US2209217A - Accounting machine - Google Patents

Description

, July 23, 1940. w. A. ANDERSON ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MLTER A. ANDERSON A m 7 R A r n 0 c ATTORNEY July 23, 1940. w. A. ANDERSON ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IiI7// INVENTOR HALTER A. ANDERSON ATTORNEY July 23, 1940- w. A. ANDERSON ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER A ANDERSON ATTORNEY July 23, 1940. w. A. ANDERSON ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY ALTER A. ANDERSON BY W July 23, 1940.

W. A. ANDERSON ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31. 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wwwwuvvuww lNVEN-TOR WA LTER A.ANDER5 ON BY I TTORNEY change the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-.2,

2,209,217 ACCOUNTING MACHINE Walter A. Anderson,

This invention relates and accounting machines, to machines of the charact to Underwood Elliott Bridgeport, C0nn., assignor Fisher Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,683

11 Claims.

generally to business and more particularly er on which it becomes necessary or desirable, from time to time, to

type in the type carriers thereof. The

present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending United State No. 118,597, file As is well known vided with type carriers and stopped differentially tion of, a cycle of during the latter p d December 31, 1 I to those skilled in the art, machines of the type disclos s application Serial ed herein are proadapted to be raised during the first perthe machine and returned ortion of said cycle. The primary object of this invention is to provide a device to facilitate the changing of inter changeable type in one or riers.

With this and incident more of these type caral objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction. and combinations of parts, the essential elements of pended claims, which is hereinafter descr the drawings which accompany an of the specification.

In the drawings:

which are set forth in apand a preferred embodiment of ibed with reference to d form part Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine with the arresting device operated and one of the type carriers in its uppermost position,

wherein the type Figure 2 is a board,

Figure resting device and their normal positions is depressed but before certain of theparts being ness,

Figure 4 is a view may be readily replaced, diagrammatic View of the key- 3 is a right side elevation of the arcertain associated parts in just after the motor bar the machine has started,

broken away for clearsimilar to Figure 3 with the parts shown in substantially mid-cycle position,

Figure 5 is a view the parts shown in the completion of resting device has of the device including similar to Figure 3 but with the position they occupy at the cycle during which the arbeen operated,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of certain parts the automatic type carrier release in unoperated position,

Figure '7 is a right side shown-in Figure 6,

position,

elevation of the parts showing them in operated Figure 8 is a detail right side elevation of the type character latch, showing it holding a type character in the carrier,

Figure 9 is a view sim ilar to Figure 8 with uppermost positions, an

the type character latch moved to its unlatching position preparatory to the changing of the type character,

Figure 10 is a detail elevation of certain parts v used to automatically restore character keys, and '5 Figure 11 is a side elevation, showing the connection between the main drive and the type bars.

'General description z The present invention is shown embodied in 10 a computing and printing machine of a type similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 2,088,982, issued to Oscar J. Sundstrand on August 3, 1937, to which reference may be had for an understanding of features not fully disclosed herein.

Machines of this character are provided with type carriers arranged side by side and adapted to be-moved independently and differentially upwardly into printing position during the first part, of a machine cycle and then downwardly into normal position during the latter part of the cycle.

When it is-desired to change a type in one of these type carriers, it is necessary that the associated carrier be raised and held in its uppermost position so that the type to be changed is accessible to the operator. In the present structure a special key is provided which, when moved to operative position and the machine operated, withdraws the customary zero stops for the type bars to allow them to rise to their d arrests the operation of the machine when they arrive at this position. To return the machine. to normal after the necessary type change is made, it is only necessary for the operator to return the special key to its normal position.

Detailed description whereupon the crank 9 (Figure 3) is rotated ough its connection to the pivotally conto the crank 9 and at its opl2. This actucounter-clockwise thr drive shaft H]. A pitmanll is nected at one end posite end to an actuating arm ly extending bracket ating arm I2 is loosely mounted intermediate its Alever I5 is secured at its lower end to shaft I3 and carries at its upper end a laterally projecting pin I55, for

a purpose to be later described. A strong spring I8 is connected to lever I5 at IT, and tofthe machine frame. Intermediate the ends of this lever I5 is a projection I9, the rounded end of which is adapted to overlie and abut'the upper edge of the free end of actuating arm I2,'at12fi, by virtue of the v rearward tension exerted by spring I8 upon the lever I5.

