US2636679A - Keyboard clearing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1953 H. GANG 2,636,679

KEYBOARD CLEARING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1950 I 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR HERMAN GANG AT ORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 KEYBOARD CLEARING MECHANISM Herman Gang, Livingston, N. J assignor to Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Orange, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1950, Serial N 0. 184,664

3 Claims.

The invention relates to keyboard clearing means for calculating machines having control means manually settable to enable or disable such clearing means. More specifically, the invention relates to means automatically operable to set such manually settable control means.

In certain machine operations involving plural registration of a value set on the keyboard, as for example programs of multiplication or division, it is obviously necessary to insure that the control means for the clearing or non-repeat means is disabled, i. e., adjusted to repeat position. However, certain series of such calculations are often interspersed with single registering op erations. It therefore becomes necessary to reenable the non-repeat means for each of these single operations.

The present invention provides simplified and improved means for automatically adjusting manually adjustable control means for the clearing means to repeat position upon initiation of a machine operation involving plural registration; in conjunction with automatic means for adjusting such control means to non-repeat or enabling position upon conclusion of the operation. The devices of the invention, however, are ineiiective to adjust the control means to non-repeat position upon conclusion of the plural registering operation if, upon initiation oi such operation, the control means has been manually set previously to repeat position. Thus, it will be seen that at the conclusion of the calculation the manual setting of the control means will be unchanged from its previous set position.

The invention, however, will best be understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of a calculating machine showing the control devices of the invention set to non-repeat position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary right side elevation showing the control devices set to repeat position by the manually operable means;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the control devices set to repeat position by the automatically operable means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the keyboard;

5 is a fragmentary view showing in detail the latching means for the keys shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing details of the keyboard clearing mechanism.

The invention has been disclosed as controlling the operation of keyboard clearing means in conjunction with the performance of a program of multiplication or of division in a calculating machine operating in accordance with the disclosure of applicants Pat. #2531307. This machine is disclosed in applicants Pat. #2531206 as having manually settable control means for selectively enabling or disabling the keyboard clearing means to provide for a single or for a multi-cyclic registering operation respectively upon depression of a plus or of a minus bar. According to the pres ent invention this manually adjustable control means for the clearing means is so modified in structure as to be alternatively adapted for the aforenoted automatic adjustments.

The keyboard i (Fig 1) comprises a plurality of denominational columns of spring retracted depres-sible value keys 3 (Figs. 4 and 5). Each of the columns is provided with a spring urged latching bail 5 for holding the keys of the related column in depressed or set position by engagement with a notch 3 in the stem of the depressed key. Selection bails l' are adjustable in accordance with depressed keys 3 to adjust the digital actuators S accordingly. Thus, upon each registering cycle of the machine, value set on the keyboard are registered in dividend-product register ll.

The keyboard clearing means includes a transversely disposed slide it (Figs. l and 6) which engages each or the latching bails l and upon movement by bell-crank l5 operates to rock each of the bails, thereby releasing any set keys 2; on the keyboard.

A unitary member comprising a control plate ll (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) pivotally mounted on shaft [9 is selectively adjustable to enable or alternatively disable the keyboard clearing means. With plate H in clockwise position (Fig. l) a shoulder ll thereof engages a toe at the lower end of an arm 2| thereby moving and holding the lower end of the arm to the right on its slot and pin mounting 22. This adjustment of arm 2| brings a cam face 2! thereof into the path of movement of a cam 23 which is driven in time with the registering mechanism through a gear train 25. Cam 23 is driven by lost motion connection so that near the end of each registering cycle, either forwardly or reversely, said cam engages and rocks arm 21 counterclockwise. A second arm 27 has common pivotal mounting at its lower end with arm 2! and slot and pin connection near its upper free end. Thus, arm 2'! is rocked with arm 2| and its upper free end engages and rocks bell crank 15 clockwise (Fig. 6) to move slide l3 thereby rocking bails 5 and releasing depressed value keys 3 of the keyboard.

In certain operations, fully disclosed in applicants aforenoted Pat. #2531306, arm 2'? is raised with relation to arm 2| so that its upper free end is moved ineifectively above bell-crank i5 thus disabling the clearing means with control plate ll set in effective clockwise position. These operations, however, bear no relation to the present invention and'therefore arms'ill andz'i'may be considered as a unit with pin and slotnlounting at its lower end.

