fits said stud. Rearward movement of key |46 and its bar |52 is against the pull of a key-retracting spring |45, and rocks the shaft |46, said.

shaft having fastened thereto a forwardly-extending cam-arm |55, whose cam-shaped end is engaged and displaced by a roll |56 on the subtraction-bar |52. The shaft |46, when rocked by operation of the subtraction-key |46, is held by a latch |51, said latch engaging an arm |53 fastened to said rock-shaft. This latch |61 is useful when the subtraction-key |46 is pressed before any of the addition-latches |26 have been released.

For enabling the carriage to eiiectwithdrawal' of the subtraction-latches |32, the dog 34 for a zone in which it is desired to effect automatic subtraction, has an extra tappet |66 for depressing a slide |6| forming the end of a train that releases a lever |62, for rotation by a spring |63, saidlever having a pin |64 to engage a cam-arm |66 fastened to the rock-shaft |46.

The lever-releasing train includes a horizontal latch |66 guided at one end in a plate |61, so that said end may normally uphold an arm |66 of the lever |62, see Figure 9. Coupled to the other end of the latch |36 is a vertical arm |66 connected by a short shaft |16 to a horizontal arm |1| from which extends upwardly a rod |12 to the carriage engaged slide |6I. As indicated in Figure 6, when the carriage enters a computing zone, the latch |66 is caused to be withdrawn by the train of parts just described, the lever |62 is re- .and cam-arm |65, abuts a pin |16. When the shaft |46 is automatically rocked by the carriage the functioning of the latch |51 is of no moment.

Restoration of the Alever |62 results when the computing mechanism is cycled, after the carriage has passed the slide |6|. The general-operator cross-bar 16, in its advance stroke, depresses the usual cam-arm |62 of said lever to rotate the latter and raise its arm |66 above the horizontal latch |66. Said latch thereupon, urged by a spring |16* snaps underv said arm |63, and the rock-shaft |46, .freed from said lever |62, resumes its normal position in a. manner which will be described later.

The state-control slides |24 have pins |15 which when said slides are in their extreme forward positions, that is, subtracting positions, stand behind a universal restoring bar |16, which during the cycling of the machine is moved rearwardly to effect restoration of the cam-slides |24 that have been released.

It will be seen now that the positions of the several slides |24 determine whether their respective registers remain neutral during the cycling operation or whether the computingwheel shifting means are conditioned for addition or subtraction. That is to say, the positions of said slides determine whether the horizontal addition-arms |03 or the subtraction-balls |06a will be coupled with the rock-shaft 04 during the cycling operation or whether neither will be so coupled.

For actuating said rock-shaft |04, there is coupled to the general operator a shaft |11, the

coupling being effected by a double-clutch device II'l'l. A cam |85 that to give a full revolution to said shaft in each cyle, as set forth in application No. 324,353. Said clutch device (not shown) has a pair of opposite single-tooth ratchets, geared to the crossshaft 8| and a pinion |18, Figure 6. A driven member of said clutch is keyed to the shaft |11, and, in the forward stroke of the general operator, is driven by one ratchet and in the reverse stroke by the other ratchet in a manner to impart a full revolution to said shaft |11. The rock-shaft 04 has fastened thereto an upwardlyextending arm |19, Figure 3, to which is connected a link extending to the full-revolution shaft |11. The full-revolution shaft |11 has fastened thereto a cam |8| against which a roller |82 projecting from the side of the link |80 bears. The link has a rectangular hole |83 slidably iitting a block |84 which has a loose fit on the shaft |11, said link |80 thus being, by means of said block |84, slidably supported'by said shaft is complementary to the cam |8| is also fastened to the shaft |11 and has a co-operating roll |86 projecting from the opposite side of the link |80,the cams |8|, |85 and their rollers co-operating to reciprocate the link |80 positively in opposite directions in a full revolution of the shaft |11. The cams |8|, face opposite sides of the link |80 and retain the same laterally of the shaft |11. The cams 8|, |85 are so formed that at the beginning of the general-operator cycle, there is a quick' rearward displacement of the link 80 to rock the shaft |04 and engage the computing pinions 46 either with the racks 45 or with the idlers 48 before the racks advance. Thereafter a dwell |81 of the cam 85 maintains the link |80 against forward displacement, the cam |8| having a complementary dwell. These dwells are relatively coextensive with theadvance of the pin-bars 44 to rotate the pinions 46, said advance including the aforesaid extra advance effected by the carrying mechanism. At the completion of the carrying operation, the cams |8|, |85 quickly shift the link 80 forwardly, thereby causing the rock-shaft |04 to be rotated counterclockwise for disengagement of the computing pinions 46 from the racks 45 or idlers 48.

