US2280920A - Computing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 28 1942. I w; w. LANDVSIEDEL 2,280,920

COMPUTING MACHINE Original Filed April 6, 1956 5 Shts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALTER W- LANDSIEDEL "BY AT ORNE Y Ap :28, 1942. w. w. LANDSIEDEL COMPUTING mcimm Original Filed April 6, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER w. LANDSIEDEL AT ORNEY April 28,'1942.. I vy. W.LANDS'IE DEI 2,280,920

COMPUTING MACHINE Original Filed April '6, 1936 5 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR WALTER W. LAND SIEDEL.

'ATT RLNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1942 COMPUTING MACHINE Walter W. Landsiedel, Elmira, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application April 6, 1936, Serial No.

73,020. Divided and this application March 17, 1939, Serial No. 262,351

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to adding and listing machines and more particularly to the printing of special characters to identify total, sub-total, and non-add operations of said machines. v

This application is a division of application S. N. 73,020, filed April 6, 1936, now Patent No. 2,229,980, issued January 28, 1941. The machine shown and described herein represents an improvement of the adding and listing machine disclosed in the patents to Mehan Nos. 1,835,170, 1,876,719, and 1,899,444,

The object of the present invention -is to more conveniently and efliciently cause the printing of a character to identifya total, sub-total, and a non-add operation of the machine.

In carrying out the above object, the tota link is provided with'a pair of cams arranged in.

different planes. Means is providedwhich normally cooperates with one of said cams in such a. manner that, when a total is taken, the cam causes the above means to move to a position whereby the character bar is permittedto move to a position to print a total designation. Additional means is provided which is operable upon the depression of a sub-total key. This additional means is adapted, when operated, to move said first mentioned meansinto cooperative rewhenever the non-addkey is depressed, the first mentioned means is not actuated by the second cam during the'non-add operation of the machine. When the first mentioned means is in its operated position, i. e., when a sub-total or non-add key is depressed, the mechanism is in position to permit the character bar to print a sign. to identify a non-add operation of the machine. 0

While the present invention is herein shown and described" in connection with the above type of machines, it will be understood that it can be used with other types of adding and listing machines without departing from the spirit of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters represent corresponding parts in the various views,

Fig. l is a right-hand side elevation of the machine, the case of which is shown in vertical section, and with parts removed or shown in section or broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front to rear vertical. section through the machine with some parts omitted, other parts partially broken away and still others shown in elevation; I

Fig. 3 is a partial right-hand elevation in section just outside the left inner side frame and showing the parts in normal position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 7, including the left inner side frame;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 are detached diagrammatic views of mechanism concerned in shifting the character shaft to variouspositions. full lines show the parts in normal position and the dotted lines show the four positions of the character stop operating shaft;.in Fig. 6 the total slide is shown in normal position by dotted lines andin the total position by full lines with the character shaft shown in'the total position; and in Fig. 7 the total slide is shown as described in Fig. 6 .but with the character shaftv shown'cammed to the-sub-total position by said total slide;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of my improved mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating character-printing mechanism.

In. the accompanying drawings 1 have shown only so much of said machine as may be necessary to arrive at an understanding of my present invention in its embodiment therein.

From a consideration of Figs. 1 and 8, it will be seen that theframe of the machine by which the various working parts are supported comprises left and right outer frame plates I00 and MI, respectively, united by cross bars I02 and I03, by the upper keyboard plate I04 and by the base or bedplate I05; also, left and right inner frame plates 28I, 282, between which the register and printing mechanismsare mounted.

The computing and printing operations, determined by the set-up of the digit keys I06, are controlled in the present instance by the motor bar I01, Fig. 1, mounted at the right -ha nd side of the machine-and which bar controls the electrlc motor (not shown) which drives the main rock shaft I09, though obviously said shaft may be hand driven by the usual handle carrying crank shown in- Patent No. 1,899,444.