From the'above it is apparent that as crank- 9 is'rotated by drive shaft I I3, pitman I I oscillates actuating arm I2 which inturn oscillates lever I5. A stud 2I is provided in projection, I9 of lever I5, to which is pivoted a connecting link 22', the forward end of which is pivoted, at .23, to .a plate 24 secured to an auxiliary shaft 125 rotatably journaled in an upwardly and forward- 23 secured to bearing I4. To secure a smooth and uniform operation of these and other parts in the machine, as it. is

cycled, there is provided a'counter-balance 2'I to shaft 25 beside plate,

(Figures Sand 7 secured 24. Obviously as lever I5 is swung forward and back during the cycle, connecting link 22 oscil lates plate 24, shaft 25, and counter-balance 2.1

- The motor circuit (diagrammatically illustrated 'in' Figure 5) includes a pair of normally open contact'members 2'! and 28'having a common center strap 29, which are adapted to be closed by either of two laterally projecting and insulated studs and 3| lying on oppositesides of the contacts?! and 28.

These insulated studs are secured respectively to a pair of co-acting slides 32 and 33 mounted side by side on shouldered screws-or rivets 35 which pass through elongated slots 36 in the slides and are secured to the side plate31 of the machine frame. A spring 38 secured at one endto anupstand ing lug 39 on the rear end of slide 33 and. an

chored at its opposite end to the machine frame,

tensions said slide andthe insulated stud 3I forwardly, so that an upstanding lug 40 on the up per edge of the slide normally presses against a laterally extending pin 4| carried by slide 32. [Another spring 42,superior to spring 38, is se cured at one. end to a depending lug 43 on the forward end of slide 32 and at its opposite end to l end to the vertical stem at its opposite end to the shoulder 47 away from stud 48 and thereby retlie machine frame, thus tensioning the slide and the insulated stud 30 rearwardly. A detainer 32 and has a shoulder. square stud 48 on the is pivoted at 46 to slide 41 adapted to' engage a 7 machine frame. A spring .49 secured at its lower end to a pin 49 carried by the motor bar I, tensions When the machine is at rest, contacts 27, 28 and 29 are open, as illustratedin Figure 5. I I The motor bar I is normally urged upwardly by a coil spring (Figure, 3) fastened at one of the motor bar and machine frame. 1 As the motor bar '7- is depressed from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 3, pin 49 lowersv the detainer 45, moving 1 stop mechanism such as disclosed in .No. 1,965,611, issuedto Oscar J. Sunds trand. .I'he

leasing slide" 32' and the insulated .stud 35 for rearward movement by spring 42 against the ltensionof theinferior spring 38, This movem m ofst d 0v moves contac .1 gainst con:

the detainer, and at its upperend to a pin 49 carried by the stem of the detainer upwardly about its pivot 46 and holds it against pin 49 pa ts to their original position.

2,209,217 I i tact 29, and the latter in turn against contact- 28 to close the motor circuit, stud 3I' at the same time moving rearwardlyv away from contact 28. As soon as the operator releases the motor bar I it is restored under the influence of spring 50,

the spring 45 pulling the detainer 45 upwardly so engages an arm '5I extending upwardly from the rear end of slide 32, and moves it forward against the. tension of spring 42.

