US2369917A - roitman - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1945. RQ|TMAN,

PERPETUAL CALENDAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 14, 1942 If; V672 Z 01; tzza me Roa iman Zita f neys Patented Feb, 20, 1945 STAT-ES IBM; TI 50 F'F I-CE :TPERBETUAL CALENDAR Jaime. Rbitma'n; Rosario; '-Argentina mppncatiumnuvember 14, 1942; seriaI- 1-Io.-dt5,611

- .:ImAggentinwDeceMbtfiBO,1941

I The /present invention relates :to' calendars, "and more :particularly ito :caiendars of zthe :type known as "perpetual? whichare-nesignedztoibe utilizable ever azperiod ofjwears'zwithoutrrequirmg replacement crime data sand/or yeariintlieatini g, h portion, {The "known types l-o'f'rperpetual :calendars'may roughly doe-divided iinto tworbroad. classeslnamely;

those consisting of a :single :disc wmou'nte'd .to :ro- I tatev about its cemier and thawing rprinted on aits circular surfacea plurality setsfof numbersrdf the days M the monthxor else a pluralltyaofiyear numbers disposed "in :a-sp'eciaI arrangement sso that by setting the disctwith respectito aniindi carting 'point'fbhe calendar zmaw heiadiuste'd to give the correct dates vtor :all :t'hermonths f ah'e particular :year 014G139 torra particular month (of a particular yea-r. The second class :of dmown perpetual calemlars comprises apparatus tinmonth the monthly adjustment, andat the end of each year-the" yearly adjustment, must be made. Hence the processor keeping the calen dar up to date in thisf-type-totdevice is troublesome, requires dailS attention, and is 11 4 15! a manual operationl some attempts. have been made to provide mechanicallyoperated calendars f. th s type. in which themonthindication has been coupled by gearingo theflike "to the day i and number indications; but the known devices the present inventien Will ldoiife appariit in the *co'drse of the foliowingfii'tailed d"es'riptidh or a=nrererrewerfibndfznent theretf illds't'iated in the accompanyingdrawingsjih fihich, 5 5 iFig. i1 is an eleventh partl in semen or {the essential mechanical parts of my"'ric J"v'- ""alei'i jd ar, with certain parts; including the eietritn circtiits 'o rriittedior c rity. A I

Fi 2 is a toh ialan view br thef'indih ie'etjromechanical adtuating'menibe'rs b'r' the anparatiis of this mechanical kindhavebeen comparatively complicated andcostly orielse have beenincomplete as regards the automaticity of some of the adjustmentsin dependen' ceonthe dayto days,

adjustment.

V It is'theref ore-a principal object of the present invention to'provide an improvedand novel device of the kind described in which it shall be possible to secure an'automatic adjustment of, all the factors over a considerable period of years substantially by means of a single actuating movement per'day. v

"A further object of the present invention is to provide a semiautomatic or automatic perpetual calendar which comprises compensating 1 m l w,

*Figi 3 is a detail end evation -b'f the year counter."

Fig. -4 is a taster certa n sectioning "the *eareniiar on the line Iv' --iv or Fig.1.

I are. s a detail viewer terrain parts seen after sectioning the sense an the line V'- V of Fig. 1, w'i't-h c'er'tainothefparts displaced i'ro'xn the position shown in Fig. 11, regenerates. v

' Ines. "6 an 7 are the flea views tr tertaih arts seen after seethin the device along the line'sfw fi and VI of File. it, and

Fig. 8 is a diaeramshe n th connections of the ei etricaiaetiratinj pardon bf the device; a

In allthe" figiirs the same reference can-- actersindicate like or behest-ending parts. i

In Fig; -1, I have sham the essential me Chemical 'wc ne ans b'f hovel calendar embodied as a vertical tybe d e, 'al'tnoiighit is to be understood that the d'GVlC' that etua-ny readily be embodied as that the bperatip shafts are normally in horizontal position. in

parts seen after the example shown the number of the year, the name of the month, and the number and name of the day are shown vertically superposed and each line is read horizontally. In a horizontal embodiment, these indications would be arranged in side by side relationship for vertical reading of each line. The working parts together with the electrical actuating members are preferably enclosed in a housing (not shown) which has transparent portions positioned suitably to indicate reading positions for the year, month, day number and day name.

