US2945622A - Ten-keys key board for calculating machines - Google Patents

Description

July 1 9, 1960 w. HEINZE ET AL TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 1O Sheets-Sheet 1 IIII Filed- Feb. 10, 1956 2,945, 22 TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1956 July 19, 1960 w. HEIINZE ET AL v 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 1 9, 1960 w. HEiNZE ET AL I 2,945,622 TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES I 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 and Feb. 10, 19

July 19, 1960' Filed Feb. 10, 1956 2 HEINZ E' ET AL 2,945,622 7 'TEIN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACH INES 1o Sheets-Sheet 4 y 1960 w. HEINZE ET AL I 2,945,622

TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 19, 1960 W. HEINZE ETAL TEN-KEYS 'i (I S Y BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1956 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 1960 w. HEINZE ETAL 2,945,622

TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1956 4 Y 1O Sheets-Sheet 7 July 19, 1960 w. HEINZE ETAL TEN-KEYS KEY QARD FOR CALCULATING- MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 uly 19, 196 w. HEINZE ET AL 2,945,622

TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 19, 1960 W. HEINZE ET AL TEN-KEYS KEY BOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 2,945,622 TEN-KEYS KEY BGARD non CALCULATING MACHINES Werner Heinze, Schwerzenbach, and Werner Jiilich, Wallisellen, Switzerland, assignors to Precisia A.G., Rechenmaschinenfabrik, Zurich, Switzerland, a firm Filed Feb. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 564,811

Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 11, 1955 4 Claims. (Cl. 235- 60) I This invention relates to improvements in calculating machines of the typehaving a ten-key keyboard.

Um'wd sat... Pump.

An object of the invention is to provide a calculating machine of the kindindicated having improved operational speed and dependability.

l Another object of the invention is to provide a calculating machine of the kind indicated in which the size and arrangement of the component members of the keyboard mechanism are such as to effect greatly decreased inertia in operation, thereby increasing the operational speed of the machine.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a calculating machine of the kind indicated capable of performing a value indexing operation, in two phases accomplished by spring means automatically re-wound by the drive motor through planet gearing means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a calculating machine of the kind indicated which, in addition to a ball locking mechanism for the keys, has a pawl latching mechanism preventing release of a depressedkey until a shaft controlling the value indexing operation has been returned to its basic position.

An embodiment of the invention is described below i with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the machine with several parts omitted for clarity of illustration,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the machine substantially on the line 11-11 in Fig. 1 although with some obvious .deviations for clarity of illustration,

Fig. 3 is a partial diagrammatic plan view of the keyboard with the key levers, 1

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section of the keyboard illustrating the key locks and a portion of the value indexing mechanism, said section being taken longitudinally of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a section similar to that of Fig. 4 with certain parts in a position corresponding to the initial depression of a digit key.

Fig. 6 shows a section similar to that of Figs. 4 and 5 with certain parts in a position corresponding to the first phase of the digit indexing operation,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to those of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 showing the key latching mechanism,

, Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a gear train connecting a drive motor with certain driven parts of the machine and switch control mechanism for the motor,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of said gear train and control mechanism,

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the planetary gearing an switch control mechanism of Figs. 8 and 9,

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a detailv of the planetary gearing of Figs. 8, 9, and 10,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the setting mechanism and associated parts,

Fig. 13 is a substantially vertical partial section through the machine taken transversely thereof and showing the setting mechanism, the setting pinion, and the computing wall 300 for'free rotation.

said .stub shaft 29a.