With control plate ll adjusted to counterclockwise or disablin position (Fig. ..2).,.sho.ulder 5? will be removed from engagement with the toe of arm 2|. Therefore, when camES enga es face 2i of arm 2|, the lower end :of therarm will be moved to the left and the upper operatingend of arm 2? will be imparted no movement to rock bell-crank 35 to clear the keyboard. Thus, the values set on the keyboard will be repeatedly registered upon plural operation of the registering mechanism.

:Manuaily settable means comprising repeat key ;28:and-non+repeat key 3! are provided to effect the respective adjustments of control plate ll. The lower end of the stem of non-repeat key'di has'direct pivotal connection with plate H and repeat key 29 is connected therewith through auxiliary plate-33. Auxiliary plate 32% has commonpivotal-mounting with controlplate ti and yieldable connection therewith-comprising a spring 35. Spring=35 urges control plate l'i clockwise and auxiliary plate 33 counters clockwise, with 91 pin 3.3.5011. plate 33 normally engaging a shoulder of plate l! to limit the relative .movement. provide, pivotal-mountin for the lower end of the stem of repeat-key 25. Depression of nonrepeat key 3! will adjust plates H and 33 clockwise (Eig. l.) as a unit thereby enabling the clearing mechanism and conversely depression of repeat key 29 will rock theplates counterclockwise (Fig. 2) 'to disable the clearing mechanism. A toggle spring .31 having pin attachment to the machine frame and .to anupwardly extending'forked arm of auxiliary plate 33 holds the plate in either of its adjusted positions and normally control plate 1-! will be held in like adjusted position therewith. The pin providing the-attachment of toggle spring 37 with the machine. frame is positioned between the fork of the arm of auxiliary plate 33 and the inner sides respectively of the fork by engage?- ment therewith limit the movement of the plate to its adjusted positions.

Should plates .i'l and33 be setin clockwise non-repeat or enabling position by depression of non-repeat key 1M, control plate ll may be automatically set counterclockwise (Fig. 3) to disabling .or repeat position without disturbing the setting of auxiliary plate 33. Such independent adjustment of control plate .17 is permitted by the .yieldable spring connection .35 the tension of which is not suflicient toovercome the urge of toggle springs! holding auxiliary plate 33 in its clockwise setting.

The automatic and independent adjustment of .control ..plate IT maybe .eifected in conjunction with operations incident .to the. initiation of programs of division or multiplication fully disclosed in the aforenotedPat. #2,531,207. cording tosai'd disclosure to whichreference is made-for the operational.andstructural details, a shaft 39 '(tlfiinthe, patent) is rocked from the clockwise position (Figs. 1 and 2) to the counterclockwise position (Fig. .3) .as an incident to Pin-331s further utilized to H the initiation of a program of division upon depression of a, divide key, not shown. Shaft 39 remains in counterclockwise position until the conclusion of the division program, at which time it is restored clockwise to normal.

A depending arm ll fixed on shaft 39 is adapted to engage a lug at the free rear end of a link Q3 which at its forward end has pivotal connection'with 9, depending arm. of control plate it. Therefore, upon counterclockwise movement of shaft 38 (Fig. 3) arm M will engage link 43 thereby moving said link toward the rear of the machine and adjusting control plate 11 counterclockwise against the tension of spring to disable the keyboard clearing mechanism during the program of division. As heretofore noted, auxiliary plate 33 will be held in opposed adjusted position by toggle spring ill and thus spring 2 15 will be rendered effective to urge control plate clockwise to non-repeat position against the restraint of .link .53, arm 4!, and .shaft 3.9. Therefore, upon clockwise movement .of shaft 33 and arm ii at the conclusion of the division program, .link Q3 will be releasedand spring 35 will then restore controlplate .cloc wise into non-repeat position and into normal relation with auxiliary plate 33, as shown inr'g. 1. Should the repeatkey 29 be set (Fig. 2) upon initiation of the division program, arm il will be idly operated in the division operation and-no relativeadjustment will be effected between control plate ll andeuxiliary plate 33. Therefore, at the conclusion of the division program, control plate I? will remainin the repeat position to which it wasmanually adjusted.