As shown, the mechanism comprises a central shaft I mounted for rotation in suitable bearings (not shown). Near its lower end said shaft has fast on it a disc 2 the periphery of which is divided into seven equal parts and has applied thereto in any suitable manner the names of the days of one week. Above the disc 2 an intermediate hollow shaft 3 is concentrically mounted for rotation on the shaft I. Said intermediate hollow shaft 3 has fast on it in the neighborhood of its lower end a number disc 4 the periphery of which is divided into 31 equal parts and bears numerals from 1 to 31 inclusive which are intendedto- .able means (not shown) a decimal counter for 4 figures of any convenient known type, so that the reading of the counter shall be parallel to the discs 2, 4, and ,6. Preferably the discs and the counter are so arranged that the indicia corresponding to a particular date, are, when brought into indicating position as hereinafter explained, symmetrically disposed with respect to a common vertical center line. It is, however,-

also possible, particularly if a cylindrical casing is used to enclose the device, to arrange .for the indicia to appear in staggered Or doubly staggered formation.

The central shaft I has fast on it near its end remote from the disc 2, a ratchet wheel 8 having 7 teeth corresponding to the seven days of the week, so that this ratchet wheel will hereinafter be referred to as the day ratchet. Similarly the intermediate hollow shaft 3 has fast in the neighborhood of its end remote from the discv 4 another ratchet wheel 9 provided with31 teeth and hereinafter called the number ratchet.

As best seen in Fig. 2, I provide for operation of the day and number ratchets a pawl carrying arm I2 pivotally mounted on one end to some convenient point of the enclosure (not shown) of the mechanism. Said arm l2 has pivotally mounted on it in spaced relation a pair of pawls l and H fitted with the usual pawl springs Ina, Ila, and spring urged normally into engagement with the teeth of the ratchets 8 and 9 respectively by means of a spring I3 extending between a suitable fixed point 13a and the free end of the arm l2. At a point intermediate the pawl l0 and the pivoted end of the arm l2, Iprovide a plunger l4 pivotally secured to said arm l2 to extend into a main solenoid l adaptedto be energized in a manner to be hereinafter explained, for the ordinary actuation of the calendar device.

In order to provide compensation for the variations in the numbers of days in the months, I provide a second pawl arm I! hereinafter referred to as the compensating arm, which is pivoted at one end to a suitable fixed portion of the housing, and at a point intermediate its ends has pivoted to it a compensating pawl 16, providedwith the usual pawl spring 16a and spring urged into engagement with the teeth of the number ratchet 9 by means of a coil spring l8 extending between a fixed point [8a and a point on the compensating arm I! on the side of the compensating pawl remote from the pivoted end of the compensating arm II. The other end of said arm II has pivoted to it a plunger l9a which extends into a compensating solenoid l5. Said compensating solenoid is adapted to be energized only at certain times as will hereinafter be more fully explained. The compensating pawl l6 engages the teeth of the number ratchet in such a manner that it will drive the ratchet wheel 9 in the same direction as will the pawl I I.

The parts are so proportioned that for one reciprocation of the arm l2 in response to a momentary energization of the main solenoid l5 and the restoring action of the spring I 3, both the ratchets 8 and 9 are rotated together through one tooth pitch, and that'similarly one reciprocation of the compensating arm l1 will rotate the number ratchet 9 through one tooth pitch independently of the day ratchet 8. It will be obvious that with the arrangement described, a rotation through one tooth pitch of the ratchets 8 and 9 will cause the respective discs 2 and 4 to rotate (from right to left in Fig. 1) through and A1 of their circumferences respectively whereby to cause a shift in the indicia so that the next higher number (or the commencement of the number cycle) and the name of the next day of the week will then appear in reading position, in the embodiment shown, symmetrically disposed about the common vertical center line. Suitable braking means for holding the ratchets in position and preventing overrunning are also provided, although I have not illustrated them as I deem their construction and operation to be sufiiciently familiar to those skilled in the art to require no detailed description.