2,945,622 Patented July 19,

position,

Fig. 14 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13 with the setting carriage in a position following the entry of the first digit, j

Fig. 15 is another view similar to that of Fig. 14 with the setting mechanism engaged with the computing racks,

Fig. 16 a partial vertical section of the setting mechanism taken longitudinally of the machine and with the parts in a position corresponding to Fig. 13 or 14,

Fig. 17 is a view similar to that of Fig. 16 with the parts in a position corresponding to Fig. 15,

Fig. 18 is a view similar to that of Fig. 17 illustrating the normal rotational position of the setting mechanism and the mid-cycle position of the setting mechanism restoring shaft 3,

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a detail of the "setting mechanism escapement device,

Fig. 20is a perspective view of a portion of the engaging mechanism for connecting the setting mechanism to the computing racks,

Fig. 21 shows an elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 20,

Fig. 22 shows a plan view of operating mechanism for the engaging mechanism of Figs. 20 and 21,

' Fig. 23 is a partial perspective view of a control shaft for indexing values in the setting mechanism,

Fig. 24 is a cross-section of the control shaft shown in Fig. 23, illustrating one of helical series of control fingers mounted thereon,

Fig. 25 shows a detail of the control shaft of Figs. 23 and 24,

Fig. 26 shows another detail of the control shaft, illustrating the setting wheel and locking disc forsequentially indexing successive digits in the setting mechanism,

Fig. 27is a view similar to Fig. 26 with the parts in a different relative position,

the denominationally shiftable setting mechanism.

Referring now particularly to Figs. land 2, the machine comprises a casing having a bottom wall 800, side walls and 300, a front end Wall 900. and a rear end wall 70. Two vertical partitions 500 and 600 extend lengthwise of the casing from the front to the rear end Wall thereof. An electric motor 37 is secured to the casing at the rear end wall 70 and provided on its shaft with a pinion 36 (see also Figs. 8 and 9) in meshing engagement with a gear wheel 35 that is secured to a second gear Wheel 34 concentric with the gear wheel 35. Said second gear wheel 34 is in meshing engagement with a third gear-wheel 33 which in turn is in meshing engagement with a fourth gear wheel 31 connected through a coupling of Well known type (not shown) with a horizontal drive shaft 32 that is rotatably mounted in the [casing transversely thereof. The gear wheels 35, 34, and

33 are rotatably mounted on the sidewall 300 of the casing.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the gear wheel 31 is in meshing engagement with a gear wheel 30 which also is in meshing engagement with another gear wheel 29, Both gear wheels 30 and 29 are mounted on the casing On the same stub shaft 29a as the gear wheel 29 a gear wheel 26 is rotatably mounted and held in frictional engagement with the gear wheel 29 by means of a spring 28 the tension of which is adjustable by means of a screw 27 threaded into the end of Obviously, this structure constitutes a variable friction clutch between the gear wheels 29 and 26. The gear wheel 26 is in meshing engagement with a further gear wheel 20 mounted for free rotation one control shaft that is rotatably mounted in the'casing and parallel with the drive shaft 32. A small. gear wheel 22: is rotatably mounted. in aneccentric: position on the gear wheel by means of a. pivot pinv 23, and

said small gear wheel 22 is in meshing engagement with a; toothed ring 21 formed. on a projecting. end portion of thecontrol shaft. 15. The small gear wheel 22 has one of its interstices filled in as indicated at 22a (Figs. 8 and v, 19 on gear wheel 20 and the other end secured to the control shaft 15. V

.-A lever 62 (Figs. 8, 9, and 10) is pivotally mounted on the machine casing at 63 and has at its free end an abutment surface 62a for cooperation with the pin 24,

as will be described below. A- link 64.is pivotally connected with said lever 62 and with one arm of a knee .lever 67 that is pivotally connected with the machine casing at 69. A tension spring 66 connecting said knee lever 67 with the machine casing, tends to pivot the knee lever 67 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 8

and 10. A lever 58 is pivotally mounted on the machine easing at 61, and a fixed abutment pin 59 limits the clockwise rotation of said lever 58. Two contact springs 60 and 68 extend into the space between the free ends of the lever 58 and knee lever 67 and are maintained by their spring tension in engagement with said lever 58 and knee lever 67, respectively. The contact springs 60, 68 are connected in the electric circuit of the drive motor 37 (Fig. 1).