Upon initiation of a program of multiplication a setting slide 4 (593 in the noted Pat. #2531,- 207) is moved to the .rear through connectinglinkage upon depression of multiplier key it. Slide 4 5, key 4.5, and .the connecting parts are latched inset position during the programand at the conclusion are released and spring retracted as fully disclosed in the patent. .An upstanding finger 44' of slide it enga es a pin Ha of control plate 5 I in its rearward .movement thereby adjusting the plate to repeat position if manually set to nonerepeat, and .the sub.- sequent restoring adjustments at the conclusion of the multiplication program are all eilectedes described in connection with the division program.

As disclosedin the aforenotedPat. #2,531,206, a second means, independent from that herein described in connection withthe devices of the invention is provided to clear the keyboard. This operation is effected by a clear clutch which rocks a bail to depress a zero key or" each column of the keyboard thereby releasing any set value keys. As disclosed .in the aforenote'd Pat. #2531307, operation of this keyboard clearing means is effected automatically at the conclusion of either a program of multiplication or or" divi sion. Values may, therefore, be set inthe keyboard for the following registering operation without the necessity of a preclearing operation.

It will be noted that the devices of the invention may be rendered inoperative by replacing spring 35 by another sufficiently .tensioned to overcome toggle spring 3? should it be desired that the clearing means remains disabled at the conclusion of the division or multiplication programs; This arrangement offers considerable advantage by permitting the use of identical parts adaptable for alternative operation without ex tensive alteration. I

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the invention is not to be restricted except in so far as necessitated by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a register, a keyboard comprising settable numeral keys, and means for latching said keys in set position; the combination with a member settable upon initiation of a machine operation involving plural registration of a value set on said keyboard in said register and means for automatically restoring said member upon conclusion of said operation; of non-repeat means automatically operable to release said keys from said latching means, a control device adjustable alternatively to enable or to disable said non-repeat means, alternatively settable non-repeat and repeat keys for eifecting the adjustments respectively of said device, a yieldable connection between said device and Said repeat key, a power transmission member operable by said settable member upon initiation of said machine operation to move to and then to hold said device in disabling position, means for holding said repeat key in unset position against the urge of said yieldable connection, and means comprising said yieldable connection for adjusting said device to enabling position upon release thereof by restoration of said settable member.

2. In a calculating machine having a register, a fixed frame, a keyboard comprising settable numeral keys on said frame, and means for latching said keys in set position; the combination with a member settable upon initiation of a machine operation involving plural registration of a value set on said keyboard in said register, and means for automatically restoring said member upon conclusion of said operation; of non-repeat means automatically operable to release said keys from said latching means, a control device adjustable alternatively to enable or to disable said non-repeat means, alternatively settable non-repeat and repeat keys for effecting the adjustments respectively of said device, a yieldable connection between said device and said repeat key, a toggle spring between said repeat key and said fixed frame operable to hold said repeat key in either set or unset position, a power transmission member operable by said settable member upon initiation of said machine operation to move and then to hold said device in disabling position with said repeat key in unset position, and means comprising said yieldable connection for adjusting said device to enabling position upon release thereof by restoration of settable said member.

3. In a calculating machine having a register, a fixed frame, a keyboard comprising settable numeral keys on said frame, and means for latching said keys in set position; the combination with a member settable upon initiation of a machine operation involving plural registration of a value set on said keyboard in said register, and means for automatically restoring said member upon conclusion of said operation; of non-repeat means automatically operable to release said keys from said latching means, a control plate havin pivotal mounting on said frame and adjustable alternatively to enable or to disable said nonrepeat means, an auxiliary plate having common pivotal mounting with said control plate and yieldable connection therewith, a non-repeat key having operating connection with said control plate, a repeat key having operating connection with said auxiliary plate, a toggle spring between said auxiliary plate and said frame normally effective to hold said control plate in either of its adjusted positions, a power transmission member operable by said settable member upon initiation of said machine operation to move and then to hold said control plate in disabling position with said auxiliary plate held in the opposed position by said toggle spring, and means comprising said yieldable connection for adjusting said device to enabling position upon release thereof by restora tion of said settable member.

HERMAN GANG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,354,839 Phinney Oct. 5, 1920 2,160,361 Hilder May 30, 1939 2,350,979 Avery June 13, 1944 2,366,345 Machado Jan. 2, 1945 2,390,041 Avery Dec. 4, 1945 2,403,273 Friden July 2, 1946 2,531,204 Gang Nov. 2, 1950

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