US2381424A - Calculating device - Google Patents

Description

7, 1945- R. w. DAVNIELSON 2,381,424

CALCULATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l 2,3&l,424

R. w. DANIELSQN CALCULATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R, w. DANIELSON CALCULATING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1943 1945' R. w. DANlEiLtaON CALCULATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 19415 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w ff'orvzey Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALCULATING DEVICE Raymond W. Danielson, Chicago, 11!.

Application August 9, 1943, Serial No. 497,925

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a calculating or selective indicating device, and refers specifically to a device for use in instantly determining the number of characters, or letters, of any printing type face that will fit within a specified measure or length.

It is one of the particular objects of my invention to provide a device which will permit printers or typesetters to readily determine the number of characters of different styles of type face which may be included within a line or a definite space to be printed, Heretofore, the customary procedure was for typesetters to use measuring sticks or rulers in setting up type of different sizes, which is laborious and time consuming B a simple manipulation of my device such calculations may be automatically determined without the use of such measuring sticks. Further, by manipulation of my selective indicating device, character counts of all type faces between the range of four characters per pica to three-tenths of a characterper pica may be obtained.

Other objects, advantages and important aspects of the invention, including details of construction and arrangement of parts, will be apparent from the following specification and ac companying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my calculating device.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 5 showing the operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a further cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 5 showing the releasing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of my device with parts shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of my device.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the tripping mechanism for locking the calculating chart at a predetermined position.

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional View of the mechanism for releasing the calculating drum.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig, 1 with parts being broken away in section.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cylindrical chart.

Figs. 10 and 10A are detailed sectional views taken on the line I0-I 0 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is asectional view taken on the line III I ofFig. 2.

Figs. 12 and 13 are detailed views of the bumper plates for locking the calculator in position.

Fig. 14 is a detailed front face View of one of the locking pins.

Fig. 15 is a detailed side view of the pin shown in Fig. 14. 1

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the mechanism of my calculator may be encompassed within a housing generally designated by the reference numeral I, and comprising a front wall 2, side walls 3 and 4, a rear wall 5, a top keyboard section I, and a face plate 6 extending between the front wall 2 and the keyboard I.

A drum 8 is mounted within the housing I, adjacent to and concentric with the arcuate portion of face plate 6 to permit indicia carried thereon to be viewed through the elongated slot or sight aperture 20 in the face plate 6. Referring to Fig. 8, the drum 8! is rotatably positioned between the side walls 3 and 4 by means of the stub shafts 9 and H3 associated therewith. The shaft 9 has a tapered end II extending axially into the drum 8 through a bushing I2, the latter having an integral collar on the outer extremity thereof. Peripherally spaced pins I2, protruding from the collar of bushing I2, may extend into the side Wall of the drum 8 when formed of wood, or may be associated in any other suitable manner. The bushing I2, forming a sleeve for the shaft 9, may extend through another bushing I3, the latter of which extends through an opening in the side wall 3 and may be, aflixed thereto by mean of locknuts I 4. The flanged inner end of bushing l3 will abut the collar I2 and tend to keep the latter in spaced relation with respect to the side wall 3. A hand-knob I5 is threadedly engaged with the other extremity of bushing I2 and is further secured thereto by means of a locknut I6. The shaft 9 is threadedly secured within the outer-extremity of bushin I2 and is further secured thereto by means of the locknut 9.

The other side of the drum 8 may be likewise rotatably supported by means of the shaft l0 protruding through the flanged bushing I I locked to the side wall 4 by means of a nut I8, while a locknut It may hold the shaft I0 in fixed position. The inner extremity of shaft II) may be pointed, as indicated 2!, for registration with a conically shaped indentation in the axis of the drum 8, or otherwise associated therewith to permit free rotation. A clock-type or fiat coil spring 22 is anchored at its core to the bushing I1 while the other end thereof is fastened to a side of the drum 8 by means of a pin 23. When horizontal adjustment of the drum 8 is desired for proper registration, the locknuts 9' and I9 may be loosened on the shafts 9 and I 6, respectively, and the latter may then be screwed in an inward or out- Ward direction depending on the adjustment deof lever 30 at the point 3|.

sired, after which the locknuts may be again tightened.