The digit keys I06 and the step-by-step mov- In Fig. 5 .the

Motor drive Referring now to the motor drive and especially to Fig. l, the small electricmotor is secured to the base and drives a ratchet disk I88 (which is an element of a one-revolution clutch), through speed-reduction gearing (not shown). Ratchet I83 is mounted for rotation upon shaft m2. The driven member of said clutch consists of a drive crank or disk G89 carrying a-clutch pawl adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the ratchet i88. Said disk carries roller 363 playing in a slot 266 in a two-armed drive lever 235 which in turn carries a stud 2 38 playing in a radial slot in an arm on the main shaft I09.

A spring' pressed clutch pawl 208 is used, when the motor is running to connect the disc N9 and the ratchet 58 so as to drive the main shaft As the motor drive details are not necessary to an understanding of the present invention, it is sumcient to say that cngagementand disengagement of the clutch is caused by the rocking of a control lever m, pivoted on a stud I86. This lever (shown in normal position in Fig. 1), when it is swung counter-clockwise, allows engagement of the clutch and also causes the closure of contacts 238 and 239 to start the motor. The control lever 3W may be tripped by counter-clockwise swinging of a lever 223 which lever movesa link M3 to trip control lever .253. Actuation of lever 223 can be caused either by depressing motor bar WT or by depressing the non-add key ill), (Fig. 8) or the sub-total key Ml, as will be explained in detail later in this specification.

Automatic total mechanism In the present machine there is no total key, but a total is taken by causing the machine to perform two cycles-of operation by depressing the motor bar iO'i. These two cycles may be made consecutively without stopping the motor by merely holding the motor bar down. The first cycle is the usual blank stroke made in order to clear any transfer'devices which may have been tripped in the'last preceding adding operation and the second is the total cycle.

In order to distinguish the blank stroke, there is employed the so-called "blank stroke lock,"

into and out of mesh. This plate link 392 nori which, together with the balance of the autoright-hand end ofiset so as to keep it "within the limits of the drawing. The bar 310 has pivoted thereto a latch 314, controlled by a spring 375 so disposed as not only to rock said latch counan ear 385 formed up from said-plate.

8, the shaft 313 has been broken away and its ter-clockwise in Fig. 8, but also to urge the bar ,310 bodily toward the rear of the machine. Said latch is adapted to engage as shown in Fig. 8 over a flange 316 erected near the rear righthand corner of the carriage III, in such position that said latch will engage said flange only when the carriage is in its right-hand position. When one key has been struck and the carriage makes its resulting step, this flange moves leftward out of engagement with the latch and leaves the bar 310 free to move toward the rear of the machine, rocking the shaft 313 clockwise.

In order to restore the bar 310 to its forward I position, said bar is made with an offset branch 3'" having an inclined rear edge 318 adapted to .be acted on in the latter part of the forwardstroke of the main shaft 009 by a, pin 380 projecting from a piece 25] mounted on said shaft. If a key has been struck the carriage Ill will be at the left of its initial position and the flange 318 will not be engaged by the latch 314, sothat on the return stroke of the main shaft the bar 370 will again slide to its rear position, In the case of a blank stroke, however, that is to say..

slot in .an ear 383 formed upfrom a slide 386,

which slide rests on the lower keyboard plate Md. The left end of the shaft 313 is pivoted in When the slide 384 is moved toward the rear of the machine in unison with the rearward movement of the bar 310, the upper edge of the ear 383 l I moves under the right-hand end of and locks against downward movement a lever 386, which is pivoted to a fixed bracket 381 and held up by a spring 388.

From the preceding description, it will be perceived that the ear 383 locks this lever 386 in the into which projects the horizontal arm of a bellcrank 390 to the depending arm of which is pivoted a link 39!, .which at its rear end is pivoted to the link plate 392, which is part of the mechanism for throwing the register wheels mally occupies its forward position shown in Fig. 8, in which it sets the machine for addition, but when swung to its rear-position by rearward movement of the link 39!, it sets the machine The bell-crank 390 is one branch of a bail which also comprises a bail bar 393 and a lefthand bail arm 394, said arms being pivoted on a rod 395, which is mounted at one end in the left-hand frame plate I00 and at its inner end in a bracket or ear 896 formed up from the plate .I I4. The arm 394 has pivoted to its lower end the front end of the so-called "total slide" 368,'which near its rear end has a slot by I which it is slidably mounted on a fixed stud 391. This slide is drawn rearward by a spring 390, which'furnishes the power to rock the bail 390, 383,. 384 and to move the link 3!" rearward to set the machine for total taking.