The novel throw-off-key mechanism operates.

to restore any state-controlling slide |24 that may have been caused to be released by the carriage alone or by both said carriage and the operation of the manual subtraction-key |48. For each register, there is provided a throw-od key 90'. having a plunger-like bearing in the front casing 5| ofthe computing mechanism, as seen in Figure 6. Each key 90 has within said casing an extension |92 articulated with an arm |93 of a bell-crank |94 which is looselyA mounted on the rock-shaft |04. Said bell-crank arm |93, in a midway position of the bell-crank |94, extends substantially parallel with the slanted surface of the casing |5| through which the key |90 projects. Each bell-crank has a downwardly-extending arm |96 articulated with a slide |91, as seen in Figure 3, so that depression of the throw-off key |90 will move said slide forwardly. Forward movement of the slide |91 turnsa bell-crank |98 pivoted to the bottom of the cross-member 99 of the framework, see Figure 2. Into said bottom of the framework there is threaded a shoulder-screw having a collar |99 over 'which slidably fits a slot 200 of the slide |91, said collar also forming the pivot for the bell-crank |98 which is between the bottom of said cross-member 99 and the top of the slide |91, the shoulder-screw having a broad head 20| against which the under surface of the slide |91 may bear. At its forward end the side 91 is guided and supported in a slot 202 of the plate |39. The bell-crank |98 has a slotted arm 203 embracing a pin 204 projecting from the statecontrolling Slide |24. Another arm 205 of said bell-crank |98 is for engagement by the slide |91, said arm having a downwardly-projecting semicircular stud 206, as seen in Figure 3. With the state-controlling slide in either of the dottedline positions indicated inFigure 6, the bellcrank 98 will have been rotated so that its stud 206 is within the path of a cam 201 formed in the side of the slide |91. That is to say, if said cam-slide |91 is moved forwardly by operation of the throw-off key |90, said cam 201 engaging the pin 206 will rock thebell-crank |98 and thereby shift the state-controlling slide rearwardly. As the elimination key is pressed downwardly, the slide |91 moves forwardly and rotates the bell-crank |98, and when a latch-edge 208 of said slide |91 overtakes the semi-circular stud 206, the latter, being on the bell-crank |98 which is connected to the slide |24, will, under the iniiuence of the slide-spring |25, seat itself into the notch 209 forming said latching edge 208, the throw-off key |90 having been pressed lfar enough to effect this result, the movement being limited by abutment of the rear end of the slot 200 with the collar |99. A spring 2|0 pulling upon the slide |91 will draw said slide, when the operators finger is released from the key |90, against the straight portion of the semi-circular stud 208, as seen at the register on the right of Figure 3. In this manner, the state-controlling slide |24 is locked in its neutral position by operation of the throw-off key, the spring |25 urging the bellcrank |98 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, so that the slide |91 cannot escape rearwardly. When the state-controlling slide for a certain register is so locked in neutral position by operation of the throw-off key |90, the rockshaft |04 will during a cycling operation rock idly with respect to said register, as indicated in Figure 5; that is, the computing pinions 46 are not shifted into mesh with the racks 45 or idlers 48, but remain in `their normal unmeshed positions during the cycle. In this manner, the register is silenced by operation of its throw-olf key.

Figure 4 indicates that with the throw-off key not operated, rocking of the shaft |04 will shift the computing pinions 46 downward to mesh with the racks 45, it being, according to said Figure 4, assumed that the state-controlling means are set for addition. To enable the slide |91 to escape rearwardly and thereby effect restoration of the throwoifkey mechanism, the

state-controlling slide |24 in the restoration thereof by the bar |16 is moved back far enough to swing the bell-crank |90, so that its semicircular stud 206 withdraws from the notch 200 of the slide |91.V 'nie latter will then, under the pull of the spring-2N, snap rearwardly and the state-controlling slide will be fre to assume a forward position again. Rearward movement of the slide |91 may be limited by abutment of the front end of the slot 200 with the collar |99. It will be evident that the throw-off-key mechanism may also be operated while the state-controlling slide |24 is in neutral position. In this case the slide |24 will move rearward slightly as the semicircular stud 206 overtakes the latching edge 200, and will then settle back in its normal position as said stud seats itself in the notch 209. Thus said throw-oi'f-key mechanism may be operated.

at any time, that is, before or after the typing of an amount or even before the carriage is tabulated to a new zone in sequence to computation in a preceding zone, it being understood that gram, the companion key-trains or means become automatically detented in operative positions, and the operative need do nothing further to determine said departure or its conclusion, since the necessary resumption of the original program is effected automatically by means of the general operator when the latter is cycled for whatever computation, in one or more registers, is made at said departure. Said departure is thus made definitely temporary, and misoperation to which the machine would be-liable, if the operative had to see to each restoration of the differentially settable throw-off-key devices, is avoided.