This forward movement of slide 32 brings shoulder 4? out from under stud 48 and thus permits detainer 45 to swing upwardly about its pivot 45. Simultaneously, pin 4| moves forwardly away from lug 43 and thus permits spring 38 to move slide 33 forward.- This in Figure 4. v This movement of slide 32 moves insulated stud 30 forward, opening contacts 21, 28 and 29. However, the momentum of the motor continues to move slide 32 forward, allowing spring 38 to con' tinue to move slide .33 forward, thereby causing insulated stud 3| to move contact28 forward. This closes contacts .21, .28 and 29 and allows the machine to continue its, operation. The1 motor then operates until arm .I5- moves stud. IB'rear: wardly away from arm 5I.' Spring 42 thereupon moves slides 32 and 33v rearwardly tothe position shown in Figure 5, whereshoulder'fl rests against stud 48 and the contacts are open, Spring Iii then pulls lever I5, actuating arm'I'Z and shaft I3 to their home positions shownflin Fi 3-, I c Referring to Figure 11-, an arm I'3I to shaft I 3 and has secured to it stud 2| '(shown also in Figure 4). A link I32 I I I with a lever I33 having an arm I 34 pivotedtoa link I35, guided by a rod I springs I3?! to a lever I38 pivoted on a'rod I39. A duplicate train of connections, including: an arm I3I, a'link I32, a lever I33. and a linkl35, are provided at the opposite side of the. machineso I that a rod I45, extending between the lower ends of the two links I35, may pull down simultaneously upon the springs I 31 connected with levers I38,- there being a lever I 38 for each type bar I. A pair of cams I45, only one of which is shown, lying on opposite sides .of the-machine'are con: nected by a rod I42, lying above the forward ends of levers I38, and embrace a rod I43 thatextends between the lower ends of'levers I33, and which supports the rear ends of links I 32 1 Each of the cams MI has a cam slot I44 embracing identical roliers I45 mounted on machine.

When the machine is operated, moving stud 2| forward, as previously explained levers,I33- are rotated clockwise about their, pivot I 46, lowering links I35 and stretching springs I3]. This movement is accompanied by a raising of cams MI and rod I42. Levers I 38 lifttheir associated type bars I until they are arrested under control of U. S. Patent return movement of arm I3I lowers cams I'4I .an,d rod I 42, returning levers I38and the remaining a tuation 7 moves the parts I from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown is secured I36 and connected. by

stationary parts 0f, the

connects. arm 13 I.

of the type bars is quite similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,965,611. 7

With reference now particularly to Figures 6 and 7, a manually controlled slide 52 is slidably mounted on the machine frame and carries at its forward end an upstanding finger-piece 54. A plate 55 is pivoted on the machine frame at 56 and is connected to slide 52 at 51. An angularly formed stop lever 58 also is pivoted at 56 and is provided at its upper forward end with a pin 59 to which is secured a spring 60, anchored at its opposite end on plate 55, thus urging pin 59 against the rear edge of plate 55, and yieldingly holding lever 58 against clockwise movement about stud 56.

The end 6| of lever 58 lies in the plane of a pin 62 secured to the inner side of the counterbalance 21.

When slide 52 is in its rearward position shown in Figure 6, the rear end 6| of lever 58 is below the path of movement of pin 62, but when slide 52 is moved forwardly to the position shown in Figure '7, the end 6| of lever 58 is swung upwardly into the path of pin 62.

A spring tensioned detent 63 serves to maintain the slide in either of the two aforesaid positions.

With reference now to Figure 4, when the counter-balance 2I is swung counter-clockwise with the slide 52 in its forward position shown in Figure '7, pin 62 engages the upper edge of the end 6| of lever 58 and rocks the lever downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure '7, stretching the spring 68. When pin 62 slides past the end 6| as shown in Figure 4, spring 68 pulls lever 58 upwardly into the path of the pin. Hence, shortly after the beginning of the clockwise oscillation of counter-balance 2I on the return stroke of the cycle, pin 62 engages the end M of stop lever 58 and thereby locks counterbalance 21 plate 24, link 22 and lever I5 in their forward or half-way positions of the cycle, as shown in Figure 5.

The slight clockwise movement of the above parts from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 before pin 62 abuts stop lever 58 permits the rearward movement of slides 33 and 32 necessary to open the motor circuit contacts 21, 28 and 29 as above described, and allows crank arm 9 and pitman I I to move beyond the dead center position shown in Figure 4. The machine is now at rest in substantially mid-cycle position, with spring I8 tensioned.

