US2280919A - landsiedel - Google Patents

Description

Agril 28, 1942. w. w. LANDSIEDEL COMPUTING AND LISTING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet l w.w. LANDSlEDEL BY ATT RNEY April 28', 1942- w. w. LANDSIEDEL COMPUTING AND LISTING MACHINE Original Filed March 1:5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W.W LANDSHZDEL ATTO NEY April 1942- w. w. LANDSIEDEL COMPUTING AND LISTING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mum M m O U 8 liq o5 ama? mum P3 m8 m m2 m9 INVENTOR- w.w. LANDSIEDEL BY ATTO NEY April 1942- w. w. LANDSIEDEL I COMPUTING AND LISTING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W,W- LANDSIEDEL BY %Z- ATTOR EY INVQENTOR April 28, 1942. w. w. LANDSIEDEL 2,280,919

COMPUTING AND LISTING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheei 5 l INVENTOR W.W. LANDSIEDEL BY ATTO NEY April 1942- w. w. LANDSIEDEL 2,280,919

COMPUTING AND LISTING MACHINE ginal Filed March 15, 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 3M? BIZ INVENTOR W.W. LANDS IEDEL A TORNEY Patented A r. 28, 1942 T 'i i PATENT OFFICE comma sun us'rnso'mcnms walterwJnndsiedehllniirany assignor-to Remington landlines ration of Delaware Mm, Ne Y's m- Orkinal imam m 1:. 1m. Serial No. ztslahmz plicathan Novein-' 4 can (01. 235-60) 68,694. Divided and bcr3,1938,8erinlNo.

This invention relates to computing and recording machines and particularly to printing a special character whenever a true negative total is taken. 1

The present invention is herein shown and described in connection with a portable adding, subtracting and recording machine of the ten key class of the type shown in United States Patent No. 1,899,444 to Thomas 0. Mehan, issued February 28, 1938, wherein the keys set stops in a traveling carriage. While the invention may be readily embodied in said machine with but slight changes in the existing structural features thereof, it should be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms of computing machines, wherever found available.

This application is a division of my copending application 8. N. 68,694, flled March 13, 1936 and which has since been issued as Patent No. 2,203,336 on June 4, 1940.

The object of this invention is to print a character to designate a true negative balance.

Another object is to latch a character bar to prevent printing thereby when a positive total is taken and release said bar when printing a negative total. it

.Another object of this invention is to cause the character bar to print at approximately the same time with the numerical type bars.

Still another object is to prevent the type bar from printing during computing cycles.

construction will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front to rear vertical section through the machine, with the parts in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary right hand elevation illustrating the subtraction mechanism and some associated parts, the subtraction key and associated parts being in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary right hand elevation of the subtraction mechanism with the subtract key depressed for performing a subtraction operation but the mechanism otherwise normal;

Fig. 4 show the same setting as Fig. 3 but with the parts as they appear at the end of the forward stroke of the operating mechanism during a listing operation of a subtracted amount;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged left hand elevation of the mechanism used for shifting the register into and out of mesh with the actuating racks;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view illustrating the credit balance or negative total mechanism and associated parts; and

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of some of the framing and some of the mechanism.

General construction The machine comprises the usual ten numeral keys Ill, Fig. 1, the stems ll of which are adapted to set stop l2 in a step by step moving stop carriage it, which carriage travels on rails l4 and II under the control of an escapement which is partially shown in Fig.1 and designated 16. The escapement mechanism for controlling the travel of the stop carriage It may be of any well known construction. In the present instance the mechanism shown is similar t0.that disclosed and described in the above mentioned Mehan patent. In view of this and the fact that in no way affects the invention it will not be described in detail herein. The stops l2 when set are adapted to arrest ears I! on slides it which latter are mounted by pin and slot connections 26, on horizontally movable differential slides 2|. The slides i8 and 2| are connected by a spring 22 for the purpose of transfer and these slides are urged towards the rear of the machine by actuating springs 23. The slides 21 have their rear parts oil-set upward and guided by a comb bar 24. Rack teeth on these bars mesh with piniong 25 which also mesh with vertical rack teeth on type carriers 26 having slidable type 21 for cooperation with platen 28.