The control shaft 15 (Figs. 4-6, 9 and 23-25) is provided with a plurality of projecting stop fingers 17, 17a (omitted in Figs. 13-15 and 26-28) spaced longitudinally along the control shaft 15 and also circumferentially around the same, as will be described in greater detail below. Each of said. fingers 17,. 17a is shaped as shown in Figs. 24 and 25 and secured, as by welding, in a recess 15b (Fig. 23) in the control shaft 15. A pin 15a in the center of the recess 15b extends through a hole in the finger and thus determines the exact location of the finger. Adjacent the spring casing 19, the control shaft provided with a recessed straight surface 150 (Figs. 7 and 9) and at the opposite end with a setting gear, or wheel 14 (Figs. 9, 13-17", and 26-28) and a circular disc 51 provided with a peripheral notch 51a (Fig. 17). Said setting gear 14 and disc 51 are secured to the control shaft 15.

Four cams 110, 120, 130,140 (Fig. 1) are secured to the drive shaft 32 for purposes explained below. In Fig. 2, the cams 110, 120, 130, 140 are indicated with dotted circular lines for the single purpose of showing with what mechanisms said cams cooperate. However, the true shapes of said'carns are not circular, as will be explained below in connection with the description of the operation of the machine and as also indicated in Fig. 1. A shaft 220 (Figs. 1 and 2)., parallel with the shaft 32, is pivotally mounted in the side wall 300 and the partition 500, and to said shaft 220 a knee lever 170 is secured. One arm of said knee lever 170 carries a rotatably mounted roller 150 in engagement with the cam 110. The other arm of the knee lever 170 carries a rotatably mounted roller 160 in engagement with the cam =120. Said cams 110 and 120 are so shaped that where during acycle of operation the radius of one cam is increasing the radius of the other cam is decreasing at the same on their respective pivot pins 741, 751.

4 rate so that the rollers 150, are continuously in engagement with the cams 110, 120, respectively.

The arm of the knee lever carrying the roller 160 has pivotally attached thereto a link 180, the other end of which is pivotally secured: to 'a fork lever 190. Said fork lever as well as a second fork lever 200 (Fig. 1)- are secured with their ends opposite to theforked end to a shaft 210 parallel with the drive shaft 32 and pivotally supported in the partitions 500, 600. A drive rod 230 is supported in the forks of the fork levers 190, 200. At the opposite end of the machine casing. and at a higher lever, a second rod 250, parallel with the drive rod 230 is fixedly'secured in the partitions 500, 600. A drive rack 240 (see also Fig. 12) is secured with one end to the drive rod 230 and has at its other end a longitudinal slot (not shown) through which the rod 250 extends. Accordingly, the drive rack 240 is supported in an inclined position on the rods 230, 250 and reciprocable longitudinally by means of the drive rod 230.

'A number of setting, or computer racks 13 (Figs. 1, 2, and 12-18) are also supported on the rods- 230, 250 which extend through longitudinal slots 270 in said racks 13 so that said racks are individually slidable in their longitudinal direction on. said rods 230, 25 0 to the extent permitted by the length of said slots 270 and the momentary position of the drive rod 230. An abutment member 280 (Fig. 2) secured to the end wall 900 of the casing limits the movement of the racks 13 towards the right in Fig. 2. The settingv racks 13 are provided with teeth on their upper and lower edges, and the upper teeth are in permanent meshing engagement with drive gears in a printing mechanism 770 mounted on the top side of the machine and comprising type wheels rotatably adjusted by computer racks 13 and released for orbital movement at a proper time in computing cycle to engage platen 7 80. Accumulator mechanisms 740, 750 (Fig. 2) are pivotally mounted in the machine casing on pivot pins 741, 751, respectively, and provided with drive gears 742, 752, respectively, which may be brought into meshingv engagement with the lower teeth of the computer racks 13 by means of exterior operating members (not shown) connected with actuating members 743, 753, respectively, adapted to pivot the accumulator mechanisms 740, 750 The purpose and function of said printing mechanisms 770 and accumulator mechanisms. 740, 750 are well known in the .art and need no further explanation in this: connection.

