US2255557A - Totalizer selecting mechanism fob - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON 2,255,557

TOTALIZER SELECTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l 2 V l a r C 32 o lllllllM mlllllllllllllllk & 9 @@@@@h F INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON- BY K ATTORNEY P 9, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON 2,255,557

TOTALIZER SELECTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia 25a INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON BY /&1

ATTOR N EY p 1941- w. A. ANDERSON TOTALIZER SELECTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON f) I A 11/ ATTORNEY lwl mohomjmm macaw mam-Fm 6 m 9, 1941- w. A. ANDERSON 2,255,557

TOTALIZER SELECTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I VENTOR s WALTER A. ANDERSON ATTORNEY lectively enabling or disabling selection of regis- Patented Sept. 9, 1941 2,255,557

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOTALIZER SELECTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Walter A. Anderson, Brldzcmrt, 001111., aaignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation Delaware Application June 29, 19:9, Serial No. 281,773

4 Claims. (01. 235-60) This invention relates to accounting machines 1mm o column, nd which is automatically reof the key set, motor operated type, and more turned f a p ed ermined point in each exparticularly t t controls for th registers cursion. The carriage includes a control plate thereof. ying a series of magazines having lugs for The prlmary object of th present i ti i 5 automatically controlling the various operations to provide a machine having a plurality of groups of the machine that are initiated manually by of adding registers with an automatic register the keyboard. The machine includes eight addselecting mechanism capable of selecting similar 8 eg sters and two ,crossfooters (these latter registers of each group jointly, or a particular a e omitted from the present illustrations since register of a particular group independently. 10 y ave no bea p the invention). 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a B d e OIOSSfOOteI being ocated in register selecting mechanism which is controlled What is known as the upper g oup, and the other by the paper carriage, and which requires so four registers and crossfooter being located in little power for its operation that it does not mawhat is known a the lower ou Al e regterially affect the movement of the carriage in its isters and crossfooters are actuated by a comtravel from column t 601mm mon set of actuators adjustable under control of A further object or the invention is to provide s ps t y t a un d n s- These a register control mechanism which is simple in actuators 8150 control the adjustment 0! ype for design and cnstrugtion printing amounts and totals. Each group of reg- With these and incidental objects in View, the isters and each crossfooter has separate sets of invention consists in certain novel features of ansfer elements. construction and combinations of parts, the es- Manual selection of the registers is performed sential elements of which are set forth in apy depression of one of four key o elect a pended claims, and a preferred embodiment of spo ding. register in the upp r or lower which is hereinafter described with reference to group, a e g p in which the desired re the drawings which accompany and form part ter is located is selected by non-dep s 0n Or of the specification. depression of a fifth key- In t drawings; Automatic selection of the registers is efiected Figure 1 is a perspective view of an accounting by depression of one of four control levers opermachine embodying the invention, able by the paper carriage. Each control lever Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the keyorresponds to one of the four reg ster selecting board, keys and is operable to actuate the same mecha- Figure 3 is a right side elevation showing the nism that is operated by its corresponding key. adding registers, certain of the controls therefor, Likewise, a fifth control lever having connection the type bars and actuating mechanism, with the same mechanism that is operated by Figure 4 is a right side elevation showing the the fifth (group selection) key is operableto automechanism for selecting the registers, matically select the group in which the desired Figure 5 is a perspective of the means for seregister is located. Lugs carried in magazines that are mounted at various points on the carriage depress their corresponding control levers as the carriage advances from column to column. When a magazine contains a lug to select a particular register and has no lug in the group selecting position thereof, this particular register tors in a particular group,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective of a register selecting bail, and

Figure 7 is a detail rear elevation of the carriage controlled group selector lever.

is selected in the upper group alone, but when a GENERAL Dmmtmon short lug is placed in the group selecting posi- This machine is an improvement on t tion of the magazine, this particular reigster is .plication of Oscar J. Sundstrand, Serial No. selected in both the pp r d l wer ro ps joint- 5B1,800, filed December 18, 1931, now Patent No. 1y. While a full length 18 in the group selecting 2,194,270, and application Serial No. 88,092, filed positi n of he ma azine se c s is pa icu ar June 30, 1936, now-Patent No. 2,209,240. The ster n t w r r up al ne.

machine includes the customary keyboard with Totals are taken from a register by depressing amount keys, date keys and operation controlling its proper selecting key, operating the machine keys. It has the customary traveling paper carthrough a blank cycle, then depressing the regisriage that is automatically tabulated from 001- ter total key and again operating the machine.