The universal restoring bar |16 for the several state-controlling slides |24 is driven rearwardly by means of a rock-shaft 2|2, which also serves lto eiect restoration of the digit-pins 43 at the end of the computing cycle. Said rock-shaft may be journaled in the side members 10 of the computing-mechanism framework, as indicated .at 2|3, Figure 6. Said shaft is rocked positively in pin-restoring and slide-restoring direction by the cross-bar 19 as theV latter nears the end of its return stroke. IFastened to the rock-shaft 212 is an arm 2|4 extending upwardly, and having pivotally connected thereto a link 2|5 extending rearwardly, the rear end of said link being slidably received in a slotted plunger 2|6 working in a thimble 2| 9 driven into the cross-member 5| of the framework, said plunger being urged upwardly by a spring 2|1, Figures 2 and 9. Said spring 2I1 presses the link 2|5 against the bottom of the cross-bar 19, so that after said crossbar is advanced past a hook 2|0 of said link,-

Flgure 9, said hook will, when the cross-bar returns, be in the path of a plate 220, fastened to the bottom of said cross-bar 19. It will be seen from Figure 9 that as the cross-bar 19 completes its return movement, the rear edge of its plate 220 will have caught the hook 2|8 of the link 2|5 and carried the latter rearwardly, causing the rock-shaft 2|2 to be rocked positively. Just before the cross-bar 19 reaches the end of its return stroke, the rear end of the link 2li is depressed, causing the hook 2|! to escape from the plate 220, whereupon a spring 222 will urge the link 2|5 forwardly again; this mechanism will be explained in more detail later. Said spring 222 may be attached to the middle of the universal bar |16, which is connected to a pair of arms 223, fixed to the rock-shaft 2|2 by a pair of'links 224. It. will now be seen that as the generaloperator cross-bar 19 rocks the shaft 2|2, said universal bar |16 will be moved rearwardly, and, by means of the pins |15 in the several state-controlling slides |24, will restore the latter. As the several slides |24 are thus restored, their respective pairs of latches |26 and |32, if free to do so, will drop into notches |21, |33, and hold said slides in neutral position as the universal bar |16 moves forwardly again under the pull of the spring 222 when the link 2|5 escapes. Forward movement of the universal bar |16 is limited by an abutment 225 fastened to a bar 226 extending forwardly from the cross-member and having at its forward end a hook 221, so that said bar 226 may thereby support the rock-shaft 2|2, as seen in Figure 6. The resiliency of said abutment 225 minimizes the noise as the universal bar |16 strikes against the same. t The universal bar |16 is adjustable rearwardly and forwardly with respect to its position at the end of its rearward stroke, and, to this end, its connection with the linlrs 224 is made by means of shouldered collars 2| fitting holes in said bar |16, and having eccentric holes through which pass screws 22|, threaded into said links 224, as seen in Figure 6. It will be seen that by loosening said screws 22|, the eccentric collars 2|| may be turned, and the bar |16 thereby adjusted rearwardly or forwardly, after which said screws 22| are tightened again.

As shown in the aforesaid application No. 324,353, or in the application of Thieme, No. 563,033, filed September 16, 1931 (now Patent No.V 2,075,557, dated March 30, 1937), the zero digitpins of all the pin-bars 44 are normally depressed. When a pin of higher value is set in any bar, the zero-pin of said bar automatically becomes restored. Conversely, to effect the restoration of any higher pin, the zero-pin is reset, the restoration of the higher pin then occurring Aautomat-ically. For facilitating co-operation with universal pin-restoring means about to be described, each zero-pin may be depressed by operation of a lever 229, Figure 2, pivoted to the side of each pin-bar 44. AOne arm of said lever is articulated with the zero-pin at 230, and an opposite arm terminates in an edge 23| positioned below the edge of the pin-bar 44. Pivoted between each pair of the side plates 98 that guide the computing pinion frame is a bail 233 which includes a cross-bar 234. The arms of said bail have downward extensions 235 reaching toward an arm 236 fastened to the rock-shaft 2|2. Spanning said downward extensions 235 are tie-rods 231 in the path of said arm 236. As the shaft 2|2 is rocked by thegeneral operator, it will be evident that the shaft-arm 236 striking the tie-rod 231 will rock the bail 233 about its pivot 230, thereby causing the bailbar 234 to move upwardly. It will also be evident that this upward movement of the said bar 234 takes place at about the time when the pin-bars 44 are' near the end of their return movement, that is, when the edges 23| of the levers 229 are over the bar 234,- and that said bar 234 will therefore be enabled in its upward movement to rock the levers 229, depress the zero-pins 43 that are not depressed, and thereby effect restoration of the higher pins 43 that wereset. The bail-bar 234 may have a bevel 239 graded to the contact of said bar with the edges 23| of the zero-pinlevers 229. There are one of the bails 233 and an arm 236 for each set of pin-bars.

For depressing the restoring link 2|5 at the end of a cycle to effect its escape from the general-operator cross-bar 19, it being noted that said escape will also cause the pin-restoring balls 233 to move downwardly again under their own weight, there is pivoted to the side of the left computing frame-member 10 a lever 240, Figures 2 and 6. Said lever is urged counterclockwise by a spring 24|, so that a roll 242 on an arm of said lever normally rests in a notch 243 of one of the general-operator racks 18 when the latter are in normal position. As soon as the general operator moves forwardly, it'will be evident that the lever 240 will be rocked clockwise. Conversely, as the general operator nears the end of its return stroke, the roll 242 will drop into the notch 243 again, after riding idly along the top edge of the rack 13. The reverse movement of the lever 240 thus occasioned as roll 242 drops into the notch 243 again at the end of the return stroke of the general operator is used to depress the restoring link 2|5, and, to this end. said lever 240 has a lateral arm 244 fastened thereto which bears on the link 2|5, and depresses the same at said end of the general-operator stroke.