At the end of the outer hollow shaft 5 remote from the month disc 6 I provide a month ratchet wheel 25 and for intermittent actuation thereof I provide on the intermediate hollow shaft 3 between the number ratchet 9 and said month ratchet 25 a spiralcam 20 fast on said intermediate shaft 3. As best seen in Fig. 4, I further provide an actuating arm ,22 pivoted at one end to a suitable part of the housing, and provided at an intermediate point with a laterally projecting stop 2| normally spring urged into engagement with the cam surface of the cam 20 by means of a coil spring 23 extending between a fixed point 23a and the free end of the actuating arm 22. Intermediate the stop 2| and the free end of the actuating arm 22, there is pivoted to said arm a month pawl 24 fitted with its pawl spring 24a and urged by the same spring 23 into engagement normally with teeth of the month ratchet 25, the number of said. teeth being 12 The spiral cam 20 has at one point a shoulder 20a extending radially between the radially nearest and furthest points of the cam surface with respect to the center line of the hollow shaft 3. The spiral cam 20 is positioned on the shaft 3 so that the shoulder corresponds to the position and having mounted thereon a contact breaking member 43, for example a piece of insulating material, which projects radially beyond the tooth wheel 4| and cooperates once every four years with a pair of normally closed control contacts 44, which may, for example, consist of a pair of leaf spring members anchored to a supporting block 45 which may, if desired, form part of the enclosing structure.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the compensating solenoid I9 is connected at once end to line through make and break contacts 46 designed to break the energizing circuit of the compensating solenoid when the latter has been energized so as to permit of a further energization thereof. The other end of the solenoid I9 is connected by conductor 4'! and branch conductors 48, 49 to one side of the pairs of normally open contacts 300 and 3lc, and also by a parallel branch circuit comprising conductor 59, normallyclosed control contacts 44 and conductor 5| to one side of the normally open pair of contacts 290. The other sides of the pairs of normally open contacts 290 and 390 are connected in parallel by conductors 52 and 53 to one side of the pair of normally open February contacts 38. The other side of the pair of normally open contacts 3| is connected by conductor 54 to one side of the pair of normally open short month contacts 31, and the other sides of the pairs of said normally open contacts 31 and 38 are connected in parallel by conductors 55 and 56 to the other side of the line. The main solenoid l (Fig. 2) is connected across line through a time switch or general energizing device (not shown) which may, as stated above, be a push button if manual operation of the calendar is desired. The time switch may be incorporated as part of a clock, and in such form the novel device may be arranged to indicate the time as well as the correct date.

The ordinary operation of the device will be readily understood from the hereinabove given description relating to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, actuation of the device taking place at midnight of each day by operation of the time switch or of the push button as the case may be. Normally the closure of the main circuit by the time switch or push button will energize only the solenoid since the compensating solenoid I9 is open circuited at the contacts 290, 39c, and 31c on all days from the first to the twenty eighth of the month. In a month having 31 days compensating solenoid l9 remains open circuited in spite of the bridging of the pairs of contacts 290, 30c, and 3lc successively by the arm 33 when said arm moves into the position in which the number disc 4 indicates the 29th, 30th, and 31st of the month, because the pairs of contacts 31 and 38' will not be bridged by a tooth of the month selector 35. In a 30 day month, however, the pair of short month contacts 31 will be bridged by a tooth 36 when the arm 33 moves into position to bridge the normally open contacts Me, so that in these circumstances at midnight on the 30th after the time switch has acted to move the indicating parts of the calendar into the position of showing the 31st of the current month, an energizing circuit for the compensating solenoid is established from one pole of the line through make and break switch 46, solenoid I9, conductors 41 and 49, bridged contacts 31c, conductor 54, bridged short month contacts 31, and conductor 56 to the other side of the line. Energization of the compensating solenoid l9 attracts the plunger l9a (Fig. 1)

whereby, as hereinabove explained, the compensating arm I! acts to move the number ratchet 9 through a further tooth pitch thus causing the number 1 to appear in the indicating position. This movement of the number disc 4 causes the shoulder 20a of the month cam 20 to clear the stop 2| thereby entailing rotating of the month ratchet 25 through one tooth pitch as explained above to change the month indication, thereby also causing the respective tooth 36 to move away from the short month contacts 31 to prevent re-energization of the compensating solenoid l9 until said contacts are again bridged. It should be noted that movement of the number ratchet 9 consequent on energization of the compensating solenoid i9 does not involve movement of the day ratchet 8 which is actuated only by the main solenoid l5. Hence during the number compensation, the day adjustment already made by operation of solenoid l5 remains unaltered.