Sub-totals are taken from the registers in the same manner as totals, except that the register non-add key is depressed Jointly with the register total key.

Da'rermni DESCRIPTION Index of topics 1. The machine sections and actuating mech- 1. The machine sections and actuating mechanism Referring to Figure 1, the machine includes the customary keyboard having amount keys I, a motor bar 2, and a paper carriage 3, laterally movable along a track 4. The carriage supports aroller platen 5, around which paper is inserted to be printed upon by type bars 6. A plate I fixed on the carriage has a plurality of control magazines 8 for automatically controlling various machine operations as the carriage tabulates from column to column.

The machine also includes (Figure 3) eight adding registers arranged in two groups situated one above the other, there being four registers in each group. They are designated generally A, B, C and D in each group, and each includes a plurality of ten tooth wheels 9. These registers are operable for adding only. Situated in front of these registers are two crossfooters (not shown), each having a plurality of twenty tooth wheels and each being arranged for addition and subtraction. These crossfooters and their operating mechanisms are identical with those disclosed in the before-mentioned Patent No. 2,194,270.

The machine is operated by an actuating shaft I2 that is connected to an electric motor drive in such manner that the shaft is rocked, first counter-clockwise and then clockwise, during each cycle of the machine. The motor (not shown) is started by closing suitable switch mechanism under control of motor bar 2 or a corresponding automatic carriage control lever. Simultaneously, the motor drive is coupled with shaft 12 by suitable clutch mechanism to initiate the above-described oscillatory movement to the shaft.

Two similar arms l3, only one of which is shown, are secured to rock shaft l2, and are each provided with rollers such as l4 that rest in cam slots in the forward ends of two similar arms such as l5, pivoted on a rod l6 and situated on opposite sides of type bars 6. A series of actuating levers such as H, there being a lever for each type bar, are pivoted on rod l6 between arms I5, and are tensioned clockwise about the rod by springs such as l8, so that the upper edges of the levers rest against a tie rod l9 secured between arms I5. The forward ends of levers it are each pivoted at 29 to their corresponding type bars 5, which are guided for vertical movement in the machine frame. The rear end of each lever i1 is connected by pin-and-slot connection 2| to a bell crank 22, also pivoted on rod i6 adjacent each actuating lever. The rear ends of hell cranks 22 are pivoted at 23 to corresponding register actuating racks 24 guided for vertical movement in the machine frame. Springs such as 25, connected between each bell crank and lever, normally tension the bell cranks counter-clockwise about rod I6 so that the pins of. pin-and-slot connections 2| are urged toward the upper edges of the slots for transfer purposes, as described in Patent No. 2,194,270. Identical actuators and racks corresponding to these just described are provided for actuation of the lower group of registers and are designated by like reference numerals with an a appended thereto, auxiliary links 3|] being connected between actuators I I and actuators Ila to transmit similar movement thereto.

Operation of the machine causes arms l3 and to be raised and lowered during each cycle. As rod I9 rises, during the first half of the cycle. actuators I! raise such of the type bars as are free to rise under tension of springs l8, and the corresponding actuating racks 24 and 24a are simultaneously lowered. As rod l9 descends, during the second half of the cycle, the actuators are restored, restoring the type bars and racks to the normal position shown in Figure 3. The extent of vertical movement of the type bars and racks is controlled by stops 26 that are moved by amount keys I (Figure 1) into the path of vertically disposed rods 21, connected to the forward ends of .arms 28 of type bars 6. Printing is eifected by hammers 29 that are tripped to strike impression type carried by the type bars, shortly after the bars have risen to their fullest extents as determined by the amount indexed on the keyboard.

