US3220645A

US3220645A - Conversion of counters to adding machines

Info

Publication number: US3220645A
Application number: US278001A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward C Walsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-05-06
Filing date: 1963-05-06
Publication date: 1965-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-30

Description

Nov. 30, 1965 E. c. WALSH CONVERSION OF COUNTERS T0 ADDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 30, 1965 E. c. WALSH CONVERSION OF COUNTERS TO ADDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed y 6, 19s:

INVENTOR. W 54 m Nov. 30, 1965 a. c. WALSH CONVERSION OF COUNTERS TO ADDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 6, 1963 INVENTOR. we. 4/4624 Nov. 30, 1965 E. c. WALSH 3,220,645

CONVERSION OF COUNTERS TO ADDING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Nov. 30, 1965 E. c. WALSH CONVERSION OF COUNTERS TO ADDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 6, 1963 INVENTOR. Mad/@414 g 3,220,645 Ice Patented Nov. 30, 1965 3,220,645 CONVERSION OF COUNTERS TO ADDING MACHINES Edward C. Walsh, 431 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,001 7 Claims. (Cl. 23580) This invention relates to small, compact calculating or adding machines and particularly machines of this nature which are produced by the conversion of mechanical counters or odometers.

This application is a continuation in part of previously filed application Serial No. 173,561, filed February 15, 1962. Devices of this invention may be realized by use of and conversion of counters or odometers of the type shown in detail in Patent No. 2,004,881. Counters, as shown in that patent have a reset mechanism whereby they may be easily reset to zero position of all the wheels. The count-er wheels may be individually freely rotatable in counting direction.

By this invention, mechanical means are provided whereby individual wheels may be selectively manually rotated whereby to feed manual inputs selectively into individual wheels. In this manner, addition may be readily performed by the machine.

The primary object of the invention is to realize the foregoing results using counters or odometers of the type referred to.

Another object is to provide simplified and effective mechanical means for individually and selectively manually rotating the counter wheels, that is feeding digital inputs into them.

The invention is disclosed herein in various preferred forms. In some forms a rotatable pawl is used which is engageable with the counter wheels for feeding in the manual inputs. In other forms, a friction wheel is used which is engageable with the counter wheels for feeding in the inputs. Other objects of the invention include the realization of the desired results by the use of these particular mechanisms.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 5a is a view of a modified form of pawl.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another form of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a view taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of another form of the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a view taken along the line 1313 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a view taken along the line 1414 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a view taken along the line 15-15 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 16 is a detail view of a part of the device of FIGURES 12 to 15;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 18 is a view taken along the line 1818 of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along the line 19-19 of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 21 is a view taken along the line 2121 of FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 23 is a perspective view of a further form of the invention;

FIGURE 24 is a view taken along the line 2424 of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 25 is a sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of FIGURE 24;

FIGURE 26 is an end view of the form of the invention of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 27 is a sectional view of a further form of the invention;

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings, these figures illustrate an adding machine made by conversion of a counter or odometer of the type shown in detail in Patent No. 2,004,881. The counter is designated gen erally by the numeral 10. It is shown as having four

wheels

11, 12, 13 and 14. Carry-over or transfer means are provided internally between the wheels so that a full revolution of one wheel causes a one step revolution of the next adjacent Wheel. In this counter there are provided spacers between the wheels, as designated at 17 in FIGURE 2. These spacers have extending fingers or yokes, as shown at 19, by which the spacers may be held from rotation.

As shown, the counter is mounted by way of an end plate or disc 21 and an end ring 22. Extending between these members are holding

rods

24 and 25, and the further holding rod 27 suitably attached to the

end members

21 and 22. The extending fingers 19 of the spacers are in the form of yokes, as shown in FIGURE 3, which engage the rod 27 which serves as a holding member to prevent rotation of the spacers.

Numeral 30 designates a reset knob which is provided with the counter and by which all of the wheels may be set to zero. The knob 30 is on a shaft 31 journaled in the disc 21.