The arm 244 is bent from a blank 246 adjustably fastened to the lever 240 by screvs 241. 'I'he lever 240 also serves toraise the latch 51 that holds the subtraction cross-shaft |49, said lever having an upwardly-extending arm 249, carrying a pin 249, to lift a cam-arm 250, which is part of said latch. The lever 240 being rocked clockwise as soon as the general operator starts forward, the latch |51 is thereby lifted by pin 249 bearing against the cam-surface of arm 250, whereupon the shaft |49 urged by a spring 25| rotates to restore the subtraction-latches |32 to the state-controller slides |24. 'Ihe lower ends of said latches |32 will vthen bear upon said slides |24, ready to snap into the notches |33 as soon as the slides |24 are restored. One end of the spring 25| is fastened to a collar |2| keyed to the shaft |49, Figure' 6, the other end reacting against an arm |22 loose on said shaft, and retained between a block |23 and the cam-arm |65, which is fastened to, but spaced from, said block, said block being fastened to said shaft. By this arrangement the spring |63, in rotating the lever |62, to rock 4the subtraction-shaft, is not opposed by the spring 25|. 'I'he restoration of the slides 24 is completed as the general operator completes its return stroke, as shown in Figure 9,' in which the arm 244 bearing down on the link 2|5, due to the reverse rotation o1.'v

the lever 240 as its roll l242 re-enters the notch 243, is about to depress said link, and thereby disengage its hook 2|8 from the plate 220. In Figure 10,l when said hook 2|8 is just about to escape from said plate 220, the rock-shaft 2|2 will have been rocked in the direction of the Iarrow to not only move the universal bar |16 rearwardly, to restore the state-controlling slides |24, but to also cause the resetting of the digitpins 43 by elevating the balls 234. Upon restoration of the state-controller-slides |24, the additio latches |26 also re-enter their notches |21 if their respective pin-coupler bails 59 are down. Said slides |24 are guided and supported at their rear ends by headed shoulder-screws 252, one on each side of each slide i 24, 'threaded into the framework-cross-member 5|, said screws also securing the plates |28 that guide the lower ends of the several pairs of latches |26, |32. At their forward ends said slides |24 are guided in slots 253 of the plate |39.

When the computing pinions 46 are to be shifted into mesh with the racks 45 or idlers 48, the teeth of said racks must be in transverse alignment and in proper position. In other words, the pin-bars must all be fully restored against the comb-plate 50. To insure this proper alignment. the following mechanism is provided. Each pinbar 44 has a notch 255, Figures 17 and 18, within which plays the lower edge of a blade 256, extending across the several sets of pin-bars 44, as seen in Figure 16. The ends of said blade 256 have pivots 251 received in elongated bearingholes 258, Figure 17, in brackets 259, which may be fastened to the rear member 64 of the pinsetting frame. Said pivots 251are at the top of the blade 256, and normally rest on the bottom of their bearing-holes 258, the lower edge of the -blade being thus swingable rearwardly from a normal position to which the blade is urged by a spring 260. -In said normal position, see Figure 17, the lower edge of the blade is advanced from the rear edges of the notches 255 of the fully restored pin-bars 44, so that the latter may receive their usual slight advance to Din-setting position. It will be seen that if any pin-bar is not fully restored, swinging the blade 256 rearwardly will fully restore said pin-bar. It is thus evident that the blade 256 extending across all the pin-bars 44 is effective to transversely align all the pin-bars, so that the computing pinions may mesh properly with the racks 45 or idlers y48. By means of the aforementioned lever 240,

which, it will be remembered, is rocked at the very beginning of the general-operator cycle, the blade may be swung rearwardly to align the pin-bars.- On the same stud |53 that carries the subtraction-shaft-latch |51, there is pivoted a lever 29|, having a cam-arm 262 similar to the cam-arm 250 of said latch. Thus, when the 1ever 240 is rocked, its pin 249 *will lift said camarm 262 of the lever 26|, and rock the latter, swhich has an arm 263v reaching toward the blade 256. said arm 263 having a stud.264 for engaging a finger 265 fastened to said blade 256, and thus swinging said blade rearwardly, to insure alignment of the pin-bars 44. The pin-bar alignment having been assured by such swinging of the blade 256, the latter is caused to be lifted to clear the pin-bars, so that the latter may be advanced to rotate the computing pinions 46 as the general operator continues its advance stroke. It will be understood that the blade is swung rearwardly before the computing pins are shifted into mesh, the timing of the computing pinions-shifting cams |8|, |85 on ythe full revolution shaft |11 being made accordingly. The interval before the general-operator cross-bar 19 picks up a depressed digit-pin 43 is ample to permit shifting the computing pinions in sequence to the swinging of the blade 256.