2. Registers in general The eight adding registers are each composed of a number of ten tooth wheels engageable with actuating racks 24 and 24a for their operation. The four registers in the upper group are provided with one set of transfer elements, and the four in the lower group with another set. The transfer elements for each set are identical, and the registers and transfer elements are identical with those shown in the Sundstrand Patent No. 2,194,270, and, therefore, will not be described in detail.

3. Manual selection of registers in general Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the row of wide top keys at the right hand side of the keyboard includes four keys designated A register, B register, C register and D register. Depression of one of these keys results in the selection of the adding register corresponding to the key depressed. Referring particularly to Figure 4, four balls 32 are pivoted on rods 33 and lie directly beneath the stems of the keys for selecting the A, B, C and D registers. These bails have their lower portions lying directly behind upstanding portions of slides 34 to 31 extending to the rear of the machine. At their rear ends, the slides 34 to 31 have upwardly extending portions lying directly behind downwardly extending shoulders on bails 38 to 4| (Figures 5 and 6) pivoted on a rod 42. At the opposite sides, the bails 38 to 4| have pivoted thereto four links 43 to 46, which in turn are pivoted to four engaging links 41 to 88. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, there is a pin-andslot connection between links 43 to 43 and the engaging links 41 to 50 to provide for a movement of any of the links 48 to 48 without a corresponding movement of the engaging links. Four depending links 48a to 48a are also pivoted to the balls 38 to 4| respectively, on the same pivot studs as the links 48 to 43. Links 43a to 43a are connected at their lower ends by pin-and-slot connections to four engaging links 41a to 50a for the registers in the lower group.

By the train of connections Just described, depression of one of the register selecting keys A to D oscillates one of the bails 32 clockwise and moves one of the slides 34 to 81 forward. This rotates the corresponding bail 88 to 4| clockwise, and raises the corresponding set of links 43, 43a to 45, 45a. Studs 55 and 55a (Figures 3 and 4) secured in members 53 and 58a respectively, for the upper and lower groups, lie immediately above the forward ends of engaging links 41 to 50 and 41a to 50a. The members 56 and 55a are held against vertical movement in a manner to be later explained. Springs 51 and 51a (Figures 4 and 5), connected to the engaging links and to the machine frame, hold the forward ends of the links up against the upper ends of the slots in links 43 to 45 and 43a to 45a. The rear ends of the engaging links ar pivoted to levers 58 to SI and 58a to Gla, which in turn are secured to shafts 52 to 65 and 62a to 85a.

From this construction, it is seen that when one set of links 43, 43a to 46, 46a are raised by depression of their register selecting keys, the corresponding engaging links will be free to move up a short distance under the tension of their corresponding springs 51 when the corresponding studs 55 are moved into alignment with notches 6B and 56a in the upper and lower engaging links respectively. Studs 55 and 55a are so moved by the register engaging mechanism later to be explained.

4. Manual selection of registers in the upper Q WP In order to make it possible to select a register in the upper group to the exclusion of the corresponding register A to D in the lower group, the following mechanism is provided.

A ball 61 (Figure 4) situated under the stem of a group selector key is pivoted similarly to bails 32.. A slide 88 is situated similarly to slides 34 to 31 and adapted for similar movement. An arm 59 extends upwardly from slide 68 and is connected by a link 10 to a bail 1i pivoted on a rod 12. An arm 13, also pivoted on rod 12, has a 'stud 14 projecting laterally therefrom and lying over the rear end of an arm 15 of bail 1|. A spring 15 is connected to stud 14 and to a stud on arm 15. A slide 11 (see also Figur 5), mounted for vertical reciprocation on stationary studs 18, has a small opening in its upper end to receive the rear end of arm 13. A link 19, pivoted to slide 11, is connected at its lower end to a lever 80 by a pin-and-slot connection 81. A slide 82, similar to slide 11, is likewise mounted for vertical movement on stationary studs 83.- A stud 84 on slide 82 is embraced by a bifurcated end of lever 88. A strong spring 85 is connected to slide 82 and to the machine framel Slides 11 and 82 each have four slots 86 and 86a respectively, embracing the forward ends of the engaging links 41 to 50 and 41a to 50a.