The ring 22 has a bore 32 and a counterbore 33 providing an extending skirt 35. Journaled in the skirt 35 is a rotor 40 having a knurled part 41 adapted to be manually grasped. The rotor 40 has an extending collar 44 which is journaled on the shaft of the counter. The ring 22 has an opening 47. Attached to the ring by a rivet or the like is an extending spring finger which extends into the opening 47 and which cooperates with depressions, as shown at 50 in the rotor 40. There are ten of the depressions 50 spaced equally apart. The crimped end 52 of the spring finger 48 cooperates with them forming detents so as to accurately stop the rotor 40 in any one of ten positions. Opposite these positions there are inscribed on the rotor 40 the numerals or digits from 0 to 9, as shown in the figures.

Numeral 56 designates a stem journaled in a bore in the rotor 40, parallel to its axis. On the end of this stem is a pawl 58 having a configuration as shown in FIG- URE 3. Each of the counter wheels has ten equally spaced transverse surface grooves, as shown at 60 in FIGURE 3. The end of the pawl 58 is cooperable with these grooves to rotate the counter wheels in one direction, but to slide freely over them in the opposite direction. The stem 56 is slidable in the rotor 40. It has a group of four notches, as shown at 62, cooperable with a crimped spring finger 63 attached to the inside surface of the rotor 49 by a screw 44 to provide spring detents establishing the positions of the stem 56. The stem 56 has a knurled knob 66 on its end. The stem 56 has one fiat surface 68, as shown in FIGURE 4, cooperable with a radial screw 70 which prevents the stem 56 from rotating in its bore.

The extending fingers or yokes 19 are notched out arcuately as shown at 72 to allow increased angular movement of the stem 56. The ring 22 has a reference line or marker 74 adjacent which is marked the numeral zero, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The operation of the device will now be described. The counter counts in a counterclockwise direction, looking at FIGURE 1. In the starting position the stem 56 is against the extending fingers 19, as shown in FIGURE 3, which form a stop. The rotor 40 can be rotated clockwise manually carrying the stem 56 with it, such rotation is limited by engagement of stem 56 with the other side of the extending fingers 19, as may be seen in FIGURE 3. The pawls 58 may, however, extend or protrude between adjacent of the fingers 19.

In operation, any numeral or digit from one to nine may be fed into or applied to any one of the counter wheels 11 to 14. This is done by rotating the rotor 40 clockwise to bring any numeral on it adjacent the reference line 74 on the ring 22. The rotor 40 is then rotated back until the stem 56 engages the extending fingers 19. When the pawl 58 is rotated clockwise, it slides over the counter wheels and when it is rotated back, the pawl 58 engages one of the grooves 60 and pulls the wheel around with it an amount corresponding to the number that was set opposite the reference line 74. The stem 56 may be set so that the pawl 58 engages any one of the counter Wheels. In this manner, any digit may be applied to any one of the counter wheels with the counter performing an adding function. That is, a digit may be applied to the units tens or hundreds wheel, etc., by positioning of the pawl 58 and manual rotation of the rotor 40.

Preferably in operation, the machine may be held in the left hand with the rotor 40 rotated with the right hand. It is significant that while the rotor 40 is rotated in one direction the counter held in the left hand may be rotated in the opposite direction so that it is very easy to bring any numeral on rot-or 40 opposite the reference line 74 on ring 22. The rotor and the counter are then each rotated in the opposite direction.

A spring return may be provided, if desired, for returning the rotor 40 to initial position. Such a spring is not shown, but if used, it is simply connected between the collar 44 of rotor 40 in the interior of ring 22. Thus, when rotor 40 is turned clockwise, the spring is tightened and when the rotor 40 is released, the spring returns the rotor to its starting or initial position, as shown in FIG- URE 3.

The machine as shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 may, of course, be mounted on a base so that it is not necessary to hold it with the left hand. In these circumstances, the entire operation is performed with the right hand by manipulating the knob 66 and rotor 40. Resetting to is, of course, by the knob 30.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the invention provides an extremely effective, but small, compact inexpensive adding machine which is very readily and easily operable and adapted for manifold uses.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings show another form of the invention. In this form of the invention the rotor 40 is not simply turned manually as in the previous embodiment, but instead a pistol grip is provided 4 with a trigger and gear mechanism for rotating the knob and feeding in the manual inputs. The machine is otherwise the same as the previous embodiment. The rotor 40 is journalled in a separate non-rotatable part which is supported by a yoke 81 upstanding from a pistol grip 82 and for this purpose rotor 40 has a shaft on which is a pinion gear 83.