Although the foregoing illustrates my preferred form of construction so as to permit the drum 8 to be horizontally adjusted by means of the aforesaid associated nuts, it will be understood that various suitable means for rotatably mounting and supporting the drum may be employed.

By means of the foregoing arrangement, the drum 8 may be rotated by manipulation of the hand-knob to a locked position and in so doing will wind or place the spring 22 under tension. Upon release, the spring will rotate the drum back to a predetermined position, as will be later more fully explained.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a plurality of keys 24 may be provided in spaced parallel relation in the upper face 1 of the calculator. Inasmuch as the operation of all of the keys, and mechanism associated therewith, is identical, the following description of the operation of one of the keys will suffice for the remainder. Key 24, having a shank 25 is connected to a rod 26 by means of a flanged nut 21. A bushing 26 is threadedly engaged in the upper face 1 and acts as a sleeve for the shank 25 and as a stop to the upward movement of the rod 26 when contacted by the flanged nut 21. The lower end of the rod 26 extends through an aperture provided in a cross bar 29 and contacts the upwardly extending arm The lever 30 is pivotally connected to a cross rod 32 substantially in the center thereof. A stud 33, bifurcated at one end, as shown more clearly at 34 in Figs. and 14, straddles the bar 30 and is connected thereto by means of a rivet 35 associated with a notch 36 in the upper corner of the downwardly extending arm of lever 30. The top of the stud 33 may be provided with a flanged head 31 which acts as a stop to the movement of the apparatus, as will be later more fully described. The shank of the stud 33 extends through a, registering opening 38 in a cross member 39, and is held in suspension therein by means of the flanged head 31. In normal position, the top of the head 31 will be flush with the surface of the cross member 39.

The key 24, and connecting apparatus, will be held in normal position by means of a coil spring 46, which will tend to force the key upward, together with a tension spring 4| connected between the lower arm of lever 30 and cross member 66. The spring 4| will urge the lever 30 in a downward inclined position and the upper arm of the lever, being frictionally engaged with the rod 26, will tend to push it upward in assistance to the spring 40.

As will be noted from the illustrations, the various key associated rods 26 are suitably offset intermediate their lengths so that they may all extend in alignment through the cross bar 29. Likewise, for convenience, one-half of the levers 3|] are provided with a longer lower lever arm whereby their associated studs 33 and flanged stop heads 31 extend in two parallel rows in the cross member 39.

A slide member or cam follower 42 is embraceably engaged to the slide base or cross member 39 for longitudinal sliding engagement thereon. The follower 42 may comprise two sections 43 and 44, which are bolted or otherwise suitably fastened together, with an inner strip or gasket 45 therebetween. The center of section 44 is provided with a groove 46 for embracing engagement with the member 39 and is further provided with inwardly tapering flanges 41 conforming with the contour of tapered indentations in the lower side walls of the cross member 39, which confines the cam follower 42 on across member 39 and permits horizontal slidable engagement therewith.