, The total slide 353 is normally held in its forward or adding position by an am 400, conwhen the non-add key is depressed, -it swings the lever 462 counter-clockwise as viewed in je'cting from the wipe pawl1432 at the time when stituti'ng part of a cam plate ,40I .fast on the main shaft I08 between the frame plates I00 and 282, said arm 400 acting on a stud or roll 402 projecting from a rearward extension of the slide 361' In the first part of the forward stroke of each cycle of the machine, the arm 400 moves rearward and the slide 353 will follow it provided it is unlocked at 388-386, which it will be on the second cycle following an adding cycle.

Some of the above mechanism is also shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

As the carriage. I I1 remains in its right-hand position, not only during the blank stroke but also during the total stroke, the total slide 858 will remain unlocked after a total stroke, so that successive totals may be taken without any intervening blank stroke. In other words, if after a total has been taken the motor" bar. I01 is again depressed, the mechanism will again go through the: movements of taking a total and these will be repeated as often as said motor bar is struck. This would, of course, be an idle operation except in the case of taking sub-totals as will be explained hereinafter.

The cam plate 40! is made with a projecting in the keyboard similarly to other keys.

stem of this key comprises a branch 412 (Figs. z

said wipe pawl is in its lower position, the said edge of the lever 468 holding the wipe pawl disabled duringits return stroke so that on the up-stroke of the arm 43! said wipe pawl will not move the register wheels into engagement.

In order to take sub-totals, this machine has the same general mode of operation as other machines of this type, that is to say, by holding the wipe pawl 43! out of engagement with the pin 436 (Fig. 4) at the beginning of the return stroke of the main shaft in a total taking cycle. In other words, the sub-total mechanism consists of a combination of the total-taking mechanism and the non-add mechanism.

The sub-total key Ill (Fig. 4) is mounted in front of the non-add key and has its stem guided The 3, 4 and 8) which overlies the forward end of the lever 462 and acts on it the same as the non-add key; in fact, in this machine, the nonadd key could be used for a sub-total key except that it is desirable to provide certain interlocks to guard against. confusion and misoperation. It will be recalled that the machine is set for taking a total by the mere act of depressing the motor key 1-01 twice. If the sub-total key is depressed peripheral flange 408arranged for cooperation with a roll 404 mounted on a stud projecting from the total slidef'853; The construction is such that whensaid'total slide is in its normal positionythe fiangej403 comes down behind the roll 404.and prevents Jsaid roll and the slide 868. frommoving .rearward unless such movement takes place in the very first part of the cycle. In case the slide does moverearward in the first 1 partof the cycle, the flange 403 comes down in 'front of the roll 404 and positively holds the slide in its rear'position. It will be recalled that the slide 010 is restored to itswforward position in thelatter part of the forward'stroke of each operating cycle, thus unlocking the lever 386. At this time, however, the roll 404 is in engagement with. the flange 403 and nothing happens.

' If, however, at the beginning of the following stroke, the lever 386 is still unlocked then the slide':353, will move rearward and set the machine for total taking as soon as permitted by the arm 400.

The machine is equipped with a non-add key |0-,(Figs. 4 and; 8) the stem of said key having sliding motionlfin the keyboard plates, and a return ,spring like other keys.

The effective part of this key consists of a formed arm 46l projecting toward the left and including a part thatv overlies the forward arm of a non-add lever 462,.which is pivoted on a stud 463 mounted on a bracket riveted to the underside of the keyboard plate I04 This lever has the shape best shown in Fig. 3. lts rear arm extends at a downward inclination terminating ina;,eoncentric edge 465,-preceded by a cam cur-ve =:48,6, adapted to act on a pin 461, projecting from a "lever 468 pivoted at 410 to a stud pro- Jecting from the left-hand frame plate 160.