Fork lifting the aligning blade 256, there is fastened to the general-operator cross-bar 19 a pair of runners 261, one near each end of said blade, as seen in Figure 16. As seen in Figures 17 and 18, said runners have, at their front ends,

,camming bevels 268, which may engage the lower Thereafter, as the cross-bar 18 continues its advance, the blade 258 continues to be upheld, clear of the pin-bars, by the top edges 0i the runners, which, as seen in Figures i7 and 18, extend rearwardly far enough to uphold the blade throughout the advance stroke of said cross-bar 18. The cam-bevels 288 may be so positioned that while the blade is being swung back to align the pinbars, it is also-being lifted, the lower edge of said bladeiust emerging from contact with the rear edges of the notch 255 when said blade has swung back far enough to align the pin-bars against the comb-plate 58, in which the rear ends of the pin-bars are guided. At intermediate points between the brackets 258, the aligning blade 255 is provided with studs 218 projecting toward the plate 54, and having rounded ends for abutting said plate as the blade swings. Said blade 258 is thus braced by said studs 218 against forward deflection as it swings back to align the pin-bars.

For supporting the typewriter close to the computing mechanism, the side members 18 of the computing-mechanism framework have, fastened along their top edges. brackets 28|, Figure l5, secured to lugs 282 of the side members 18 by screws 283, and extending inwardly far enough to underlie the base of the typewriter-framework. Screws 284 pass through said brackets 28|, and are threaded into said base of the typewriter to hold the latter in place. Rising above the bottom of the typewriter, and from the top edges of the side members 18, are cover-pieces 285, extending from the sides of the typewriter outwardly until the outer sides are iiush with the outer sides of the side members 18. The front ends of the cover-pieces 285 may be ush with the front casing |5|, as indicated in Figure 6, and may extend rearward along the sides of the typewriter to blend in any suitable manner with the rear portions of the side members 18. The side coverpieces 285 may be pressed out o f sheet-metal, and may rest on studs 286 projecting upwardly from the brackets 2.8i, and may be secured by screws 281 threaded into said studs. The space between the bottom of a side cover-piece 285 and the top of a bracket 28| affords room for controlling keys, as for example, the subtraction-key |48, the bar |52 of said key occupying said room for part of its length, and then being bent downwardly, and again rearwardly toward its rear supporting stud |53, as indicated in Figure 2. At the right side of the machine, the space between the cover 285 and the bracket 28| affords room for another key, as for example, the credit-balance key' 288 of the Underwood bookkeeping machine.

For concomitant use wtih the computing mechanism, the typewriter may be provided with a series of registers and actuating devices of the type set forth in the aforesaid Kurowski patent, said registers and actuating devices overhanging the typewriter keyboard. Said registers are not shown, nor are the actuating devices, which are connected by partly shown links 288 to the numeral-key-levers 2|. On account of the overhanglng registers and actuating devices, shielded by a casing 288, operation of the tabulating keys 3| and numeral-keys 28 is impeded, that is to say, the operator's ngers may not readily give said keys a direct downward thrust. vThe operation of said keys is substantially facilitated by inciining the several rows of keys at graded angles. The keys 3| of` the rear or tabulating row are inclined or tilted Yforward the most, at an angle of about 25 .degrees from horizontal, and the keys 28 of the next or numeral-key row being tilted forward at a loss angle than are the keys 3|, the keys 28 being tilted about 10 degrees. As the operator's fingers reach rearwardly to depress the keys in the rear rows, it is found that such graded tilting of the keys conduces substantially to ease of operation.

Figures 12,13 and 14 show details of the cushioning devices associated with the pin-bars 44. As briey mentioned heretofore, said cushioning devices include for Athe front face of the generaloperator cross-bar 18 a spring 88 formed of a closely-wound helix of spring-wire extending across the several sets of pin-bars, as shown in Figure 16. Said coiled spring 88 is retained in a groove 285 cut in the front face of the cross-bar 18, the groove being of such depth that there may be placed behind the spring 88 a resilient backing 288, formed of leather. Wood, hard felt or other suitable material, and so that the front of the spring 88 extends slightly beyond the front face of the cross-bar 18. For securing the spring 88 in place, there passes through the inside thereof a rod 281, long enough to project beyond the ends of the spring 88, so that said rod may be held by clamping screws threaded into the cross-bar 18. The fingers 85 of the levers 86 that are pivoted to said cross-bar abut the coiled spring 88 when said fingers engage a depressed digit-pin 43 for advancing a pin-bar 44. The noise of the impact of said fingers with th'e digit-pins 43 is substantially reduced, the impact reacting against the spring 88.-

In a similar manner, when the cross-bar 18, in its return stroke, picks up the pin-bars, vthe noise of its impact with the lugs 88 of said pin-bars is also substantially minimized by a spring' 8|. As seen in Figure 16, said spring is also of a length to span the several sets of pin-bars 44, and is secured in the same manner as is the spring 88, said spring 8| having a rod 281, a backing 286 and rod-retaining screws 288. The springs 88, 8| may be additionally secured within their recesses 285 by staking over the edges of the recesses, as indicated at 289. Figures 12 and 16.