Any type carrier whose detent has been removed from above the upstanding rod connected to the associated type bar is permitted to rise during the first portion of the cycle, as above mentioned. Hence, when slide 52 is operated and the machine stopped at mid-cycle position, such carrier is stopped in raised position. The following parts are provided to automatically remove the appropriate detent as an incident to operation of slide 52.

Referring to Figures 6 and '7, type carriers I (only one being shown in these views) have forwardly projecting pivoted arms, such as 64, connected to vertically disposed stop rods, such as 65, arranged to be guided for vertical movement through suitable openings (not shown) in the machine frame.

A key latch slide, such as 66, is provided for each of the banks of character keys. These slides 66 are tensioned rearwardly by springs 61 and are arranged for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, and have a rearwardly extending detent 68 arranged o overlie the rods 65, as shown in Figure 6. A plurality of upstanding lugs 69 are formed on the upper edge of theseslidesl Each lug has a beveled surface I8 and a locking shoulder II, so arranged that the beveled surface is directly beneath a locking lug, such as I2, provided on each of the key stems I3. Each key stem "I3 is connected with a bell crank I4 pivoted on an axis I5 and connected at its opposite end to a horizontally disposed stop I6, the rearward end of which is supported in a slot provided in the rear of the key section casing.

Compression springs 11 are arranged to normally urge stops I6 forwardly and thus through the bell crank connection with the key stem I3, hold the key in raised position. Depression of any key in the group causes its corresponding stop I6 to move rearwardly against the tension of its spring I I into the path of its corresponding rod 65. Simultaneously, lug I2 cams slide 66 forward against the tension of spring 61 until it engages shoulder II. Such forward movement of slide 66 withdraws detent 68 from above rod 65 to allow the corresponding carrier to rise, in the ensuing cycle, until its rod 65 abuts the projected stop I6.

Means is provided for restoring any of the depressed keys 5 near the completion of a cycle. Such means includes a plate I8 secured to a transversely slidable rod I9 journaled at its ends in the machine frame.

The lower edge of plate I8 lies behind an upstanding projection, such as 80, formed on the forward ends of each slide 66. A spring 8| se-' cured at one end to a collar fixed to rod I9 and at' its opposite end to a bracket 82 tensions plate I8 and rod I9 counter-clockwise and normally holds a projection 83 of the plate against bracket 82. A slot 84 is provided in plate I8 to receive the for ward hook-shaped end 85 of a slide 86. Slide 86 'is provided (Figure 10) with anextension bent at a right angle to its main body. A screw 81 passes through a slot in the extension to act as a guide for the forward and rearward movement of the slide. A pitman 88, lying parallel to and adjacent slide 86, is pivotally connected at its rear end to an upwardly extending arm 89 of a plate 90 pivoted at 9|. Plate 90 is arranged to be oscillated, first clockwise, then counter-clockwise about its pivot, once duringeach cycle of the machine. This movement is imparted to plate 90 by an arm 92 fixed to the main rock shaft I3 and having a roller 93 on its outer end engaging a recess 94 in plate 98. During each machine cycle arm 92 is rocked counter-clockwise approximately 75 degrees from the normal position shown in Figure 10 and then clockwise to normal position. On the counter-clockwise stroke roller 93 is moved out of recess 94, and by its movement along the lower edge of plate 90, cams the plate clockwise against the tension of springs 96 and 91, and moves pitman 88 rearward. It should be noted that spring 91 is positioned so as to create an upward as well as a forward tension on pitman 88. On the clockwise stroke of arm 92 plate 96 is swung counterclockwise by springs 96 and 91, moving pitman 88 forward.