for the second of these operations, the total will be a sub-total as above described. The essential element controlled by these two keys is the wipe pawl controlling lever 460. In order to retain this lever in its rear. position, during the whole forward and return stroke of the operating shaft, said lever is connected by the,

pin 46'! above mentioned. with another lever 480 .(Figs. 3 and 4) which lies adjacent the inner roll 4!" and prevent actuation of the non-add mechanism at any time until the end of the Y cycle. If, on the other hand, the non-add or sub-total key has been depressed, the roll 48l will occupy a rear position and the flange 492 will 'move down in front of it and positively retain the parts in proper position until the end of the cycle, notwithstanding the release of the key.- The lower end of the flange 492 is beveled at its-rear. side as shown in Fig. 3 so as positively to complete themotion of the levers 490 and 468 in case that was not done by the key. This locking mechanism makes the action of these control keys largely independent of the retaining ,of the keys themselves in depressed position.

' Means are provided whereby a depression of either the non-add key or the sub-total key will set the operating mechanism into action the same as the motor bar I02. This saves a double operation and "it is permissible because these I two'keys are locked except at times when it is proper to operate them. Both these keys rock the lever 462" and this lever is, therefore, utilized .to tri the'motor mechanism. To thishendra' center frame plate 28!.

three steps designated 359, 368, and 36l of profinger of said lever is pivoted at 493 (Figs. 3,4,

' and 8) to a link 494,'whose forward end is pivoted to an arm 495 fast on a transverse rock shaft 496 journalledat its ends in the outer frame plates l8!) and it'll. At its right-hand end (Fig. 1) said shaft 496 has an arm 49! overlying a roll 22l on the lever 223, which actuates the trip lever 2I8. By this train of mechanism either of th'etwo ke'ys H8 or I II will start the Qmotor and cause a cycle of-nperation.

Improved character control The character control mechanism which forms the subject matter of the present invention is best illustrated in Figs. 3 to '7, inclusive, and in Figs; 8' and 9. Adjacent the type bar I53 of lowest'order there is arranged a character typebar 343 containing special types for printing various characters. In the present instance three such types are shown, one for totalyone for non-add and one for sub-total, all normally below the printing line.

The'character type bar 343 is guided by combs 263264, plate 266 and bar 261,in the same manner as the numeral type bars I53. This type bar 343 is moved vertically by a pinion 344, rack bar 345, and slide 346, said rack bar actuated bya spring I 29 and by the restoring bar 328, much'the same as the numeral rack bars. The slide 346, however, does not have any projection 336 (Fig. 2) for cooperation with pins or stops in the stop carriage lll, but is, on the contrary, controlled elevated which in turn rotates the shaft 358 counter-clockwise. movementof the shaft rotates thegear'segment 354 counter-clockwise and the character stop 35'! clockwise to bring step 360 into the path of lug 348. This permits the rack 345 to move rearwardly one unit which raises the type bar 343 one unit to bring the character'type 366 to position toprint a star,

indicative of a total.

In order to cause the second type on the type bar 343 'to print a sign to indicate non-add, the piece 468 (Fig. '3) which isswung clockwise by depression of said key has a pin 5l6 playing in a slot in alink 5" which is pivoted to the pin 352 above mentioned. Said'pin 352 is connected with the pin 5l6 by a tension spring 518. The parts are so proportioned that an actuation of the piece 468 rocks the shaft 358 to the third position from the bottom indicated in Fig. 5, which, in.

turn, rocks the stop piece 351 to bring the step 36! thereon into the path of the lug 348.

It will be recalled -that this piece 468 is also actuated by the sub-total key, but that, when the latter is operated, the total slide 353 moves toward the rear of the machine. Said total slide is, therefore. made with a tooth 420 with an inclined end. When the pin 352 is raised to the non-add position, it stands just, back of the in-' clined rear end of this tooth so that when in response to an operation of the sub-total key the slide 353 moves rearward, this inclined end cams by special devices now to be described, said devices cooperating with a special lug 348 secured to the rack 345 and a screw 349 carriedby the right The rack 345 is guided in the same way as the numeral racks.