In Fig. 8 the parts are shown just after actuation of the time switch at midnight on February the 28th, when the contacts 290 are bridged by the arm 33 and both the pairs of contacts 31 and 38 are bridged by the February tooth 36a and its depending extension 36. At this time an energizing circuit is established for the compensating solenoid I9 from one pole of the line through the make and break contacts 46, solenoid Ill, conductors 4'! and 50, normally closed leap year contacts 44, conductor 5|, bridged contacts 29c, conductors 52 and 53, bridged February contacts 38, conductors 55 and 56 to the other pole of the line. As already explained energization of the compensating solenoid l9 causes the number ratchet 9 to be moved through one tooth pitch so that the number disc and consequently the arm 33 will be moved from the position indicating the 29th to the position indicating the 30th, in which position contacts 390 will now be bridged by arm 33, the two pairs of contacts 31 and 38 remaining bridged as just explained because the month indicated is still February (since shoulder 28d of the month cam 20 is operative only during transition from 31st to 1st) and therefore the month selector disc remains in the described position. The energization of the compensating solenoid l 9 just described is automatically broken by the make and break contacts 46 so that when the arm 33 bridges the contacts 390 the compensating solenoid l9 may again be energized through the circuit extending from one pole of the line to make and break contacts 46, solenoid I9, conductors 41 and 48, bridged contacts 300, conductor 53, bridged February contacts 38 and conductors 55 and 56 to the other pole of the line. Consequently, the number ratchet 9 will be moved to a further tooth pitch to bring the number disc 4 to a position indicating the 31st, when the arm 33 will bridge the contacts 310 to establish the energizing circuit for the compensating solenoid l9 through the bridged short month contact 31 as already described above in connection with a 30 day month. This last energization of the compensating solenoid l9 moves the parts into the position to indicate the 1st of March and therefore causes arm 33 to leave the contacts 3i'c thereby establishing the open circuit condi tion for the solenoid l9 until the end of the next thirty day month. since by changing the month indication from February to March which occurs when the number disc moves from the position indicating the 31st to that indicating the 1st, as just explained, the February tooth 3611 with its depending extensions? is moved away fromthe pairs or contacts and 38, to break the energincircuit of solenoid '15 until the next short month (-Ap'rilll I l T In a leap year when the parts are in th'eposiing member 43 which will reach its operative position once every four years owing to the reduc tion gear connection of 4 to 1 between theouter hollow shaft 5 which carries the month disc 6 and therefore makes'one complete revolution in twelve months, and the toothed wheel 4i which carries the, contact breaking member 43. Thus is moved consequent on energization ofthe main I solenoid [5, to bridgethe contacts 300,-and since the energizing circuit established between this pair. of contacts shunts the contacts 44, the de-'- vice will operate as above described to jump the dates 30th and 31st by two successive actuations of the compensating solenoid l9. v

It will of course be understood that the 'suc-' cessive energizationsof the compensating solenoid l9 take place immediately iafter-thearm 33 has moved into position to establish the energizing circuit, that is to say, immediately after'midni-ght of the day inquestion, so thata few seconds after midnight the proper indication following on February or a 30 day month will have been estab lished.

As will. be noted from the above description,

tion shown in Fig. 8 the normally closed leap v year contacts 44 are opened by the cont'actbreab the internal operation of my novel calendar is automatic to establish the proper sequence of changes in the day, the daynumber, the month,

and the year, including the variations during a year and the variations for leap years. It will also .be understood that by using a time switch for energization of the main solenoid I5 once in every 24 hours, fully automatic operation of the calendarcan be obtained, whereas it is also, possible to make the device semi-automatic by providing for pushbutton instead of time switch operation. 1