The comb-plates 58, in which the rear ends of the pin-bars 44 are guided, are also provided with cushioning devices to minimize the noise of im-y pact of said pin-bars. As already mentioned, said devices include the coiled springs 84, one for each comb-plate. The front face of` each combplate has a transverse groove 388 cut deep enough,

' so that when the spring 84 is seated therein, it

is secured against vertical displacement. An angle-piece 38| fastened to the rear face of each comb-plate aifords a bearing-surface for the pin-bars 44, and compensates for the reduction of such bearing in the comb-plate occasioned by cutting the recess 388 therein. An indentation 382 may be made in the pin-bar edge which formerly abutted the comb-plate to provide for sufficient retraction of the pin-bar. For holding the spring 84 in place, a, wire 383 is threaded through it, and is long enough, so that its ends 384 may bebent around to hold against the rear face of the comb-plate 58, as shown in Figures 14, 16. The side edges of the comb-plate 58 may be notched, as indicated at 385, to receive the wire 883.

Certain features referred to herein are disclosed in my aforesaid `co-pend|ng applications Nos. 324,353, 472,610, 601,173, and 607,275; but no claim herein covers any of said copending applications. All ofthe claims specify improvements which are not applications.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a computing machine ha'ving a register arranged for performing addition or subtraction, cycling mechanism, a carriage, and a springpressed state-controller releasable by said vcarriage to different positions to condition said register for addition or subtraction, the combination of a throw-oir key, a train connecting said key and controller, whereby setting of said key restores the vreleased controller to `neutral position or prevents its movement to effective position, said train including latching -meansto hold the controller neutral, and means whereby the latching means are disengaged at the end of a disclosed-in any of .said

cycling operation, to restore said train and thereby condition said controller for subsequent release by said carriage.

2. In a computing machine having a register arranged for performing addition or subtraction, cycling mechanism, a carriage, and a springpressed state-controller releasable by said carriage to different positions to condition said register for addition or subtraction, the combination of a throw-oir key, and a train connecting said key and controller, whereby setting of said key restores the released controller to neutral position or prevents its movement to eiective position, said train including latching means to hold the controller neutral, said cycling mechanism arranged to restore said controller slightly farther than its normal restoration, thereby disengaging said latching means to eiect restoration of said train to normal position and thereby conditloning said controller for subsequent release by said carriage.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with a series of computing pinions, a series oi indexable reciprocatoryracks therefor, said pinions normally disengaged from said racks, and a general operator including a bar extending across said racks, said bar being reciprocatoryvto advance and rturn the racks, of spring-devices for returning said racks slightly farther than they are returned by said general-operator cross-bar,

to permit slight advance of said racks seriatim for indexing operatlons, each rack being returned by its spring-device after said slight advance for indexing, and means actuable by said general` operator at the beginning of its cycle to positively i'orce back any rack that is not restored by said spring-devices to assure alignment of the rackteeth, said means arranged to withdraw from the racks aftervaligning same, so that they may be advanced by the general operator for rotating said f pinions. I

4. In a computing machine, the combination of a set of indexable racks, computing pinions normally disengaged from said racks, a general operator to reciprocate said racks, spring-devices arranged to snap into said racks and return them beyond the range of the general operator, so that said racks may be slightly advanced for indexing operations, `a transverse blade positioned on edge and swingable to engage said racks to forcibly align any one not aligned by said springdevices, and means whereby said general operator so swings said blade at the beginning of a cycling operation, and whereby said general operator then lifts said blade from said racks to permit advance ci' said racks to rotate said pinions.

2,118,860 v 5. In a computing machine, the combination oi' a set of indexable racks, computing pinions normally disengaged from said racks, a general operator to reciprocate said racks, spring-devices arranged tosnap into said racks and return them beyond the range of the general operator, so that said racks may be slightly advanced for indexing operations, a transverse blade having pivots at its ends, bearings having slots for receiving said pivots, said bearings arranged to position said blade on edge in engagement with said racks, and means whereby said general operator swings said blade at the beginning of a cycling operation to forcibly align any rack not aligned by its springdevice, and whereby said general operator then moves said blade from said racks along said bearing slots to permit advance of said racks to rotate said pinions.

6. In a computing machine having a carriage,

the combination with a set oi computing pinions, l,

said throw-oif-key mechanism arranged so as to be controlled bythe general operator, thereby to.

become unlocked and restored during a cycle oi' the general operator.

7. In a machine constructed according to claim '6, the throw-oif-key mechanism being operative to also restore and then hold the state-determining member if the latter has been released.

8. In a computing machine having a set of computing pinions, indexable drivers therefor, and a reciprocatory general operator for the drivers, the combination of a normally latched spring-driven state-controller for the computing pinions, said state-controller being selectably releasable before a cycle of the general operator to enable the latter, preparatory to the advance and return of the drivers, to respectively mesh and unmesh the pinions and drivers, a restoring member for said state-controller, means whereby the general operator actuates said restoring member, including a hooked link connected to the restoring member, a spring-device urging said link into the path of the general operator so that its hook is picked up by the latter toward the end oi' its return stroke, means operative under control of the general operator as the latter reaches the end of its return stroke to cause said link to become disengaged from the general operator, and a spring urging the disengaged link and hence said restoring member to a retracted position to clear the state-controller for subsequent setting.