Character stop operating shaft 358 is journalled in the center frame plates 28! and 282 and extends outwardlybeyond the left plate 282 to receive the operating arm which is pinned thereto as shown in Fig. 4 and alsoin Fig. 3, which is a section taken just outside of frame 282. The outer free end of this arm carries an outwardly projecting pin 352 (Figs. 4 and 9) which is acted upon by total slide 353 in a manner presently described.

. Just inside of the right center frame plate 28I and secured to the shaft 358 is a gear segment 354 the teeth of which are in permanent mesh with teeth 356 on the character stop 351. This character stop is best illustrated in Figs. 8-and 9, and pivots upon a shaft 3, and is provided with gressively greater distances from the shaft. During certain operations of the machine one or another of these steps serves to arrest the special lug 348 and hence the rearward movement of rack 345. The stop 35'! (or character fan as it is sometimes termed) is shown in normal position in position.

Duringa total taking operation the total slide 353 is permitted to be drawn rearwardly by its spring 398 which moves the cam surface 363 of said slide underneath the pin 352 (Fig. 6) to elevate the pin from edge 364 to edge 365 of the total slide. By a study of Fig. 9 it will be understood that when the pin 352 is elevated as just described, the free end of the arm 35l is likewise the pin 352 to its uppermost position in Fig. 5

with the result that the stop piece 351 is rocked so far down that the lug 348 passes over the top of it and is not arrested by it. In this operation, the upward motion of the type bar 343 is arrested by a screw 349 (Fig. 9) passing through a slot in saidtype bar,,said**siot.being of a length suitable for the purpose.

The hammer 212 for the character type bar is actuated the same as the other hammers. Whether or not this particular hammer makes its stroke depends entirely on whether the special rack bar 345 has been -moved from normal position.- Therefore, in case of a total or sub-total operation when the register is clear, the appropriate. 4

will be printed.

While I have described what I consider to be a designation willv be printed, though no number highly desirable embodiment of my invention, it

is obvious that many changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i 1. In an adding and listing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, numeral printing mechanism, total taking control mechanism and control keys including a sub-total key for modifying the operation of the machine, of means for printing characters designating different operations, said means comprising a character type carrier, a stepped stop member for controlling diiferential settings Of said type carrier, a cam moving with said total taking control mechanism, operable means under control of said cam to move said member to a point to cause said type carrier to be arrested in position to print a total designation, a second cam moving with said move operable means o'ut'oi cooperative re- 1 lationv with said ilrst cam and into cooperative I relation with her is moved of said type carrier in position to print a subsaid second cam whereby said memto a point to cause the arrestment total designation.

2. In an adding and listins machine, the coin- 'bination with registering mechanism, numeral printing mechanism, total taking control mechanism, and non-addcontrol mechanism, of means for printing characters desimiatins diiierent operations oi the machine, said means including a diflerentially settable type carrier, a stepped stop member for arresting said type carrier in dinerent positions, two cams moving withzsaid total taking control mechanism and one situated above the other, a follower operatively connected with said stepped stopmember and adapted to be moved by the lower 0! s'ai'd'cams so as to set said I member to arrest said typecarrierinpositionto print a total designation, means controlled by said non-add control mechanism to set saidstepped" memberv and said iollower in a second position for printing a nomadddesisnation, a subtotal key ior actuating said steppedme'mber and follower to said second positionwhereby the upper one oisaid cams, movincwith the total takin: control mechanism iollowins' depression or a the sub-total key acts to move said iollower'and stepped stop member from non add position toa said'type carrierv in position to print a non-add trol keys .for modifying the operation of the machine including a non-add key and a sub-total key, of means for printing characters designating diiferent machine operations, said means comprising a character type carrier, a stepped stop member for controlling di fierentiai settings oi said type carrier,- a cam moving with said total taking control mechanism and arranged to actuate said stepped stop member to a point to arrest said type carrier in position to print a totaldesie.

nation, asecond cam moving with said total taking controi mechanism and arranged to actuate said stepped member upon me n. i. mitioming thereof to a point ta mrmit the errestment oi said type carrier in position to print a sub total designation, and means operable by said sub-total key and said non-add key for efiectine preliminary pasitionine et saidstepped stcp member in cooperative relation with said secend cam at which point said member is efiective to arrest designation; 1

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