The stem 56 extends from near the disc 21 and ring 22 to rotor 40, similar to the showing of FIG. 2, but is fixedly mounted in rotor 40. The pawl 58 slides on the stem 56 and has a finger 84 whereby it can be conveniently moved by the operators thumb. The operating {mechanism is within the pistol grip 82 'which has an extending trigger 89 which, as will be described, is pivoted on a pivot pin 90. The operators thumb is in a position adjacent the rotor 40 to conveniently serve as a brake to control the movement of the rotor 40 as it is rotated. Any suitable means, such as bracket 94, holds the ring 22 against rotation relative to the pistol grip 82.

The trigger 89, as shown in FIGURE 7, has an upward extending part 93 at the upper end of which is a partial sector gear 96 which cooperates with the pinion gear 83. The trigger member is biased by a spring 97 within the pistol grip 82. The member 93 extends out of the pistol grip through a slot 100, as shown in FIGURE 5.

In the operation of the device the pawl 58 is manually adjusted to be opposite a desired counter wheel. The trigger 89 is pulled and this rotates the pinion gear 83 and rotor 40 to bring any desired numeral opposite the reference line 74. As explained, the operator may use his thumb as a brake to conveniently stop and hold the rotor 40 at the desired position. When the trigger is released, the spring 97 returns the rotor 40 and pawl 58 to the initial position in the manner as described in connection with the previous embodiment. In this manner, the operator can hold the device in one hand while looking at a column of figures and can readily manually feed in any numeral to any one of the counter wheels.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are illustrative of various manners in which the inputs can be manually fed. in. This can be by means other than a trigger. A straight rack and pinion may be used. In such a variation the rack may be extending from the barrel part of the pistol grip. The device as a whole may then be simply thrust forward with the end of the rack engaged against an abutment so as to rotate the pinion 83 and feed in the inputs. Also, the rack may be operated simply in the manner of a plunger with a button on the end of it.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show another form of the invention wherein the inputs are by way of a rotor resembling a telephone dial. This dial has ten equally spaced finger holes 112. Illustratively the device comprises a frame 114 having

uprights

115 and 116 spaced by a member 117. The counter 10 has its shaft journaled in the

uprights

115 and 116. The spacers are held at the back of the counter, not shown in FIGURE 8. Beneath the counter is provided a rotating member in the form of a sleeve designated 121 journaled in the

uprights

115 and 116. Mounted on the sleeve 121 is a friction wheel 122 positioned between the

flange

123 and 124. This sleeve has circumferential grooves 130, which cooperate with a detent ball 131. This ball is in the end of a bore 132 :in a boss extending from the upright 115. The ball is urged into the grooves by a spring 135, the bore being closed by a screw 136.

The dial 110 has a hub 140 mounted on a shaft 141 which extends into the sleeve 130. This shaft has a keyway 143 on one side which cooperates with the end of the screw 144 extending radially in the sleeve so that the sleeve rotates with the shaft, but is slidable axially. On the end of the sleeve 130 is an adjusting knob 148 so that the sleeve and friction wheel 122 can be slid axially.

The dial 110 has a group of ten equally spaced depressions 151 cooperating with a knob on the end of a spring finger 152 providing detent stops for the ten positions of .5 :the dial. In back of the dial is a member 154 having the numerals from zero to nine inscribed on it which are behind the openings in the dial 110. Adjacent one of the finger holes in the dial is a finger stop member 156 suitably supported to cooperate with the manipulations of the dial.

The operation of this embodiment will be clear to those skilled in the art. Friction wheel 122 may be placed in engagement with any one of the counter wheels 11 to 14 to transmit movement to it. Any numeral or digit may be fed into any wheel by dialing of the dial 110. For example, the operator merely inserts his finger int-o one of the holes in the dial 110 identified by that numeral and rotates it until his finger engages the stop. The friction wheel 122 then rotates the corresponding counter wheel a similar amount thereby feeding that numeral into that wheel. As stated, the friction wheel 122 is brought into engagement with any counter wheel by axial movement of the sleeve 130.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that this embodiment of the invention also provides a very effective, but simple, compact, inexpensive and easily manipulatable adding machine.