Although I have described my novel calendar with particular reference to a preferred embodi-, ment it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may :bev madetherein without departing" from -the spirit and scope of the present invention as-defi-necl inthe appended-claims I claim: Y 5 r 1. An electrically operated perpetual calendar comprising rotary day indicating mean's andeluding, a cam having a single actuating sh'oul de r. positioned to rotate in step with the December" indication of the m'onth indicating means, and compensating means including a compensating pawl normally engaging the ratchet mean-s of the number indicating means a-nd'arranged to move said ratchet means step by step in the direction of rotation of the number indicating means, electrically responsive means operativel y associated with said conipensatirig pawl to reciprocate the same on energizati'on of the electrically responsive means; a single number contact making means mounted to rotate with the number indicating means, a plurality of short month contact bridging means including February contact bridging means, ar-' ranged to rotate in step with the month indicating means. in a pathncommon to all the short month contact bridging" means, said February bridging means rotating in a parallel path, said contact bridging means being distributed about said path in conformity with the distribution of short month indlcia oh the month indicating means, a single rotary contact breaking means geared to rotate in 4 to 1 ratio with the month indicating means, an energizing circuit for the electrically responsive means including three pairs of normally open contacts arranged in the path of the contact, making means and spaced correspondingly to the spacing of the numbers 29, 30 and 31 on the number indicating means, a pair of normally open short month contacts arranged in the path of the contact bridging inea-ns, a. pair of normally open February contacts disposedadjacent the short month contacts in, the path of the February eontact'brid ging'means; and a pair of normally closed Ilea'p year contacts disposed in the path ofthe contact breaking means and connected in" series with the pair of normally closed short month contacts corresponding to the 29th.

2; electrically operated perpetualcalen dar having means for indicating week days, dates 1=31, months and years at a reading point, said first three means being carried by inner, inter mediate. andcuter concentric shafts respectively and all. said means being actuated in appro# priate timed relationship by pawl means 'cooperating ratchet wheels on said inner and intermediate shafts respectively, and electrical mansfor oscillating said pawl means; a mechanismfor compensating for short months and leapyears; said mechanism comprising a second pawl means cooperating with the ratchet wheel on said intermediate shaft,- and a second elec tric'al means for" oscillating said pawl means; a contact arm carried by the shaft of the dates 1-431 indicating means, ipa'ir of normally open 29th contacts; a pair of normally open 30th contacts and a pair 'of'no'rm'ally o en 31st con- ,ta'cts' fixemy arrangec inspaced relationship in the path of the contact making arm tobe' sue cessively bridged by Said contactmaking alhi when therespectivenumbers 29,- 3O and 31 of the date indiatitig' meazisare presented at the read:

ing point, a r dfifiiry contact breaking member geared tothe outer-shaft in 4 to I ratio, a pair of normally closed leap year contacts fixedly of the 29th pair, 'oneof the, contacts of the 30thpair beingconnected in parallel with one of the contacts of the-31st pair: to said secondel'ctrical means torshunt said series connection,"

a plurality of short month selector members extending outwardly from said outer shaft and including a February member, a pair of normally open Short month contacts fixedly mounted in the path of the short month selector members, and a pair of normally open February contacts fixedly mounted adjacent the short month contacts in the path of the February member, the short month selector members and the February member being disposed to bridge the short month and February contacts when the corresponding month indicium of the month indicating means is presented at said reading point, one contact of the short month pair connected in parallel with one contact of the February pair to said second electrical means, the other contact of the short month pair being connected to the other contact of the 31st pair, the other contacts of the 29th and 30th pairs being connected in parallel to the other cbntact of the February pair.

3. In a perpetual calendar of the kind having rotary day, date, month and year indicating means interconnected so that the rotation of the date indicating means through one revolution causes rotation of the month indicating means through a step representing a month, and rotation of the month indicating means through a complete revolution causes rotation of the year indicating means through a step representing one unit, electrically operated date and leap year compensating means comprising auxiliary means for rotating the date indicating means step by step independently of the day indicating means,