When the parts are in their normal positions,

asshowninFigure4,andassumingthatno register in either group was selected during the last operation, the upper ends of the slots 83 (Figure 5) lie a sumcient distance above the forward ends of their respective engaging links 41 to to allow a selected one of these engaging links to rise during the operation for the purpose of engaging its register with the actuating racks, as hereinafter described. The upper ends of the four slots a, however, lie in contact with the upper surfaces of the forward ends of their corresponding links 41a to Ila and are held in this position by tension of spring 85. With the parts in this position, depression of one of the register selecting keys, and the accompanying raising of its corresponding set of links 48, 48a, etc., releases the corresponding set of engaging links 41, 41a, etc., to the lifting action of the corresponding springs 51, 81a, but only the upper engaging link is free to rise and engage its corresponding stud 55, since slide 82 restrains the lower link through the superior strength of spring 85 over spring 51a. In this manner a register in the upper group is selected'for independent operation.

5. Manual selection of registers in the lower M 4 oting lever 80 to raise slide 82 and the upper ends of slots 86a upwardly away from the lower engaging links 41a to 50a. Now, upon operation of th machine, the upper engaging link of the selected register is restrained from engaging its corresponding stud 55, whereas the lower engaging link for the selected register is free to rise and engage its corresponding stud 55a. In this manner, a register in the lower group may be selected for independent operation.

6. Automatic selection of registers in general The registers may be automatically selected under the control of the traveling paper carriage 8. The mechanism for controlling automatic selection of the registers is so arranged that a particular register of the upper group may be selected to the exclusion of the corresponding register in the lower group, or vice versa, or the corresponding registers in the two groups may be selected jointly.

This mechanism comprises a series of bell cranks 81 (Figure 4) pivoted on a stationary rod 88, there being one such bell orank for each slide 84 to 81. These bell cranks have depending arms resting against the rear ends of their corresponding slides 34 to 31, and horizontal arms upon which rest rods 89, suitably guided for vertical movement. The upper ends of rods 89 lie directly beneath control levers 90 (similar to control lever 94, Figure 7) that are pivoted in the machine frame. Lugs such as 9| (Figure 4), placed in certain of the magazines 8 that are located in predetermined columns, depress their corresponding control levers 90 when the carriage advances to these columns. Depression of a lever 30 rocks its corresponding bell crank 81 clockwise to thrust the corresponding slide 34 to 31 forward the same as when its corresponding key A to D is depressed to pull the slide forward.

A bell crank 92, similar to bell cranks 81 and also pivoted on rod 88, has a depending arm resting against the rear end of slide 68, and likewise has a horizontal arm supporting a rod 93, similar to rods 89, that lies beneath a control lever 94 (see also Figure 7) for automatically controlling the selection of the group in which the desired register is located. A lug placed in a magazine 8 in the group selector position thereof depresses lever 94 to thrust slide 68 forward the same as though the group selector key were depressed to pull this slide forward.

7. Automatic selection of registers in the upper group When a magazine 8 in a particular column on the control plate 1 contains a lug to select a particular register A to D, and this magazine has no lug in the group selecting position thereof, that particular register of the upper group is selected, since slide 68 is not moved forward and the operation is the same as explained in connection with manual selection of registers in the upper group.