FIGURES 12 to 16 show another form of the invention, which in the present state of its development is considered to be the preferred form. The same type of counter is used in this form of the invention. The counter is housed in the housing of the counter designated generally at 160 having an upper rectilinear part 161. The counter has depending circular

side wall parts

163 and 164, and a front arcuate opening terminated by the upper edge or surface 166 and a lower edge or surface 167. The depending

sides

163 and 164 are circular, as shown. J ournaled in openings in the

sides

163 and 164 is a transverse shaft 172. Freely rotatable on this shaft, but movable axially with it, is a rotor or disc 173. This disc has a circumferential groove in which is an O-ring 75 forming a tire for the rotor. This tire frictionally engages the adjacent counter wheel and may engage any one of the counter wheels. Preferably the rotor 173 is three times the size, or approximately three times the size of the counter wheels of the counter 10. The rotor 173 has equally angularly spaced radial holes or bores 177 whereby it is operated. These holes are spaced so that ten of them occupy a part of the circumference of rotor 173, which is equal to the complete circumference of one of the counter wheels. That is, movement of the rotor 173 in an amount equal to the spacing between the holes 177 will move a counter wheel an amount equivalent to one count, i.e., one-tenth of a revolution.

The shaft 172 has a group of annular grooves 180 in it spaced apart equal to the spacing between the counter wheels of the counter 10. These grooves are cooperable with a detent plunger 181 in a bore 182 in a housing 183 on the side of side Wall 164. The plunger 181 forms a detent determining the axial positions of the shaft 172 and rotor 173 opposite the various counter wheels. The depending side wall 164 has a hole 188 in it which is slightly enlarged, as shown in FIGURE 16. The plunger 181 normally holds the shaft 172 against the upper side of the hole, as shown in FIGURE 16 and maintains the appropriate degree of friction between the tile 175 and a counter wheel so that rotation may be transferred to the counter wheel.

On the end of shaft 172 is an operating knob 190 for rotating the shaft. This knob may be attached by a collar 191 and set screw 192. Attached to the collar 190 is an extending arm 194 having a part 195 extending over the side Wall 164 and over the periphery of the rotor 173. The arcuate edge of the side 164 has inscribed on it numerals from 1 to 9 as indicated at 197. The part 195 of the arm 194 has four spaced holes in it as designated at 200 through which the numerals 197 may be seen.

At the end of the arm 195 there is a pawl which cooperates with the holes or bores 177 in the rotor 173. This pawl is formed by a flexible spring finger 201 extending from arm 195 and adjacent to it is a rigid extending finger 202. When the knob 190 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 12, the pawl 201 slides over the openings 177. When the knob and shaft 172 rotate in the opposite direction, the pawl 201 engages in the hole 177 opposite to which it has been staopped and rotates the rotor 173 back with it.

Mounted on the outside of the side 163 is a return spring for returning the knob 190, shaft 172 and rotor 173 after the knob and shaft have been rotated clockwise.

The shaft 172 has a groove 205 in it cooperating with a key 206 extending inwardly from the bore 207 in a disc 208. The disc 208 is in a cap or housing 210 attached to the side wall 163 by screws 212. Between the disc 208 and the interior of the cap 210 there is provided a clock type return spring 214 for returning the shaft 172, knob 190 and rotor 173. On the inside of the disc 208 are a group of ten equally spaced depressions 216. These depressions cooperate with a ball 217 to form spring detents determining ten positions of a shaft 172. The ball 217 is urged toward the disc 208 by a spring 219 held by a screw 220.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readily understand the operation of this form of the invention. The device may be held in the left hand or it may be mounted on a base as desired. The knob 190, shaft 172 and rotor 173 are slidable axially to bring the rotor 173 opposite any one of the counterwheels of the counter. The shaft slides through the disc 208 of the return spring mechanism and detent, provided by the ball 270. The shaft is stopped in any one of its four positions opposite the counter wheels by the detent provided by the grooves and the plunger 181. The detent plunger 181 has the additional function of holding the shaft 172 in the position shown in FIGURE 16 providing appropriate frictional engagement between the tire 175 and the counter wheels. When the knob 190, shaft 172 and rotor 173 are moved axially the knob and shaft may be tilted downward slightly against the plunger 181 moving the shaft 182 to the bottom of the hole 188. This movement may be very slight, just enough to very slightly relieve the friction between the tire 175 and the counter wheels to allow easier sliding axial movement. The device may be operated without tilting the shaft 172 in this manner since the friction is not so great as to prevent it. However, by tilting the shaft slightly to relieve the friction wear between the tire 175 and the counter wheels is reduced.