The framework of the machine comprises a base casting 30,here shown so shaped-as to tilt the rear end of the machine up somewhat, which is sometimes convenient in operation and which also serves to furnish room for a motor at the rear of the machine if desired. The mechanism is mostly supported on an inner frame comprising frame plates 3| and 32, (Figs. 1 and '7.) having ears which are screwed to the base plate and said upright plates ii and 32 being united by various cross members. At some distance outside of these plates there are also a left hand vertical frame plate 33 and a right hand plate 34, these being mainly for supporting controls etc. The slides 21, type bars 26 and the computing mechanism are mounted between the plates 3| and 32.

Register ample, in Fig. 1, and in subtracting operations plates 4| are journaled in side- arms 44 and 45 of a cradle which also comprises a rock shaft 45 to which the arms 44 and 45 are rigidly secured. Said cradle is stiffened by a cross bar 41. plates 3i and 32, and it is by a rocking of this cradle that the register wheels are moved into and out of mesh with the racks.

Register engaging and disengaging The operating mechanism comprises a main rock shaft 52, which carries certain cams and other operating devices, which shaft may be rocked by any suitable means such as a handle or motor. The means for moving the register into and out of mesh with the racks is best shown in Fig. 5 which is a view of the mechanism as seen from the left and with the outside frame plate 33 removed. Pivoted at 53 to the left hand arm 44 of the register cradle is a plate-like link 54 of special shape, somewhat like an inverted Y. The crotch at the lower end of this link comprises two shallow slots 55 and 55 for the reception of pins 51 and 58 projecting rightward from a plate 50 pivoted on a stud 5i projecting from an offset arm 52 of the left hand frame plate 3i. Said plate 50 carries on its left hand face two pins 53 and 54 which project through suitable openings in a bracket 55 secured to the base casting of the machine and which bracket also helps to support the stud 5|. The end crotch or notch of the link 54 is of a sort of diamond shape as shown in Fig. 5 so as to form cam edges which cooperate with the pins 51 and 58 to guide the latter into the notches or slots 55 and 55. The link 54 is normally held by a spring, to be hereinafter described, in its forward position with the pin 55 in the notch 55 so that if the plate 50 be rocked clockwise in Fig. 5 the register wheels will be lifted out of mesh with the racks on slides 2|.

Such rocking of the plate 50 is normally effected by a wipe pawl 55 of the type usual in these machines, said pawl being pivoted to an arm 59 rigidly projecting from the main shaft 52. Said wipe pawl has a projecting finger 51 and two shoulders, one, 68, for cooperation with the pin 54 and another, 10, for cooperation with the pin 53. The pawl is influenced by a spring 'H but it is normally rocked clockwise by the action of a branch 12 thereof on a stud l3 projecting from the bracket 55. On the forward (clockwise) stroke of the shaft 52, as the arm 53 descends and the branch or finger 12 moves away from the stud 13, the wipe pawl swings counter-clockwise and the shoulder 58 acting on pin 54 rocks plate 50 clockwise and forces the register cradle upward to disengaging position, all in the first part of the stroke. After this the pawl 55 automatically reverses by wiping over the pin 53 and at the first part of the return stroke the shoulder acting on said pin rotates the plate 50 counterclockwise and draws the register wheels into mesh. In order to take totals the plate link 54 is swung clockwise, Fig. 5, whereupon the pin 51 The shaft 45 is joumaled in the frame be swung to a position where it will not be further moved by the pawl 55 on the forward stroke but the pin 53 will be engaged at the beginning of the return stroke and rock the plate ll counter-clockwise. As the pin 51 is at the right of the pivot of said plate this motion will swing the register wheels out of mesh at the beginning of the return stroke. This mechanism is only briefly described because it is of a familiar type. The means for swinging the plate 54 to its different positions will be described hereinafter.

- As best shown in Fig. 5 the arm 44 of the register cradle terminates in a V-tooth 14 cooperating with a detent lever 15 pivoted on a stud I5 projecting from the frame plate 3|, said detent being drawn into engagement with tooth 14 by a spring 'l'l. Its V-shaped tooth I3 serves to yieldingly hold the cradle in either of its two positions. The motion of said cradle downward is limited by the cross bar 41 striking the top edges of the frame plates 3| and 32. The motion of the cradle in the upward direction is limited by one of its arms striking a washer or roller ll conveniently mounted on a cross rod 42.