The keyboard occupies the front part of the top cover of. the machine (Figs. 2-6) and includes nine number keys'146 and a zero key 81. The arrangement of the number keys 146 representing. the values 1-9 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the location of the zero key 81 in relation to the keys 146 is indicated in Fig. 4.. The keyboard may include additional keys (not shown) such as keys constituting the exterior operating'menibers for the actuating members 743', 753 referred to above. Each key 146 is guided in anaperture in the top cover 52 (Figs. 4-6) of the machine and registering apertures in two plates 43, 44 parallel with said top cover 52 and disposed below the same. A channel member 153 (Fig. 5) is secured to the plate 44 and provided with end closures (not shown) and. with a number of apertures 154 in its web portion; Each key 146 is provided with an offset leg, suchv as 42a, extending down through one of said apertures 154, and the channel member 153 is filled with a line of balls 53 to such an extent as to permit deprmsion of only one of" said keys 146 at a time. As shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, each key 146 comprises a main member 42 to which a head member 46 is secured, and a compression spring 45 is inserted between said head member 46 and the plate 43 to bias the key towards its normal undepres'sed position. Each key 146 is also provided with a laterally projecting pin 41 in permanent engagement with; the forked end portion of a key lever 40 the mounting and function of which will be explained below.

The arm of the key lever 40 opposite to the forked end portion thereof is rotatably mounted on a shaft 39 (Figs. 36) parallel with the drive shaft 32. A pawl 49 is pivotally mounted on said shaft 39 and biased in the counterclockwise direction by a tension spring 93 (Fig. 2) connecting an arm of said pawl 49 with the machine casing. Also pivotally mounted on the shaft 39 is a substantially U-shaped lever 50 (Figs. 4-6) one leg 50a of which is engageable with a lateral projection 49a on the pawl 49. A similarly U-shaped lever 38 is freely rotatably mounted on the shaft 39 (see particularly Fig. 4) and biased in the counterclockwise direction by a tension spring 94 secured to the lever 38 and the machine casing. Said lever 38 has a projection 38a (see also Fig. 9) engageable with the member 17!; on the control shaft '15, as will be described below. The web portions of the U-shaped levers 33 and 56 extend across the entire width occupied by the key levers 4i), and each of said key levers 40 has an extension 40a in position for engagement with the web portion of said lever 38. An auxiliary lever 48 is pivotally mounted on each key lever 40 and provided with an arm 48a positioned for cooperation with the control shaft 15 and another arm 48b adapted for cooperation with the lever 50, all as described below. The auxiliary lever 48 is limited in its downward movement by a bar 16 extending laterally of the machine casing and secured thereto. Said bar 16 is provided with a recess 16a (Figs. 16, 17 and 28) adapted to accommodate the gear wheel 14 and the disc. 51. 7 On the plate 44 (Figs. 4-7), a latch member 55 is mounted for pivotal movement on a horizontal shaft 56 and biased in the clockwise direction by a tension spring 57 (Fig. 7) secured to the latch member 55 and to the machine casing. Said latch member 55 has a latch for cooperation with each of the key levers 40, as will be explained below. A lever 54 is pivotally connected to the latch member 55 and has a lateral projection 54a engaging over the control shaft 15 at the point of said control shaft where the recess 15c (Figs. 7 and 9) is disposed.