8. Automatic selection of similar registers in the upper and lower groups jointly When a magazine 8 contains a lug to select a particular register, and also contains a short lug 95 (Figure '1) in a group selector position of this magazine, as the carriage moves into this column the proper control lever 98 is depressed to raise the corresponding set of links 43, 43a to 46, 46a of this particular register, and control lever 94 is simultaneously partially depressed to thrust slide 68 forward one half the amount of its full movement. As shown in Figure 5, such partial movement of slide 88 is sufficient to rock arm 13 enough to raise the upper ends of slots 86a upwardly away from lower engaging links 41a to 58a, but is insufficient to lower the upper ends of slots 86 into contact with upper engaging links 41 to 58. Therefore, the engaging links of both groups are permitted to rise and engage their corresponding studs 55 and 55a, thus effecting a joint selection of similar registers in each group.

9. Automatic selection of registers in the lower group When a magazine contains a lug to select a particular register, and has also a full length lug in the group selecting position thereof, when the carriage moves into this column, control lever 94 is fully depressed, to thrust slide 68 forward its full distance of travel, the same as when the group selecting key is depressed to pull the slide forward. This moves slides 11 and 82 to the same positions that they occupy when the group selector key is depressed, i. e., with the upper ends of slots 86 against engaging links 41 to 58 and the upper ends of slots 86a removed from engaging links 41a to 58a. Hence, the desired register is automatically selected in the lower group along, as described in connection with manual selection of registers in the lower group.

10. Engagement of the registers Engagement and disengagement of the registers with the actuating racks is accomplished by mechanism identical with that disclosed in the before-mentioned Patent No. 2,209,240. A summary description of this mechanism is herein given only insofar as it pertains to the operation of the present invention.

As before stated, rock shaft I2 and arms I3 (Figure 3) are rocked first counter-clockwise, and then clockwise, about 90 during each cycle of the machine. The right arm I3 has pivoted thereto a pawl 96, that oscillates a plate 91 pivoted on a stationary stud 98, first counter-clockwise, then clockwise, during each cycle of the machine. Plate 91 carries a stud 99 engaging a notch in the rear edge of a pendant I88 during accumulating operations. Pendant I88 is pivoted at I M to a cam lever I82 pivoted on a stationary rod I83. The rear end of lever I82 has a cam slot I84 embracing a stud I85 on member 56. This member is suspended for reciprocal horizontal movement on two links I86 and I81, pivoted to the front and rear ends of member 56 and to the machine frame. As heretofore mentioned, studs 55 are secured in member 56 to move forwardly and rearwardly of the machine with the member.

With the exception of pawl 96, plate 91 and pendant I88, duplicate parts identical with those just described, are provided for engaging the lower group of registers, and are designated by like reference numerals having an a appended thereto, cam lever I82a being connected for parallel and uniform movement with cam lever I82 by a link I 88.

When the machine begins an operation, counter-clockwise movement of plate 91 raises pendant I88 and lowers the rear ends of levers I82 and I82a. This causes cam slots I84 and I 84a to shift members 56 and 56a, respectively, to the rear so that any engaging links 41, 41a to 58, 58a that are free to rise under the tension of springs 51, may do so as soon as the corresponding studs 55, 55a reach their rearmost po sitions in line with their corresponding notches 66 and 86a. The raising of an engaging link causes its forward end to'lie above a corresponding stud I89 or I89a, the latter being stationary in the machine frame.

At the beginning of the return or clockwise oscillation of the plate 91, the pendant I88 is lowered, and the rear ends of cam levers I82 and I82a are raised to move members 56 and 56a to the left. Since the selected one of the engaging links in either the upper or lower, or both groups, is now in its upper position, the forward movement of members 56 and 56a pulls such engaged links forward. The front end of an engaged link will now rest above its corresponding stud I89 or I89a. The forward position of an engaging link is illustrated by the engaging link for the C register in the upper group in Figure 3. This forward movement of the engaging link oscillates its corresponding arm 58, 58a to 6I, Glu and shaft 62, 62a to 65, 65a (Figure 5) counterclockwise. Referring to Figure 3, it is seen that oscillation of one of the shafts 62 to 65 or 62a to 65a engages its corresponding register A to D with actuating racks 24 or 24a.