During the first part of the machine operation, when pitman 88 moves rearwardly, a stud I80, lying normally under an extension IDI on the rear end of slide 86, moves to the rear of this extension and, due to the tension of spring 91, is lifted into the horizontal plane of the extension. The upward movement of pitman 88 is limited by a stud I02 on the machine frame. During the latter part of the cycle, when pitman 88 is moved for-' wardystudlflfl contacts the rear end of extension IIII and-through this contact movesslide 86' forward,;moving plate 78 forward against the tension of spring BI. This withdraws shoulders II.

of slides 66 from stop lugs 12 0f any depressed keys, allowing them to be restored by their springs 17., pitman 88 approaches the end of its forward movement, a'beveled surface 98 thereon contacts; a roller stud 99 on the machine frame, forcing the. forward endofthe pitman downward, lowering stud I III] from the horizontal plane of extension IBI, and thereby allowing spring BI to returnv plate lfl-and slide 86 to their normal positions shown in Figure 10.

Itissometimes, desirable to have a key 5 of a group remain depressed during repeated cycling of the machine. To. accomplish this, the following mea-nsis provided. Plate I8 is arranged to be movedlaterally to one of three positions with respect toprojections 89 of slides St. Such movementof plate 18 is controlled by a lever I 03 pivoted one. stud IN on bracket '82 and having a slot engaging a pin I05 in rod IS. A notched detentni flt engaging the lower end oflever I83 serves to maintain plate IS in any of its adjusted,

positions, Notches' II are so arranged. in plate i8 that when theplate ismoved to certain ofits lateral positions the notches are selectively opposite projections lifl, in which instance they are ineffective to operate slides 68. Thus any key 5 of a group which is depressed when plate 78 is movedfso that one of its notches I0? is opposite. projection 8i! of thelatch slide 66 of that group, will notbe released at the end of a machine opera- The following means is provided for automatically rockingplate I8 clockwise to withdraw detents 68 from over rods of the type carriers thelatch' slides and spring 8!; hence, plate 18 and slides 66 are maintained in such position until slide 52 is'moved rearward. It might be noted that before slide '52 is operated, lever I63 should be in its normal position shown in Figure 16,

'- wherein plate 18 is so positioned that projections 80 of all slides 66 will be engaged by the plate.

Assuming it is desiredto change the year type character 36 controlled by key III; (Figures; 1 and 2), it is merely necessary for the operator to pull the finger piece 5d of slide 52 forward to the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 and depress motor bar I. This causes the machine to operate'to and'sto'p at the mid point of the cycle, as

hereinbefore described, the type carrier containing'the character 36 rising to and stopping at its uppermost position shown in Figure 1, whereinthe type may be readily changed, in the manner described in the following.

7 Referring now'to Figures 8 and 9, the carrier l is provided at its upper end with a latch III situated between'the' side plates of the carrier and mounted for sliding movement to the right and left (Figure 8) as well as a slight pivotal mo-vement about a pin IIS secured to the side plates of carrierI and; extending through. a slot I I2 in slide III (compare Figures 8-and9).

A downwardly projecting lug I I4 is provided'on the forward end-of the latch III and is formed angularly as atI I 5 atits lower and forwardiedge for cooperative engagement with a recess 'I I 6 pro; vided in the forward end of type I H, as shown in Figure 8. A spring H8 is secured to an'upstanding lug M9 on the rear end of latch I II and t'oja stud I20 extending between theside plates of the carrier I, to tension latch III and type I I1 rorf-i w rdly. Q

Innormal, printing operations, type .(I II; is: moved to the right (Figure 8) by the customaryprinting hammer, the type carrying. latch I'III with it againstthe tension of spring I I8. As the hammer retracts, spring II 8. returns the latch and type to normal position. During this recip rocation, latch III is guided.horizontallyat its left end by type .I I1 and at its right end by ,stud II3.

An upstanding finger piece 23 is provided on the latch adjacent a recess I24. In order to changethe type character II? the operator need only press the finger piece I23 againstthe tension of spring I I 8 to move the latch III rearwardly until recess H4 is inalignment with stud ltfl,

thence upwardly until the recess engages the stud, as'shownin Figure 9,

During such rearward movement, the-down wardlyprojectinglug. H4 is moved out of itsengagement with recess II 6 in type HI and thereby allows'removal'of the type and insertion of another of similar shape, bearing 37 on its face.