After setting the rotor 173 opposite the desired counter wheel, the operator turns the knob and arm to bring it opposite the desired number on the edge of the side 164 of the machine. At this time, the pawl 201 will be engaged in a corresponding hole in the rotor 173 opposite that number along the edge 197. The operator then simply releases the knob 190 and the shaft 172 and knob are returned by the spring 214 until the

pawl members

201 and 202 come against the edge surface 167 which is the zero position. The rotor 173, therefore, transfers a corresponding amount of rotation to the counter wheel so that a number of counts is fed in corresponding to that number to which the arm 195 is rotated. It will be observed that the entire operation is done with one hand and to feed in any numeral from one to nine at the most about a third of a revolution of the knob 190 is necessary, and for numerals less than nine, a corresponding fraction of this third of a revolution. The axial movements of the knob are quick and positive by reason of the detents and the angular rotative movements are easy and accurate and, therefore, adding can be performed rapidly. Resetting to zero is by the knob 30, as in previous embodiments.

In the present embodiment it should be understood that the return spring can be omitted since the knob 190 can very easily be returned manually. Also, the detent mechanism for axial movements of the shaft 172 may be omitted since the rotor 173 can readily be set opposite any one of the counter wheels without the detent. Instead of the rotor 173 having holes 177 in it, as shown, and having the pawl mechanism a conventional pawl and toothed ratchet may be used so that the knob 190 rotates freely in one direction and rotates the rotor 173 when rotated in the opposite direction. The arm 195 would indicate the axial and angular positions in the same manner.

FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 show a form of the invention similar to that of FIGURE 1. The same or similar corresponding parts are similarly numbered. In these figures, the counter is mounted in a tubular plastic housing 230 having a window 231. The counter shaft 233 is journaled in a bearing 234 in one end of the housing 230. A second tubular housing 236 is provided which is preferably made of clear or transparent plastic. It fits around the outside of housing 230. It has an internal end annular bead 240 engageable with annular grooves or rings 241 provided in a housing 230 to provide for predetermined detent stop positions.

The other end shaft 243 of the counter is journaled in a flanged plastic disc 244 which fits inside the housing or barrel 236. The disc 244 is slidable within the barrel 236, it having a key 246 which engagaes in a groove 247 inside the barrel 236.

The counter 10 may be of the same construction as that of FIGURE 1. In these figures, however, the spacers 17 are held by the holder bar 27 which is positioned on the top side of the counter with an end portion 250 engaged in the end of the housing 230, as shown.

The pawl carrying member 56 is in the form of a bracket having an end part 251 attached to the end Wall 252 of the barrel 236. It extends through a hole in the disc 244 so that the pawl 58 can be positioned to cooperate with any one of the counter wheels by moving the barrel or housing 236 to any one of its four positions.

Preferably a return spring 254 is provided. The inner end of it is connected by a pin 256 to the disc 244. The other end of it is connected to the interior of the housing 230, as shown in FIGURE 19. Preferably the machine is mounted on a base or platform 257 having an upright 258 supporting the housing 230, as shown. The housing 230 has a reference line 261 on it and the barrel 236 is graduated bearing the numerals from zero to nine thereon, adjacent its end as shown. The other end of the barrel has a knurled part 263 to facilitate turning it manually.

From the foregoing, operation of the machine will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It may be operated by one hand while resting on its base. The barrel 236 is moved axially to feed in digits to any one of the counter wheels, that is for units, tens, hundreds or thousands. Any digit is then fed in by turning the barrel 236 until that digit is brought opposite the reference line 261. When the barrel is released it returns to its initial position, as shown in FIGURE 19. In the form of the device shown, the pawl 58 slides over the grooves in the counter wheels when the barrel is turned clockwise and the counter wheels are turned when the barrel rotates in the opposite direction. It should be understood however, that the operation can be reversed, that is, the counter wheels can be turned when the barrel 236 is being manually turned in the clockwise direction with the pawls sliding over the counter wheels during the spring return. In either case, no governor is required to control the operation of the barrel 236. Furthermore, of course, the device can be used without the return spring. In the device as shown, the window 231 and reading line of the counter 10 are spaced 90 degrees from the position of the holding bar 27. These counters are commercially available in types having the holder bar spaced any desired number of degrees from the reading line.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the device provides an extremely simple, but practical, effective and economical adding machine of very small and compact size. Its operation is easy, but positive and the readou of the answer is very clear.