Register reversing mechanism The means for rotating the register frame 4| etc., through-180 from the adding to the subtracting positionhas been brought out in detail in my above mentioned patent and only so much of the mechanism will be described herein as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

In order to rotate the register frame as above mentioned, the right handone of the trunnions 43 is prolonged beyondthe arm 45 (Fig. '7) and has mounted thereon a pinion 91. When the register is lifted out of mesh, this pinion (Fig. 4) engages an internal segmental rack 98 which is secured to the end of an arm I00 which arm is pivoted at its lower end to a U-shaped bracket i0| secured to the base casting 30.

In the present machine the mechanism is set for subtraction in computing operations under the control of a subtract key, and on a blank stroke preparatory to total-taking it is also sometimes set for subtraction under the control of certain mechanism due to the fact that the will be cammed into the notch 55 and pin 54 will register indicates a negative balance; and in computing operations the mechanism is automatically returned to adding condition upon the restoration of the subtract key and also sometimes on a blank stroke preparatory to totaltaking due to the register indicating a positive total. In any of these events the arm I00 is actuated by a slide H2 having suitable slots by which it is guided for front and rear sliding motion, one of said slots being guided on the main shaft 52 and the other on a frame rod H3. The slide H2 is operatively connected with the arm Hill by pin and slot I09.

In order to operate the subtract slide H2 in one direction or the other as required during the proper part of the forward stroke of the main shaft said slide has a vertically slidable piece H4 mounted thereon by pin and slot connections H5, (Figs. 2 and 4) said piece H4 having formed thereon two ears H5 and H1. In adding operations the slide H4 occupies its lower position, shown in Fig. 2, and in that position the ear H3 lies in the path of a stud H8 on a main actuating cam 253 fast on the main shaft 52 so that on the forward rotation (counter-clockwise) of said shaft and cam said stud will force the slide H2 to its forward position carrying with it the arm m and an. the

' highest order.

mechanism for addition. In this position the ear III is beneath the path of another stud I2I fast on the cm 233. In order to set the machine for sub-.

traction the slide H4 is moved to its upper position shown In Fig. 3 in which the ear III is out of the path of the stud H3 and the earl" is in .the path of the stud. I2I which stud being below the shaft 32 moves rearwardly during the forward rotation of said shaft and carries with it the slides H4 and H2 setting these to their rear positionsand setting the register mechanism for subtraction, as shown 'in Fig. 4, which figure represents the position of the parts at the end of the forward rotation of the main shaft. It

assome will be understood that the register will be dropped into mesh with the racks at the first part of the return rotation (clockwise) of the shaft. The slide H2 and arm I33 will remain I being pivoted on the subtraction shaft I23.

As best shown in Fig. 6 this lever I22 is one are of a ball, the bar I23 of which extends across the machine to the left hand side thereof and is integral with a depending arm I2'I which is also pivotedon the shaft I23.

The lever. I22 is raised to its subtract position (Fig. 3) by means of a subtract key I33, the stem of which is connected. to a key lever I32 secured to the shaft I23.

Referring to Fig. 4, the arm I22 rests on an ear I33 bent oil! from a lever I43 pivoted on the shaft I23, at two points connected by a yoke piece MI. The lever I43 lies to the left of the key lever I32 and between said lever and the lever I22 and it has a stud I42 projecting through a slot I43 in the key lever I32 which slot is of a width greater than the diameter of the stud. The stud is normally held against the upper edge of the slot by a spring I44 connected to a stud I43 on the key lever I32. The lever I22 is prolonged rearwardly so as to limit on a collar on the stud I03 as shown in Fig. 4, so that in case the subtract key is down the spring I44 can yield without putting any binding friction on the stud I23 and slot I24.

Transfer mechanism next one of higher order includes transfer pawl r I13 (Fig. l) essentially similar to those used in the machine of the above mentioned patent.