9. The combination with a set of computing pinions, indexable drivers therefor, and a reciprocatory general operator for the drivers, of a spring-driven state-controller selectably releasable before a general-operator cycle, to determine co-operation of said pinions with their drivers during said cycle, a restoring bar for said controller,.a rock-shaft having spaced. arms connected to the `restoring bar for moving the latter in parallelism-transversely of itself, a draw-,linkreturn stroke oi-the general operator, to thereby draw the link, means operative under control o! the general operator whereby the hook becomes disengaged from the general operator when the link has been drawn far enough to restore the controllers by means of said-bar, and a spring whereby, upon the disengagement of said hook, the restoring bar is restored to free the state-controller for subsequent setting.

10. In a computing machine having a carriage and a register normally in neutral condition and shiftable to be operative addltively or subtractively, the combination of a spring-driven state-,controller releasable, under control of the carriage, from neutral controlling positionto additive or subtractive controlling position, a lever having one arm connected to said controller for restoring the same, a movably-mounted cam for engaging the other .arm of said lever to operate the latter, said cam having a latching shoulder terminating its rise, and a throw-ofi key connected to operate said cam, said cam being advanced by said key, for the restoration of `said state-controller, until said other lever-arm, under the inuence of, the state-controller-spring, drops behind said latching shoulder to thereby interlock with said cam and hold the state-controller in neutral position.

11. In a machine constructed according to claim l0, in which said cam is provided with a re` tracting spring effective upon withdrawal of said other lever-arm to restore saidcam, said leverarm withdrawal being eiected by moving the state-controller, in restoring direction, slightly past its neutral position.

12. -In a computing machine having a set of computing pinions, indexable drivers therefor, said pinions normally disengaged from said drivers, cycling mechanism yfor said drivers, and a carriage, the combination with means conditionable by said carriage in a computing zone, to determine engagement of said pinions and drivers when the cycling mechanism is operated, of throw-ofi-key mechanism settable to a latched position and operative, when set, to neutralize a carriage-controlled condition of said means pending a cycling operation, to thereby sile'nce engagement i the computing pinions and drivers during said cycling operation, said'throw-oiI-key mechanism being arranged to become automatically restored by means of said cycling mechanism during said cycling operation, thereby to restore subserviency of said carriage-conditionable means to said carriage.

13. In a computing machine having a set of computing pinions, indexable drivers therefor. said pinions normally disengaged from said driv ers, a carriage, and cycling mechanism for the drivers, the combination with means normally disconnected from said cycling mechanism and operable by the latter for shifting said computing pinions into and out vof engagement with said drivers, and means releasable by said carriage in a computing zone to immediately connect said pinion-shifting means to said cycling mechanism,

and thereby automatically determine operation of said computing pinions during a cycling operation, of throw-oii`key mechanism settable to a latched position to restore and retain said carriage-released means or to prevent movement of the latter to effective position, thereby to silence the carriage-determined operation of the computing pinions during a cycling operation, said throw-oiI-key mechanism being arranged to become automatically unlatched by means of said cycling mechanism, and thereby released for restoration, at anappropriate time in said cycling operation.

14. In a computing machine having aset of computing pinions, indexable drivers therefor, said pinions normally disengaged from said drivers, a carriage, and cycling mechanism for the drivers, the combination with means normally disconnected from said cycling mechanism and operable by the latter for shifting said computing pinions into and out of engagement withA said drivers, means releasable by said carriage in a computing zone to immediately connect said pinion-shifting means to said cycling mechanism, and thereby automatically determine operation of said' computing pinions during a cycling operation, of throw-oiI-key mechanism operable, before said carriage enters a computingzone, to interlock with said carriage-releasable means to prevent movement of the latter to eiective position, said cycling mechanism being operable to disengage said interlocked throw-oiI-key mechanism and carriage-releasable means.

said link and thereby rock said shaft, means controlled by said general operator and actuable to automatically disengage said link at the end of said general operator return stroke, and a spring to restore said rock-shaft and link when said link is disengaged.

16. In a computing machine, the combination of a series of racks each having settable digitpins, computing pinions operable by said racks, a. reciprocatory general operator, a springpressed state-controller releasable to determine a computing state of said pinions, a member actuable to restore said controller, mechanism for restoring said digit-pins, a link engageable by and carried along with said general operator toward the end of its return stroke, connections enabling said link when actuated by the general Voperator to actuate the pin-restoring mechanism and the restoring member for 'said controller, and means controlled by said general operator and actuable for disengaging said link at the end of said stroke.

17. In a computing and printing machine having a paper-carriage, computing pinions, indexable drivers therefor, and a general operator for the drivers, said pinions normally disengaged from said drivers, the combination with means automatically brought into play by said carriage in a certain zone whereby the pinions and drivers are caused to be engaged during a subsequent cycle of the general operator, of a key, and means settable by said key to suppress said carriage-controlled means and thereby suppress the carriage-determined engagement of said pinions and drivers during said cycle, said key-set means arranged to become automatically restored by the general operator at an appropriate time in kgeneral operator for the drivers, the combination with state-controlling means differentially settable from a neutral position for predetermining additive or subtractive co-operation of said pinions and drivers during a subsequent cycle of the general operator, a throw-off key,

:and -means settable at will, before a cycle of the general operator, by said key for suppressing said state-controlling means, said key-set means arranged to become automatically restored by said general operator at an appropriate time in said cycle.