It will be noted that the keys, key levers, and immediately associated parts, as described, can be made light and of simple construction. They are also arranged in a manner that reduces frictional resistance to operation to a minimum and, therefore, the inertia in operation is decreased.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 20, 21, and 22, the cam 130 on the drive shaft 32 is in engagement with a roller 430 rotatably mounted on an arm of a substantially U-shaped lever 410, 410' secured with its leg portions to a shaft 360 pivotally mounted in the partition 600 and the casing wall 80. The cam 140 is engageable with a roller 440 pivotally mounted on a lever 420 carried by the shaft 360 and provided at its free end with a horizontal lateral projection 420' similar to a lateral extension of the web portion 410 of the lever 410, 410. The shaft 360 also carries a substantially U-shaped lever 350 (Figs. 1, 2, 20 and 21) which is biased in the counterclockwise direction (Figs. 2, 20, and 21) by a tension spring 400 secured to said lever 350 and to a cross-plate 100 extending laterally of the machine casing and fixedly connected therewith. The free end portions of the legs 350' of said U-shaped lever 350 have abutment surfaces adapted for engagement with the cross-plate 100 (Figs. 2 and 21) to limit the movement of the lever 350 under the action of the spring 400. Said free end portions of the legs 350 also carry latch members 370, 380 pivotally connected each mom of said legs 350' and biased in the counterclockwise direction by tension springs 390 each secured to an arm of one of said latches 370, 380 and to the corresponding leg 350'. Said latches 370, 380 are disposed for cooperation with push members 490, 660, respectively, which are slidably mounted on the plate 43 (Fig. 2). The push member 490 is biased towards the latch member 370 by a tension spring 500 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to said push member 490 and to the machine casing-wall 80. The push member 661) is biased away from the latch member 380 by a tension spring 520 (Fig. 1) se cured to said push member 660 and to the machine casing wall 80, and the push member 660 is provided at its front end with a slot in which a pin 650 (Figs. 1 and 2) is slidably engaged, said pinextending laterally from a key 640 of the keyboard of the machine. An arm of the lever 350 (Figs. 2, 20, and 21) is pivotally connected with one end of a link 340, the other end of said link 340 being pivotally connected to a knee lever 330 provided with a slot through which a coupling bar 2 ex tends. Said coupling bar 2 is provided at its ends with pivot pins 2a pivotally supported in the partition'500 and in a bracket 320 (Fig. 1), respectively, said bracket 320 being secured to the casing wall 80.

The setting mechanism comprises a carriage 1 (particularly Figs. 1, 2, and 12) having its end walls provided with slots embracing the cross-bar 2 so that the carriage 1 is slidable transversely of the machine on said cross-bar 2. A rod 11 is supported on hooks 91, 92 (Fig. 30) secured to the cross-plate 100 and slidable longitudinally in said hooks 91, 92. A combined tooth and gear rack 12 is secured to said rod 11 longitudinally thereof and provided on one edge with gear teeth 12b (Figs. 16 and 17) for a purpose which is independent of the present invention and not described here. On its opposite longitudinal edge the rack 12 is provided with teeth 12a (Figs. 5 and 6,) adapted for cooperation with the pawl 49. A post 9 (Figs. 4-6, 12, and 16-17) is secured to the rod 11 and rack 12 and extends downwardly into an aperture 1a in the top wall of the carriage 1. The post 9 is slidably guided on a rod 10 secured to the machine casing, and a tension spring 76 is secured to the machine casing and to a pin 77 on the rack '12 to bias said rack 12 and thereby the carriage 1 towards the left in Fig. 12.

In the end walls of the carriage 1, a shaft 4 is fixedly secured, and a number of setting wheels 6 (see also Figs. 13-15) are rotatably mounted side by side on said shaft 4 each in permanent engagement with a similar gear wheel 5 rotatably mounted on a setting shaft 3 that is rotatably mounted in the end walls of the carriage 1 and parallel with the fixed shaft 4. Each of the shafts 3, 4 is provided with a fixed longitudinal key 7, 8, respectively, extending through all the gear wheels on the respective shaft, and each gear wheel 5, 6 has an internally projecting lug 5a, 6a, respectively (see also Fig. 29), adapted for cooperation with the respective key 7, 8. The shafts 3, 4 are provided with circumferential grooves 3a, 4a (Fig. 16) each accommodating one of said lugs 5a, 6a. The shaft 3 extends to the left of the carriage (Figs. 1 and 12-15), and the extension is square in cross-section and slidably supported in a corresponding square aperture in a gear wheel 540 having a round hub that extends through a round opening in a member 545 secured to the cross-bar 2. The hub is provided with a projecting pin 545a to which is secured one end of a coil spring (Fig. 12), the other end of which is. secured to a pin 21; projecting from the end of the cross-bar 2. The spring 95 is tensioned to bias the gear wheel 540 in the counterclockwisedirection (Fig. 12). One of the teeth 5411' of the gear wheel 540 extends laterally across the member 545 which has a projection 545' serving as an abutment shoulder for said tooth 540. A leaf spring 546 (Fig. 1) secured to the crossbar 2 urges the gear wheel 540 towards the member 545. The gear wheel 540 is disposed straight above the drive rack 240.