The drawings show two pawls, one, I33 for controlling the wheels of lowest order and another, I33 (Fig. 6) controlled by the wheel of The pawls I13, I33 and I36 are pivoted on a transverse shaft I31 and are drawn upward by springs I33, each against the end of a detent I93; said detent being urged counterclockwise by the spring I33. At its free end each of these pawls except pawl I33 has a cam tooth I3I adapted when a register wheel 33 passes from "9" to 0" or a register wheel 33 passes from 0" to "9" to be depressed by the carry or transfer tooth I32, of which eachregister wheel carries one at the left of its gear teeth. These transfer teeth project radially beyond the gear teeth as shown. When one of the transfer pawls is depressed by a transfer tooth the detent I33 snaps over the cooperating lug I33 of the pawl and retains it in depressed position until -released at a later period In the cycle. when the pawl is in its upper position a finger I34 thcreof arrests a flange I33 secured to the right hand side of the heart higher rack 2i arresting said rack one unit short of thepoint to which the slide I3 on said rack is restored. when the pawl is in its lower position, this flange I33 and the rack towhichit is attached can move an extra unit distance until arrested by the end of the notch above the finger I34. This is substantially the ordinary transfer mechanism of this machine.

Zero stop 1. and 5), said bar having a series of teeth 2 on its lower edge for engagement with the transfer teeth I 32 but out of the planes of the gear teeth. This plate is in effect-a bail bar, the the arms 2 I 3 of the bail being pivoted to the arms 44 and 43 of the cradle on pivot screws 2I3. The left hand one of these arms 2I3 has a radial slot into which a stud 2II projects from an arm of the plate link 34 which regulates the engagement and disengagement of the register. The construction is such' that when said link 34 is in its forward or computing position, shown'in Fig. 5, the bar 2I3 is held up in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 out of engagement with the register wheels; but when the link 34 is swung to its rear position for the purpose of taking a total the bar 2I3 is rocked downward until its teeth 2I4 are in the path of movement of the transfer teeth I32 of whichever set of register wheels 35 or 33 is at the time out of engagement with the racks. When the racks are moved towards the front of the machine the wheels that are in engagement with it are turned clockwise and those that are out of engagement are turned counterclockwise until their transfer teeth are arrested in exact zero position by these teeth .2I4 and entireiy independently of the transfer pawls.

In an algebraic register, positive 0 is the same as negative 9" and, vice versa, negative 0 is the same as positive 9." In the described arrangement. positive totals are taken with the add wheels 33 in engagement with the racks, by arresting the subtract wheels 33 at "9; andnegative totals are taken with the subtract wheels 36 in engagement, by arrestzng'the add wheels 33 at 9. In short both kindsof totals are taken by the use of the same stop ball 2 I3 which arrests in "9 position, the set of register wheels which, at the time is out of engagement with the actuators.

Total-taking controls Totals are taken automatically without the use of a total key by merely giving two strokes to the main shaft, 32, the first being a blank stroke and the second the total stroke. As the total taking control mechanism is fully described in my above mentioned patent, it is not necessary to describe the mechanism herein except to state that the first idle stroke following the-computing operation results in unlocking of the total slide (not shown) so that every succeeding stroke will be a total stroke in character.

Fzwitive one mechanism In order to obtain true negative balances provision is made for transferring the fugitive one from the registerwheel of highest order to that of lowest order (Fig. 6). To this end a special butwi rock the lever 212 counterclockwise.

. the lever 212 clockwise.