It is apparent that spring H8 serves the two fold purpose of holding the latch in looking posi tion with relation to the type, asshown in. Fig-' ure 8, and returning the type I I! after an impression is effected by the printing hammer." After the type is changed, finger piece 54 is pushed'rearwa'rdly, forcing stop lever 58 downwardly out of the path of pin 62, releasing coun ter-balance 2le,"' plate 24, connectinglink 22 and lever I5 to the'tension of spring I8 that restores them from the position shown in Figure 5'to the normal position shown in Figure 3. The machine is now in condition to be-used for its" customary I work. I

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it'is to be understood that it is not intendedto confine the inventionto the exact embodiment herein disclosed,'for itis susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a movable type carrier, a type removably mounted thereon, actuating elements moving with said carrier, manipulative means'for arresting the movement of said actuating elements whereby to stop said carrier at a position to facilitate the changing of type thereon, and means controlled by the manipulative means for returning the 'carrier tonormal position;

2. In a machine of the class described, operat-I ing mechanism, a type carrier adapted to be independently advanced and retracted during a machineoperation, a type removably mounted on the. carrier, and key controlled means for arresting operation of the machine when the carrier reaches substantially its fully'advanced position. v V 3. In a machine of the class described', .operat ing mechanism, a type carrier arranged for reciprocatory movement, a type removably mounted thereon and situated normally in a position inaccessible to the operator, a manually operable latch for holding said type in operative position, and manipulative means for arresting said carrier, during a machine operation, at a position where the type is accessible to the operator, so that said latch may be readily disengaged from said type.

4. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a plurality of type carriers, a type removably mounted on one of said carriers and situated normally in a position inaccessible to the operator, means whereby the said one carrier may be moved alone, and means for arresting movement of the carrier, during a machine operation, at a position where the type is accessible to the operator, to facilitate a change of the type.

5. In a machine of the class described, a movable type carrier, means to' normally impart a complete cycle of movement to the type carrier during each machine operation, and optionally operable means for stopping the type carrier in an intermediate position, and for holding it in this position after the machine completes its cycle.

6. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a keyboard, a movable type carrier, meansto normally impart a complete cycle of movement to the type carrier during each machine operation, and a means controlled from the keyboard for preventing the type carrier from returning to its original position during the machine operation.

7. In a machine of the class described, a type carrier, means for moving said carrier through a normal operation including advancing and retracting movements, a type removably mounted on said carrier, and means for interrupting the normal operation of said carrier at a point where said type may be readily changed.

8'. In a machine of the class described, a type carrier, means for moving said carrier through a normal operation including advancing and retracting movements, a type removably mounted on said carrier, means for interrupting the normal operation of said carrier and latching it at a point where said type may be readily changed, and a manipulative means for releasing the latching means to enable the carrier to complete its operation.

9. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a type carrier adapted to be advanced and retracted during the cycling thereof, means for normally latching the carrier against movement, a key, means controlled by the key for releasing the latching means to enable the carrier to rise, and additional means controlled by the key for altering the normal operation of the machine to arrest the carrier in its raised position.

10. In a machine of the class described, operating mechanism, a movable type carrier, a type removably mounted therein and normally situated in a position inaccessible to the operator, means normally latching the carrier in such position, a manipulative means, means controlled by the manipulative means for disengaging said latching means, and additional means controlled by the manipulative means for arresting the operating mechanism and the carrier when the type has been moved to a position accessible to the operator.

11. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocable type carrier, means for moving said carrier through its advancing and retracting movements, a type removably mounted on said carrier, key controlled latch means for normally restraining said carrier from advance movement, a second key controlled means for interrupting the normal operation of said carrier at a predetermined point, and means coupled with the second key controlled means for withdrawing the first key controlled latch means to enable the carrier to advance to such point.

WALTER A. ANDERSON.

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