In operation, when one of the keys 146 is depressed as, for example, the number 4 key shown in cross-secaerated tiQmirLFi'gs. 4 6, the member 42a displaces thexballs 531to both sidesso-that depression of an additional numeral keyiisprevented; The pin 41causes the key lever 40fto pivot on the shaft.39 from the position shown in. Fig. 4, to that shown. in. Fig. 5; This. movement of the key'lever 40 causes the. extension 40a thereon'to engage the. lever 38 whichis thereby pivoted von the shaft 39. inthe clockwise direction to disengage the'projection" 3822' iromthe abutment finger-17a on the control shaft 15; At the. same time the arm 48a of the auxiliary lever 48movestowards the control shaft 15 to occupy the positionnshown in. Fig. 5 in. the path of the finger I7'on'th'eshaft' 15 representingthe numeral 4. The disen agement of theproiection 38a from the'finger 17a leaves the control shaft. 15.free to rotate in the counterclockwise direction until stoppedby' engagement of. the finger 17' representing. numeral4 with .the arm. 48a, as indicated .in Fig. 6. This rotationiof. the. control shaft 15 is caused by the-spring. 18 which is permanently maintained under tension for reasons explained below.

Therotation' of the control shaft 15 causes a corresponding rotationof the small gear wheel 22 (Figs. 8 and 9) mm clockwise direction (Fig. 8) Whereby'the pin 24 iskrnoved so as to permit the lever 62 to pivot on its pivot pin .63. under the influence of the tension spring 66,.there bycausing the contacts.60, 68 to close and start the drive motor. 37.; Duringthis rotation of the control shaft. 15 the. setting mechanism carriage 1 occupies the position indicated. in Figs. 13 and 16, i.e. the carriage 1 is inits extreme righthand position as viewed in Fig. 1 andv the gear wheel farthest. to the left in Fig. 13 which for distinction is marked 6b is in meshing engagement with the. setting wheeL14 on the controlshaft15',.as shown in Figs, 13 and 16. Accordingly, the. gear wheel 6b will be rotatedlin the clockwise direction (Fig, 16) and the gear wheel. 5b will be rotated in the same amount in the anticlockwise direction. It. will be noted that this occurs while the gear wheel 5 marked 5b is out of engagement with the units order rack 13, specifically marked 13a (Figs. 13 and 16). Obviously, the rotation of. the. gear Wheels 5b, 6b does not cause any rotation of the shaft 3 or 4 since the lugs 5a, 6a are free to move in the directions indicated without engaging the keys 7, 8.

During the depression of the key 146 the release of thecontroljshaft '15 through movement of the lever 38 occurs before. the .key. has reached its totally depressed position,..and the last. portion of. the. depression movement. causes. the. arm 48B of. .the lever 48 to pivot the lever- 50 so that the leg 50:: ofthe. lever. 50'v engages the extension 49a and moves the pawl 49 out. of engagement with the. rack .12 (Fig, 6)'. The movement of the pawl 49jis.res.tricte.d. by engagementwiththe plate 52. The rack112.,.thus. released..from. the. pawl 49' moves. to the leftXFi'g. 1.2.). underthe action of the. spring 76, and. the carriage. 1. participates. in this; movement due. to the connecting ..po.st 9.. This movement. of the carriage 1. is interrupted, however,.through. .engagement of the next gear. wheel. 60 on..the shaft.4 against. the side of. the disc 5.1'.(as indicated. in. Fig. 27. for a later stageof the movement), said disc 51 at. this moment beingin. an .angular pqsitioninwhichthe slot 51a is out of register with any toothofl the. gear wheel 60.