The section 43 may be provided with two grooves 48 substantially in" the center thereof and of a slightly larger width than the flanged head 31 for reception of the latter. Similar grooves 49 are provided in the gasket 45, but of a slightly narrower width, which'will permit reception of the shank of stud 33 therein. Thus, when a stud 33 is raised above the surface of the cross member 39, and the cam follower 42 is released and slidably impelled along the cross member 39, the flanged head of stop 31 will enter the aperture provided by the groove 48 and will stop the forward motion of the cam follower when it contacts the terminal of the groove. At the same time the aperture 49, provided in the gasket 45, will envelope the shank of the stud 33, permitting the flanged head 31 to ride thereover, and will act as a stay to hold the head 31 in raised position. When the cam follower 42 is returned to its normal position, by means which will be later described, the head 31 will slide through the grooves 48 and 49 and when free of association therewith will be snapped back into the opening 38 by means of the springs 46 and 4|, and the top of the head will be flush with the surface of the cross member 39.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a cam strip 50 is disposed helically around approximately half of the drum. 8. A chart 5|, containing lines of preculcula'ted indicia, is disposed around approximately the remaining half of the drum 8 and is positioned for registration with the elongated slot or sight aperture 20 in the face plate 6 when the drum is rotated and stopped at a predetermined point. The cam strip 59 is associated with the cam follower 42 by means of two rounded studs 52 superimposed in spaced relation on the top of the follower 42 substantially in the center thereof, and in straddling engagement with the cam strip. Thus, when the strip 5|] is rotated by the drum 8 the two studs 52 will frictionally engage the strip and will slide the cam follower ,42 horizontally along the cross member 39 until it comes in contact with a protruding head 31 which will stop the forward movement thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and '7, wherein is shown the release mechanism of my invention, a key 53 is provided in the face 1 of the calculator, having a shank 54 which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a lever 55. A bushing 56 is threadedly engaged in the upper face 1 and acts as a sleeve for the shank 54 and as a stop to the upward movement of the lever 55. The upper end of lever 55 is pivotally connected at 51 to a rod 58 which in turn has pivotal association with a lever 59 at the lower end thereof. The lever 59 may be pivotally connected to the side wall of the housing at 60 and is provided with an inclined bifurcated section 6| at the lower end thereof. The tines of the bifurcated section 6| straddle a studded member 62, the head of the latter of which protrudes upward and enters an aligned slot in the cross member 39. The stud 62 is provided with a collar 63 which acts as a stop to the upward movement of the stud when the collar comes in contact with the member 39. The collar 63, together with pins 64 extending from both sides of the member 62, define the bifurcated section 6| and will be actuated thereby upon movement of the lever 59. The stud 62 will be maintained in a normal raised position within the cross member 39 by means of a coil spring 65 positioned between the cross bar 66 and a collar 61 intermediate the length of the stud 62 which will tendto urge the stud upward into the registering recess provided in the cross member 39. The upward tension on the key 53 will be further augmented by means of the spring 68 positioned intermediate the top of .the bushing 56 and the bottom of the key.

The top of the stud 62 is tapered inwardly so that one edge lies flush with the top of the cross member 39 and the other edge will protrude thereover. When it is desired to bring the cam follower 42 to a locked position at one end of the cross member 39, the drum 8 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by means of the hand-knob l and will slide the cam follower 42 along the cross member 39 by means of the helical cam strip 50, in association with the studs 52, until the follower reaches the studded member 62. Upon further urging the gasket strip 45 will slide over the lower edge of the tapered top of stud 52 and will force it downward until the apex thereof is flush with the top of the cross member 39, whereupon the strip 45 will pass thereover until it reaches the recess 69 and the stud 62, being under tension,'will spring upward into the recess and thereby hold the cam follower 42 in locked position. When the drum is in the position just described it will be ready for operation for the purpose of obtaining a calculation.

Having described the component elements entering into the construction of my device I will now more fully describe the relation and operation thereof. When a typesetter desires to determine the number of characters, or letters, of any type face, that will fit in a specified measure or length, he will first consult a pre-calculated chart (not shown) wherein the type faces in different sizes are listed, along with the key numerals-on the calculator. When the proper key number of a specified type face is found on the chart the operator will press the designated key on the calculator, each of the keys having different identifying numerals.

Upon pressing a, selected key 24, the rod 26 will be forced downwardly through the cross bar 29, which in turn will push the upwardly extending arm of lever 30 in a downward direction and by means of the pivot 32 will raise the downwardly extending arm of lever 39 upwardly, forcing the stud 33 through the registering opening 38 in the cross member 39. The flanged head or stop 31 will then protrude over the surface of the cross member 39 and act as a stop to the forward movement of the cam follower 42 when it comes in contact therewith.

While the operator is holding the key 24 in depressed position he will then press the key- 53 which will actuate the lever 55, rod 58 and lever 59 to lower the bifurcated section 6| which, through frictional engagement with the pins 64, will force the stud 62 downward until the head thereof is out of engagement with the cam follower 42 and the latter is then freely slidable along the cross member 39. Upon release of the cam follower 42, the spring 22, being under tension, will rotate the drum 8 in a clockwise direction together with the helical cam strip 58 attached thereto. As the strip 50 rotates it will run between the two studs 52, superimposed upon the follower 42, and will urge the latter forward along the cross member!!! until the flanged head 31 enters one of the grooves 48 and stops the forwardmotion of the follower and the rotation of the drum 8. a