At the completion of the cycle, such of the engaging links as have been engaged with either studs 55 or 55a, or both, remain engaged. If, at the beginning of the next operation, the register engaged for the last operation is not selected, the initial counter-clockwise movement of plate 91 disengages such register by movement of its engaging link to the rear. As soon as the era-- gaging link reaches its rearmost position, one of four strong springs such as H (Figure attached to each bail 38 to ll and to the machine frame, pulls its corresponding bail counterclockwise about pivot 42. At this time, the ball is free to be rocked in this direction since its corresponding slide 34 to 31 is not moved forward during this operation by depression of either its corresponding register key or automatic control lever 90.

In the event that one of the registers in the upper group, for instance the C register, was selected during the last operation, its engaging link is left in position above stud I09, as shown in Figure 3, blocking downward movement of slide 11. Now, if a register in the lower group is selected for engagement during the next operation, upon depression of the group selector key or automatic control lever 94, spring 18' (Figure 5) yields to permit actuation of the connected parts, and places clockwise tension on arm 13. At the beginning of the ensuing cycle, when the C register is disengaged in the manner previously described, slide I1 is immediately lowered under tension of spring 16 to disable selection of upper group registers, and slide 82 is simultaneously raised to enable selection of the proper register in the lower group. This is possible because of the superiority of the spring 16 over spring 85.

Near the end of a machine cycle during which a lower register is engaged, the automatic release of the group selector key or the automatic tabulation of the carriage to the next columnar position (depending upon which means was used to select the register) permits slide 68 to be restored to its rear position. This raises slide 11 and link 19, but since the forward end of one o! the engaging links "a to 50a at this time lies above its stud l09a, slide 82 is prevented from returning to its lower position. This movement oi. slide Tl without a corresponding movement of slide 82 is permitted by the pin-and-slot connection'el.

If, during the next cycle, no register is selected from the lower group, the initial counterclockwise movement of plate 91, in restoring the engaging link l'Ia-to 50a associated with the engaged lower register, allows spring 85 to restore slide 82 to its normal position.

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 intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is 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. two

groups of totalizers, a traveling carriage, a plurality of trains of elements equal in number to the totalizers in one group and controlled by the carriage for selecting the totalizers in both groups, and another train of elements controlled by the carriage for preventing the selection of totalizers in one or the other groups, or enabling the selection of totalizers in both groups.

2. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of groups of totalizers, actuators therefor, a traveling carriage, engaging means for meshing the totalizers with the actuators, separate means for connecting each totalizer with the engaging means, means in each group for preventing or enabling such connection of any totalizer in that group, and means for setting the disabling and enabling means to enable connection of a totalizer in one group only, to enable connection of a totalizer in each group jointly, or to enable connection of a totalizer in the other group only, and means on the carriage to control the operation of the setting means.

3. In a machine of the class described, two groups of totalizers, actuators therefor, a trayeling carriage, means for engaging the totalizers with the actuators, individual engaging links for connecting the totalizers with the engaging means, links connected with the engaging links for controlling the engagement of the engaging links with the engaging means and operable by the traveling carriage, and additional means operable by the traveling carriage and including a pair of plates for controlling the engagement of the engaging links with the engaging means, one of the plates operating in connection with the engaging links for the totalizers of one group and the other with the engaging links for the totalizer of the other group, and means for so connecting the two plates with each other that either plate may lie in ineffective position alone, or both may lie in ineflfective position Jointly.

4. In a machine of the class described, two groups of totalizers, actuators therefor, means for engaging the totalizers with the actuators, a separate means for each group for rendering the engaging means for its respective group inefiective, means operated by the traveling carriage for operating said separate means, and means to coordinate the movements of said separate means, the said coordinating means being efiective to move one of the separate means to ineflective position when the carriage operated means is moved to one position, to move the other separate means to inenective position when the carriage operated means is moved to a second position, and to move both the separate means to ineirective position when the carriage operated meansis moved to a third position.

WALTER A. ANDERSON.

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