slide 2| I8 is provided similar to the slides 2| out rack teeth and without provision for control ing any printing hammer, said slide having on it a slide |8I8 like the slides I8, but without the ear I1 and without the special locking provision at the rear end of it. This slide 2| I8 has a flange 888 the same as the slides 2| and is controlled in the same manner by a finger I84 of a transfer pawl but with this difference, namely, that the slot I888 into which the flange 88 moves when the lug |8| is depressed by the transfer tooth of the wheel of highest order is longer than the slots in the ordinary slides, so as to give to the slide 2| I8 a substantial extent of motion, when, on a change of sign in the total, this slide is released. The slide 2|I8 is also made with a depending finger 288 adapted to strike a pivot screw 288 to limit its rearward motion. Plvoted to the vertical section of the slide 2| l8 by pin and slot connection 281, is a Y-shaped link or hook 288 having the upper branch thereof shaped into a hook 218 and the lower branch into a hook 2". The two branches of this member pass between the two cheek plates of a lever 212 pivoted on the screw 288, said cheek plates being connected by two shouldered rivets 218. When the link 288 is swung up, its upper hook 218 engages the upper rivet 218 and if at this time the slide 2| I8 be released said hook will When said link 288 is swung to its lower position, if then the slide be tripped off, the lower hook 2" will swing The link 288 is swung to its two said positions by means of a link 214 pivoted thereto and to an arm 218 constituting one arm of a long ball pivoted on the shaft I28, hereinbeiore referred to, and the bar 218 which extends across to the right hand side of the machine where the other arm of the bail is prolonged into a lever arm 211 hanging downward and having at its end a stud 218. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 8 the subtract slide III has an arm projecting toward the front of the machine and having two ears 288 bent off therefrom toward the left and embracing the stud 218. The construction is such that when said slide moves to the add position shown in Fig. 3 it rocks the bail 218-'-218-211 clockwise and swings the hook member 288 to its lower position. When,- however, the subtract slide 2 moves to its rear or subtract position, shown in Fig. 4, it swings the hook member to its upper position.

The lever 212 is operatively connected by a few gear teeth with an arm 28| of a bail pivoted at 282 and extending across beneath the register mechanism to a point just to the right of the units wheel where the bail has its right hand am 288 also pivoted. Said arm 288 extends upward and terminates goose-neck fashion'in a V-shaped tooth 284 whose inclined edges are adapted to act cam fashion on a stud 288, projecting from the transfer pawl I88 which controls the slide 2| of units order. The whole construction is such that when the lever 212 is rocked in either direction the bail 28I-288 is rocked in the 0pposite direction. The arm 288 and tooth 284 ranged as to cross its dead center when the parts swing from one of the said positions to the other so that said spring tends to retain the parts in either position.

The mode of operation of the above mechanism is as follows: Assuming that the machine contains a positive total, as long as numbers are added the mechanism will at the end of each cycle come to the position shown in Fig. 8. Whenever, however, the mechanism is set for subtraction the hook link 288 will be moved to its upper position. If new a number be subtracted greater than the sum already registered, the wheel of highest order will be turned from 8" to "9" and the transfer pawl I88 willv be depressed and the slide 2| I8 will jump towards the front of the machine, the hook 218 will rock the lever 212 counter-clockwise and the arm 288 clockwise causing the tooth 284 to pass over the pin 288. momentarily depressing it, and said tooth will pass on beyond said pin. This trips the transfer affecting the units rack and subtracts one from the units wheel. It will be perceived that the levers 212 and 288 will occupy these positions as long as the total indicated on the register remains negative. Even if the capacity of the register should be exceeded so that there was another transfer from the wheel of highest order, the slide 2|I8 would Jump forward as before but the hook 218 would find the lever 212 already in its rocked position and nothing would happen. If new on further computation the machine is set for addition then the link 288 will rock back to its lower position but the lower rivet 218 will then be in its rear position instead of in its forward position. If now a number be added in excess of the negative total already registered, then when the slide 2I|8 is tripped and Jumps forward the hook 2" will rock the lever 212 and the arm 288 back to their positive positions, where they will remain as long as the total indicated on the register continues positive. In this return motion of the lever 288 the tooth 284 will again act on pin 288 and cause the fugitive one to be added into the units wheel.

It will be perceived that the position of the parts 212 and 28I serve as an index to the sign of the total registered on the wheels.

Automatic register reversing mechanism The so-called credit balance mechanism includes not only means for indicating a true negative balance on the register wheels, but also means for automatically setting the machine for subtraction on the blank stroke in case the balance indicated on the wheels is negative, and for automatically setting the machine for addition in casethe balance is positive. Thus the operator, to take a total, has only to give two strokes to the operating mechanism and the total will automatically be printed in its true character whether positive or negative.