When the rotationof the drum 8 hasbeen stopped at a definite position, a section of the chart 5|, which ismounted on the back of the drum, will be visible through the elongated slot 20 in the face plate 6. In this position, the chart will show one row of character counts aligned with a scale containing pica measurements on the face plate 6 contiguous to the slot 20. The divisions on the scale line up with the divisions on the chart and the character count for the measure specified will be readily obtainable by reference thereto. When the operator has ob tained his calculation, the chart 5| may be brought back to normal position by rotating the hand-knob 15 in a counter-clockwise direction until the cam follower 42 contacts the stud 52- and is locked thereby as heretofore described.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described in connection with typesetting calculations, it will be understood that it can be used in connection with other calculations merely by changing the indicia on the chart, and that various changes in theform' or details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence, I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth, except as embraced by the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a spring driven in-- mm. carrying drum in a device of the class described, of cam means carried by said drum; a follower element retained for slidable movement parallel to the axis of said drum and being in slidable engagement with said cam means, means for placing the drum under the tension of its spring and for causing the follower element to be locked adjacent one end of the drum, release means for permitting the drum to rotate under the action of the spring and to thereby move said follower, and stop means projectable into the path of said follower to limit the movement thereof to a predetermined position.

2. The combination with a spring driven indicia carrying drum in a device of the class described, of a follower element in engagement with a slide support positioned adjacent to and parallel with said drum, a plurality of stop means each selectively projectable into the path of said follower longitudinally of said support to limit the movement of the follower, helical cam means extending over one-half the periphery of said drum and in slidable engagement with said follower, means for placing the drum under the tension of its spring and for causing the follower element to be locked adjacent one end of the drum, means for releasing the follower to permit rotation of the drum under the action of the spring and to longitudinally slide the engaged follower along its support to the limit of a selected one of said projecting stop means.

3. Ina selective indicating device of the'class described comprising a housing formed with a sight aperture and having a drum rotatably mounted within said housing adjacent said sight aperture, lines of indicia carried by one-half the peripheral surface of the drum, helical cam means extending across the opposed half thereof, spring means for driving said drum, means for placing it under the tension of said spring and lock means for holding it under said tension, lock release means for permitting the drum to rotate under the action of the spring, a cam follower in slidable engagement with said cam means and with a slide extending adjacent to and parallel with said drum whereby the follower upon rotation of the drum is caused to move longitudinally of said slide, and a plurality of selective stop means spaced in association with said slide adapted to be projected from the surface thereof into the path of said follower to limit movement thereof, said stop means being in operative association with key means on said housing whereby actuation of a selected key will present a complementary line of indicia to view at said sight aperture.

4. A selective indicating device of the class described comprising a housing formed with a sight aperture, a drum rotatably mounted within said housing adjacent said sight aperture and A carrying indicia on the surface thereof adapted to be selectively brought into view and align-- ment in said aperture, spring means for driving said drum, a slide element associated with a slide base for longitudinal movement in said housing parallel with said drum and adjacent thereto, a helical strip projecting from said drum and operatively engaged to said slide element, means for placing the drum under the tension of its spring and for causing the slide element to be locked adjacent one end of said slide base, stop elements positioned adjacent said slide base and adapted to be extended through apertures formed therein, depressible key means on said housing complementary to the indicia on said drum, link means operatively associating said keys with said stops whereby depression of a selected key causes elevation of an associated stop into the path of said slide element, and means for releasing the slide element from said locked position to permit it to come into abutment with a selected stop and to thereby bring a selected line of indicia into view to said sight aperture.

5. A selective indicating device of the class described comprising a housing formed with a sight aperture, a drum rotatably mounted wlthin said housing adjacent said sight aperture and carrying lines of indicia on one-half of the surface thereof adapted to be selectively brought into view and alignment in said aperture, spring means for driving said drum, a follower element associated With a slide base for longitudinal movement in said housing parallel with said drum and adjacent thereto, an elongated helical cam projecting from and across the remaining half of said drum surface and operatively engaged to said follower element, means for placing the drum under the tension of its spring and for causing the follower element to be locked adjacent one end of said slide base, stop elements positioned adjacent said slide base and adapted to be extended from the surface thereof, depressible key means on said housing complementary to the indicia on said drum, link means operatively associating said keys with said-stops whereby depression of a selected key causes elevation of an associated stop into the path of said follower element, and means for releasing the follower element from said locked position to permit it to come into abutment with a selected stop and to thereby bring a selected line of indicia into view to said sight aperture.

RAYMOND W. DANIELSON.

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