The depressed number. 4 key. 146having been .released by. the-operator. tendsto return toits. undepressecl position under theaction of. the. spring. 45. However, as soon as: the: abovementioned; rotation eithe control. shaft 15..Was,.initiated, thelateral projection 54a of .the; lever 54. (Fig, 7) was.forcedoutoftherecess. 150 in. the. con.- trol..shaft.15' against:the..act-ion ofthe spring57, andthe latch member. 55...is. now in. position. to. engagev the. key lever. 40,andpreventcompletion of the return movement of said key lever 40, whereby depression of another key 14.6 also. continuesto. be. prevented. The. returnmovement of thekey lever 40. as far as said latched position. does, however, cause release of the levers 38,50; 49 and 48 and the controlsh'afitlS, thus permittingthepawl 49' to move in behind the tooth 12a that was previouslyi'engaged andto engageth'e next tooth "12a'when thecarriage 1 resumes its interrupted'movement' as a resulti'of the continued rotation of the released control shaft 15 tothe position of Fig. 4, the gear 14 rotating idly between gears 65 and 60 until the notch 51a in the disc 51 is inregi'ster with a tooth in the gear wheel 60; The resulting position is shown in Fig. 14. It will be noted that in this position the gear wheel 5b is in register with although not inengagement with the rack 13a. The completion of'the rotation of the control shaft 15 to the position of Fig$4 alsov releases the latch member 55' in an obviouswayj, thus allowing the number 4 key to return to its uncle pressed position.

In the meantime, the drive shaft 32 has been rotated by the drive motor 37 through the intermediary. of the gear train 31, 33-36 and the drive couplingand this has caused rotation of the cams secured to the drive shaft3'2. The cam 130 by causing the lever 4l'0 to pivot in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, movesthe lever 350 inthe same direction through engagement with the latch 370 which is caused to engage below the. mem: bar 410' (compare Figs. 21 and 22) under. the actionof the spring actuated slide member 490. Through. the intermediary of members 340 and 330 the. cross-bar2 is thereby rotated on its pivot pins. 2a causingthecarriage 1 to tilt in the clockwise direction, as. viewedinFi'g, 2,. whereby the gear wheel 6 is disengaged. from.the=setting gear 14 and the gear wheel. 5. is moved into meshing engagement with the rack 13 (Figs. 15 and 18).

Said tiltingof the setting carriage. 1 also brings..=the gear. wheel 540 on the shaft 3 into meshing. engagement with the drive rack240. (Fig. 15) whichdue toithe. action of the cam 'upon the knee lever 17 0 ispushed to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 12, through the intermediary of the members 180, 190', and 230. The resulting rotation of the gear wheel 540 inthe. clockwise direotionaas viewed in Fig. 12 causes a corresponding rotation of the shaft 3. As the rotation of the shaftf3 continues, thekey 7 secured to said shafit3 eventually engagesthe lug. 5a in the gear wheel 5 which'is in the position shown-.in- Fig. 17, and rotation beyond this stage. causes said gear wheel 5 to advance the rack 13 to the, relative. position shown in Fig. 18' where the gearwheel' 5. is again. in the original angular. position (Fig. 16) althoughlwiththerlug 5a' at the opposite side of the key 7. The movement-of the rack 13 is, of course, transmitted totheuprinting mechanism 770 and to one or both ofthe calculating mechanisms 740 and 750, if engaged. The drive bar 230 moves in the slots 270 of theracks 13 and, obviously, has had no eifect on the position of said racks 13 up =to this time. The movement of the rack 13a corresponds to the numeral 4 due to the. amount of rotationrimparted to the gear wheelSb by theshaft'3. Continued rotation of the. drive shaft 32 permits the levers 410 and.350 tosbe restored to their starting. position which causesthe car.- riage 1 to tilt back to its original position with. the setting wheel 14 engaged, the gear wheels 5 and G'in thein-origi": nal angular positions, the rack 13 disengaged from the gear wheel 5, and the gear wheel 540 disengagedufrom the drive rack 240. Actuatedby thespring 95, theishaft 3 is returned to its. original positionwith theextended tooth 540 of the gearwheel 540 in engagement with the abutment 545' (Fig. 12). Thereturnmovementrof thedrive rod 230 under the action of the-camon the knee lever causes said drive rod 230 to-engage. the righthand end (Fig. 2) oftheadvanced racki' l3a and thus. to. return said rack 13a to abutment with thestop: member 280.