'a solenoid mean operatively coupled to said auxiliary means, a single date contact making means arranged to rotate with the date'indicating means, a plurality of short month contact bridging means including a February contact bridging means, said short month contact and February contact bridging means being arranged to rotate with the month indicating means in a common path and distributed about said path in conformity with the distribution of short month indicia on the month indicating means, a single contact breaking member geared to rotate in 4 to 1 ratio with the month indicating means, an energizing circuit for the solenoid means including a pair of normally closed leap year contacts fixedly mounted in the path of the contact breaking member, a pair of normally open short month contacts fixedly mounted in the path of the short month contact bridging means, a pair of normally open February contacts fixedly mounted adjacent the short month contacts in the path of the February bridging means, a pair of normally open 29th date contacts, a pair of normally open 30th date contacts and a pair of normally open 31st date contacts, all said date contacts being fixedly mounted in the path of the contact making means to be successively contacted and closed thereby when the corresponding indication on the date indicating means is presented at a pre-determined reading point, one of the 29th date contacts being connected in series with the leap year contact to one end of said solenoidmeans, one of the 31st date contacts being connected in parallel with one of the 30th date contacts to said one end of the solenoid means to shunt said series connection, the other of the 29th and 30th datecontacts being connected in parallel to one of the February contacts, the other 31st date contact being connected to one of the short month contacts, the other short month contact being connected in parallel with the other February contact to aterminal means, and the other end of said solenoid means being connected through a make and break device to a second terminal means.

4. In and for a perpetualcalendar device, a main shaft, a day indicating means fast on the main shaft, a hollow intermediate shaft concentrically mounted for rotation on the main shaft, a date indicating means fast on the intermediate shaft, an outer hollow shaft concentrically mounted for rotation on said intermediate shaft, a month indicating means fast on the outer shaft, ratchet and cam means operatively coupling the intermediate and outer shafts for step by step rotation of the outer shaft one step for every complete revolution of the intermediate shaft, a counting device, ratchet and cam means operatively coupling the outer shaft and the counting device for step by step actuation of the counting device one step for every complete revolution of the outer shaft, main ratchet means operatively associated with the main shaft and with the intermediate shaft for simultaneous step by step rotation of the main and intermediate shafts, and compensating means operated by the intermediate shaft for automatically compensating the date indication for leap years and for months having less than 31 days said compensating means including means rotating with said intermediate shaft for pre paring additional rotational steps of said date indicating means, a power device controlled by said preparing means for advancing said date indicating means through said additional steps, a selector rotated by said outer shaft to determine the making of one such prepared step by said power device in 30-day months and three such prepared steps in February, and a further selector operated once in four years by said counting device to inhibit one of said three further steps in a leap year.

5.'In a perpetual calendar of the kind having rotary day, number, month and year indicating means interconnected so that the rotation of the number indicating means through one revolution causes rotations of the month indicating means through a step representing a month and rotation of the month indicating means through a complete revolution causes rotation of the year indicating means through a step representing one unit, electrically operated number and leap year compensating means comprising auxiliary means for rotating the number indicating means stepby step independently of the day indicating means, electrically responsive means operatively coupled to said auxiliary means, a single number contact making means mounted to rotate with the number indicating means, a plurality of short month contact bridging means including February contact bridging means, arranged to rotate in step with the month indicating means in a path cornmon to all the short month contact bridging means, said contact bridging means being distributed about said path in conformity with the distribution of short month indicia on the month indicating means, a single rotary contact breaking means geared to rotate in l to 4 ratio with the month indicating means, an energizing circuit for the electrically responsive means including three pairs of normally open contacts arranged in the path of the contact making means and spaced correspondingly to the spacing of the numbers 29, 30 and 31 on the number indicating means, a pair of normally open February contacts disposed adjacent the short month contacts in the path of the February contact bridging means, and a pair of normally closed leap year contacts disposed in the path of the contact breaking mean and connected in series with the pair of normally closed short month contacts corresponding to the'29th, the arrangement being such that connection of the normally open contacts corresponding to the 31st of a month by the contact making means is operative to energize the electrically responsive means to cause rotation of the number indicating means through one step independently of the day indicating means when a short month contact bridging means cooperates with the short month contacts, and successive interconnection of the normally open contacts corresponding to the 28th and 29th of a month is similarly operative only when the February contact bridging means cooperate with the'February contacts, and interconnection of the contacts corresponding to the 28th of a month is inoperative to energize the electrically responsive means when the contact breaking member cooperates with the normally closed leap year contacts.

JAIME ROI'IMAN..

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