The means for automatically setting the machine for addition 'or subtraction as the case may be on taking totals, is controlled by the member 28I the position of which indicates the state of the register. It will be recalled that the machine is set'for subtraction by lifting the arm I22, Fig. 6, also that said arm, which is on the righthand side of the machine, is connected through yoke bar I28 with a depending arm I21 on the left side of the machine. This depending arm has lost motion pin and slot connection 288 with a horizontal bar 28| extending therefrom towards the rear of the machine. Said bar has near its rear end a horizontal slot 2!! by which it is guided for longitudinal motion on a stud 293 secured to a lever 284 which lever is pivoted to the frame plate 3| on a flxed stud "I. Said lever 294' carries a follower roller 2 adapted to bear against a cam 3" fast on the main shaft 52, the lever I being urged counter-clockwise by a spring 288 to press said roller against said cam. In the normal position of the parts the roller rests on a low part of the cam or rather against a rather steep incline so that in the very first part of the forward stroke of the shaft the roller is forced towards the rear of the machine which motion can be aifected without movin the bar "I, the stud ill merely sliding in the slot. when the lever 284 is thus rocked it will,

however, carry the bar m with it and set the machine for subtraction in case the register indicates a negative total. To this end there is pivoted on the stud 283 a pawl adapted to engage beneath a flange llll bent on of the rear end of the bar m said pawl having a shoulder adapted to engage the forward edge of said flange and to move the bar :91 rearward. The pawl is urged upward into engagement with the ear "I by a spring 302. Said pawl has a depending arm from which a stud 304 projects anism will automatically be set on the blank stroke to addition in the same manner aslhereinbefore described. Y

Numeral printing mechanism bail bar "I (Figs. 1 and 3), joining two arms across the forward end of a blocking piece or ing arm of the member 2" hereinbefore described. It will be recalled that this part Ill stands in the position shown in Fig. 6 whenever the register contains a positive total. In this position of the parts the link 301 holds the blocking member 305 with its end squarely behind the stud 304 with the result that if the shaft 52 be rocked and the lever 294 be rocked clockwise the stud 304 will be arrested by the part 305 and as the pivot 293 moves rearward the pawl 800 will be deflected downward so that its tooth will pass under the flange lll without operating it. If, however, the part ill is in its alternative position indicating a negative total the link 301 will have been moved towards the front of the machine and the member 305 will have been rocked upward and the stud 3 will not be blocked and the pawl 300 will draw the link m towards the rear of the machine. This link will rock the arm I21, b'a'il bar I26 and subtract lever 122 and cause the machine to be set for subtraction on the blank stroke of the machine.

The mechanism just above described is prevented from setting the machine automatically for subtraction at every operation thereof by a device I08, which cooperates with the stud "l in such a manner that it always blocks the stud except when the stop carriage II is in its initial right hand position. As the control of the above device its is fully described in my above mentioned patent, and inasmuch as it does not form 824, one at each side of the machine and each pivoted at its lower end at 325. The right hand one of these arms, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, carries a follower roller. I cooperating with aninternal cam cutout in the main actuating cam 2" on the shaft 52. The forward edge of this cutout is concentric with the shaft but the rear edge is inclinedoutward and in the normal position of the shaft said rear edge has forced the roller 32! and the bail frame 323-424 to their forward position against the tension of a suitable spring, thus forcing the type hammers to their forward positions. Fig. 4 shows the parts in the position they occupy at the end of the forward stroke where the cam edge I21 has widened out so as to permit the roller 32 and the bail frame to resume their rear positions leaving the hammers free of the bail. When the hammers are restored they are locked by a ball 32! mounted on a shaft m and released automatically at the proper instant in the usual manner. The hammers are also equipped with the usual individual latches 3, Fig. 1, each having a forwardly extending arm 33! controlled in the usual manner by the slides 2|, these latches being normally held up by bail bar 333 and influenced by springs the subject matter of the present invention, it-

v is not deemed necessary to describe said control in detail herein.