19. In a computing machine having a register, a carriage, and a spring-pressed state-controller for said register normally in neutral position and releasable by said carriage to predetermine addition or subtraction in said register, the combination of a lever for restoring said state-controller if it has been previously released, a throw-off key, and means connecting said key and lever whereby operation of said key actuates said lever to restore the released controller and latches the lever to hold the controller in neutral position, said lever-actuating means becoming releasably interlocked with said lever to effect the latching of said lever.

20. In a computing machine having a register, a carriage, and a spring-pressed state-controller for said register normally in neutral position and releasable by said carriage to predetermine addition or subtraction in said register, the combination of a lever' for restoring said state-controller if it has been previously released, a throw-off key, means connecting said key and lever whereby operation, of said key actuates said lever to restore the released controller and Alatches the lever to hold.the state-controller in neutral position, said'lever-actuating means becoming releasably interlocked with said lever to effect the la'tching of said lever, and cycling mechanism arranged for restoring said statecontroller subsequently to its release by the carl riage, said. cycling mechanism overthrowing the state-controller beyond said neutral position, the lever actuating and latching. means being arranged to escapeand effect the restoration of the throw-off-key mechanism when the cycling mechanism acts to, overthrow the state-controller.

21. In a computing machine having a register, a carriage, and a spring-pressed state-controller for said register normally in neutral position and releasable by said carriage to predetermine addition or subtraction in said register, the combination of a lever for .restoring said state-controller if it has been previously released, a throwoff-key, means connecting said key and -lever whereby operation of said key actuates said lever to restore the released controller and latches the lever to hold the state-controller in neutral position, said lever-actuating means -becoming releasably interlocked with said lever to effect the latching of said lever, and means operable to release the interlock of said lever and lever-actuating means and thereby cause restoration of the throw-off-key mechanism.

22. In a computing machine having a set of computingpinions, indexable drivers therefor, said pinions normally disengaged from said drivers, a carriage, and a general operator, the combination with means normally disconnected from the general operator, for shifting said set of pinions into engagement with said drivers, normally latched spring-pressed'means releasable by said carriage for connecting said pinionshifting means tosaid general operator, of throwoff-key mechanism settable, before the cycling operation, to a latched position to restore and retain the carriage-released connecting means, said throw-off-key mechanism being arranged so that when set it becomes automatically restored by means of the general operator during the cycle, said throw-off-key mech anism also being operative when set to prevemJ movement to effective position of the carriage-released means.

23. In a computing machine having a set of computing pinions, drivers therefor, said pinions and drivers normally disconnected, a carriage, indexing mechanism co-operating with said carriage for indexing said drivers, and a general operator for the drivers, the combination with means operable under control of said carriage, to effect engagement of the drivers and computing pinions during a cycle of said general operator, of throw-oif-key mechanism, settable, and operative when set, to suppress said carriage-controlled pinion-engagement eiecting means, said throw-oif-key mechanism being effective irrespective of whether it is set before or after the indexing operation, and being also arranged to be restored, if set, by means of the general operator during the cycle.

24.- In a computing machine having a set of reciprocatory register-bars having certain parts alternately engageable for reciprocating said bars; and having a general operator for the register-bars including a reciprocatory bar extending transversely of the register-bars for reciprocating the latter by engaging said parts, the combination with said transverse general-operator bar, of means to absorb the impact as said parts are engaged, including closely-wound helixes forming the register-bar driving faces of said general-operator bar and extending lengthwise along opposite faces of said general-operator bar, a resilient backing between each helix and the general-operator bar,l and a retaining rod extending through each helix, the ends of said retaining rod projecting beyond the ends of the helix, said rod-ends being secured to said generaloperator bar to thereby retain said helix.

25. In a multiple-register computing machine having a plurality of parallel and laterally spaced sets of register-bars, each register-bar having Vdigit-pins individually depressible; a pin-setting mechanism including, in combination, a key-l operated rock-shaft yfor each digit, the several rock-shafts arranged in parallel array, said rockshaft array extending transversely of the register-bars, and the array of register-bar sets extending laterally beyond the rock-shaft array, pin-setting linkage for each rock-shaft and extending across all the register-bars, each linkage including a cross-link, an arm on the rock-shaft engaging said cross-link for imparting endwise movement thereto, a second cross-link depressible edgewise for setting a digit-pin in any set of register-bars, bell-cranks disposed beyond the sides of the array of rock-shafts and linking said endwise movable cross-link and said depressible cross-link, fixed fulcrums for the bell-cranks of the several linkages, and an additional arm on each rock-shaft operative, when the rock-shaft, its first-mentioned arm, and the endwise movable cross-link'co-operate to effect depression of the depressible cross-link. to follow up and on said depressible cross-link to support it against upward deflection when setting a pin, said first arm and said additional arm acting jointly on

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