When, at the initialmovement of'the controlshafit 15,-, the pin 24 (Figs. 8 and 9) was moved away from the stop member 25 and thedrive motor 37 was started, said motor. throughthe gear train. andlfriction clutch=26.-36 caused the gear wheel 20 to rotate in the anticlockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 8. Through this rotation of the gear wheel 20 the spring 18 is continuously tensioned regardless of the rotational movement of the control shaft 15. The rotation of the gear wheel 20 obviously causes rotation of the small gear wheel 22 around its pivot pin 23 whereby the pin 24 is returned to position for engagement with the stop member 25 and the lever 62 to stop the motor 37 by breaking the contacts 60, 68. Apparently, the members 20-23 and 26 together form a planetary device.

If it is desired to suspend the return movement of the carriage 1 as, for example, in multiplication procedures when a set value is to be repeated in consecutive cyclesthe key 640 (Figs. 1 and 2) is depressed causing the slide member 660 to move the latch 380 in below the projection 420 on the lever 420 so that said lever 420, actuated by the cam 140, retains the setting mechanism in engagement with the racks 13 and the drive rack 240 also during the return movement of the drive rod 230. Thereby the shaft 3 is returned to its starting position through the drive rack 240 and the gear wheel 540, and the displaced racks 13 are returned to their original position by the drive rod 230.

The above description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is not intended to be limiting for the scope of the invention. Variations and modifications are feasible within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a calculating machine, a casing, a ten-key keyboard, a denominational series of parallel gear racks slidably mounted in said casing, accumulator mechanisms pivotally mounted in said casing adjacent to said gear racks, said accumulator mechanisms including gear members engageable with said racks, means operable to move said gear members into meshing engagement with said gear racks, a setting mechanism including denominational pairs of gears differentially settable from a normal position by said keyboard and engageable with said racks for controlling differential movement thereof, pivotally mounted support means in said casing supporting said setting mechanism for denominational sliding movement transversely of said gear racks, means mounted in said casing for pivoting said support means for moving said setting mechanism into and out of operating engagement with said gear racks, means for positively restoring said gear pairs to normal position to differentially advance said racks, means for restoring said racks, an escapement mechanism for controlling denominational movement of said setting mechanism, a spring-urged control shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, said control shaft including a series of helically arranged stop fingers and a zero stop finger, a setting gear on said control shaft operatively engaging a gear pair of said setting mechanism when said setting mechanism is out of operative engagement with said gear racks, means controlled by the keys of said keyboard for releasing said zero stop and intercepting a stop of said helical series to control differential rotation of said control shaft and for controlling operation of said escapement mechanism, a drive motor, a planet gear device, means operatively connecting said planet gear device with said drive motor, contact means operatively connected with said planet gear device for starting and stopping said drive motor, spring means connecting said planet gear device with said control shaft and adapted to be continuously tensioned by said planet gear device, latch means for said keyboard engageable with a depressed key to retain said depressed key in partially depressed position and to prevent concurrent depression of more than one key, and means operatively connected to said latch means and said control shaft to engage said latch means upon rotation of said shaft.

2. The calculating machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said escapement mechanism includes a disc secured to said control shaft adjacent to said setting gear and in peripheral overlapping relation to said gear pairs when the setting mechanism is engaged with said setting gear and disengaged from said gear racks, and a peripheral notch in said disc permitting the passage of a registering tooth of one of said gear pairs therethrough in the full cycle position of said control shaft controlled by said zero stop.

3. The calculating machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said connecting means includes a friction coupling connecting said drive motor with said planet gear device, whereby the timing of the rotation of said control shaft is independent of the drive motor.

4. The calculating machine as set forth in claim 1, including pins integral with said control shaft to accurately determine the positions in which said fingers are secured to said control shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 765,774 Goldberg July 26, 1904 1,034,565 Austin Aug. 6, 1912 1,136,391 Austin Apr. 20, 1915 2,019,900 Fuller Nov. 5, 1935

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