By the mechanism just described the machine will automatically be set for subtraction only on blank strokes; and it will be so set on every blank stroke when the mechanism flnds a negative total on the register wheels. In case the last computing operation was a subtraction and the register indicates a positive total, the mech- Having thus described the machine in general the following is a description of the present invention embodied therein- Negative total designation mechanism In order to indicate automatically in a; printing when a printed total is negative, the following mechanism is provided (Figs. 3, 4, and 6): On a stud I projecting rightward from the frame plate I: there is mounted a printing lever 342 urged rearward by a spring 343. The upper end of this lever is madevinto a V-shaped device a beneath a collar on the right hand trunnion 43 of the register frame, and this latch is urged into engagement by a spring 348. The construction is such that the latch always engages the type lever 34: when the register is out of engagement with the racks and is moved out of-engagement with the type lever when the register is moved into engagement with the racks. In computing cycles the register is not moved into the racks until after the printing operation takes of printing and this special minus type bar is, therefore, free of the latch 343 at that time and in case the total is negative the minus sign will be printed but it will not be printed should the In order to prevent the printing lever 34:

total be positive.

from printing when the total is' positive, said lever is made with a forwardly extending arm 350 having an ear 3M bent ofl rightward therefrom as shown in Fig. 4. The subtract slide H2 has a cooperating ear 352 bent off leftward therefrom in such a position that when, as in Fig. 3, the lever 342 is in its retracted position and the slide H2 is in adding position the interlocking engagement of these two ears will lock the lever 342 against operation. When the total is negative, however, slide H2 is always moved to its rear position shown in Fig. 4 and the ear 332 is thus moved out of the path of the ear 3 and the minus sign is printed.

An additional lock for lever 342 may be provided to cause it to be held in inactive position until the proper moment at which time the totalprinting occurs. This lock consists of a latch lever 333 pivoted on the stud I06 and urged into engagement by aspring 354. The lower edge of this latch is made with an incline 353 by which the latch is lifted by the bail 323 when the latter swings to its rear position just before printing takes place.

The lever 342 is suitably guided by a headed screw 330 passing through an arcuate slot in said lever. In order to restore the lever to its retracted position it is made with a cam shaped lower arm 36! and finger 382 on the right hand am 324 acts on this arm 3" to restore the lever 342 at the same time that the type hammers are restored.

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirable embodiment of my invention,

. printing position, and a trunnion for said cradle frame to engage said latch and disable same when said cradle is moved toward said actuators.

3. In a listing and computing machine, the combination of a register cradle frame in which is supported two sets of intermeshed, register wheels, actuators for said wheels, means for moving said cradle frame-toward and from said actuators to engage and disengage said wheels and said actuators, a device for reversing said cradle whereby positive and negative amounts may be entered in said register wheels, a fugitive one mechanism for controlling said cradle reversing device, printing mechanism including printing hammers controlled by said actuating racks for printing said positive and negative totals, a bail movable from and to normal posiit is obvious that many changes in form could negative balances, actuating racks for said wheels, printing mechanism including printing hammers controlled by said actuating racks for printing said positive and negative balances, a bail movable from and to normal position for restoring said printing hammers, a type for printing a character to identify a printed negative balance, a latch for restraining said type from operation, and a cam on said latch cooperative with said restoring bail whereby said latch is disabled when said restoring bail moves from normal position.

2. In a listing and computing machine, the a;

combination of a register cradle frame in which tion for restoring said printing hammers, a type bar for printing a character to identify a printed negative total, a latch for restraining said type bar from moving to printing position, a trunnion for said cradle frame to engage said latch and disable same when said cradle is moved toward said actuators; a second latch for restraining said type bar from moving to printing position, a cam on said second latch cooperative with said restoring bail whereby said latch is disabled when said restoring bail moves from normal position, holding means to restrain said type from moving to printing position, and means under control of said cradle reversing device whereby said holding means is effective when said register wheels contain a positive total and rendered ineffective when said register wheels contain a negative total.

4. In a listing and computing machine, the combination of a register; a transfer mechanism for said register including means for inserting the fugitive one to accumulate true positive and negative totals; a slide member under control of the fugitive one mechanism, said member being movable to add position when said register contains a positive total and to subtract position when said register contains a negative total; a type barv for printing a character to identify a printed negative total; 9, lug on said type bar; and an obstruction on said slide member, said obstruction being engageable with said lug to restrain said type bar from moving to printing position when said member moves to add position, and movable out of the path of said lug to permit said type bar to move to printing position when said member moves to subtract posi- WALTER W. LANDSIEDEL.

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