FIGURES 20, 21 and 22 show a form of the invention very similar to the form just described and similar parts are identified by similar reference numerals. In this form of the invention the barrel 236 fits inside of the housing 230. It has an annular rib 270 engageable with any one of four annular grooves 271 within the housing 230 to establish four predetermined detent stops. The pawl 272 has the shape as shown in FIGURE 22 and is mounted on the inside of the end of the barrel 236. The holder bar 27 engages a disc 244 in which the end shaft 243 of the counter is journaled. The disc 244 does not rotate in this embodiment, but is relatively slidable inside of the barrel 236. This embodiment is like the previous embodiment, but uses fewer parts, preferably no return spring being used. The barrel 236 has a series of digits from zero to nine inscribed thereon, as shown at 275 so that these digits can be brought adjacent the reference line 261 when the barrel 236 is moved into its various positions.

The operation of this embodiment is like that of the previous embodiment. The barrel 236 is moved axially to any one of its axial positions and then rotated clockwise to a desired digital position and then rotated clockwise back to the starting position. It will be observed that the counter wheels are rotated by the pawl 272 when the barrel 236 is rotated back in a counterclockwise direction. The device of this embodiment, as shown, preferably does not have a support or stand so that anextremely compact adding machine is provided. When the barrel 236 is in its innermost position, the device can be made 1n a size occupying possibly less than two cubic inches.

FIGURES 23 to 26 show a modified form of the invention utilizing the same type of counter as designated at 10. This embodiment provides a machine wherein no movement of manipulation is required to select the counter wheel to which the input is to be made. This form of the counter has a tubular plastic housing 300, the shaft 243 being journaled in one end of it. The other end is closed by a disc 301. Within the housing are provided spaced parallel

annular grooves

302, 303, 304 and 305 in which are

slidable ring members

307, 308, 309 and 310. Each of these ring members carries on the inside thereof a pawl, as designated at 315, similar to that of the previous embodiment. The counter wheels are similar to those of previous embodiments. A manual actuator is provided for each of the rings 307 to 310, as designated at 316, 317, 318 and 319 having knurled knobs on their ends, as shown at 321, 322, 323 and 324. These actuators are configurated as shown to extend forwardly. They extend through an indicator ring member 330 supported from an upright 331 on the base platform 257. This ring has equally spaced numerical indications thereon from zero to nine, as shown in FIGURE 26.

Mounted on the extending end of the shaft 243 is a pointer member 333 movable opposite the numerical indications on the ring 330. Y

The actuators 316 to 319 move in

slots

337, 338, 339 and 340 in the housing 300. These slots do not extend all the way around in the material of the housing, but are interrupted along an axial line at the position of the holder bar 27 which has a position as shown in FIGURE 25. The housing 300 has a window 231 spaced substantially degrees from the holder bar 27 and the interruption in the slots 337 to 340.

The extensions of the actuators 316 to 319 normally he against the pointer 333 as shown. A return spring 254 preferably is provided, the inner end of which is connected by a pin 343 to the pointer 333 and the other end 9 of which is connected by a pin 344 to the end plate or disc 252 of the housing 300.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readily understand the operation of the present embodiment. To add in any digit from one to nine, whether in the units, tens, hundreds or thousands column, the operator need only grasp one of the actuating knobs 321 to 324 and turn that particular actuator. It is turned to that digit as indicated by the pointer 333 on the ring 330. The pointer 333 need only be moved past that digit and that digit will be picked up and indicated when the pointer and actuator are returned by the return spring. An advantage of the present form of the invention is that it is convenient to add a column of figures by inserting the digits across the column like dialing a telephone number rather than adding vertical columns of figures. No additional manipulation is required to select the counter wheel to which a digit is to be added or inserted. Preferably the end knobs 321 to 324 are provided with holes so that they can be operated using a stylus, if desired. They can, if course, be larger than shown with correspondingly larger holes in them to more readily accommodate receiving the end of a stylus. If desired, the ring 330 may be made considerably smaller and may be on the inside of the innermost of the actuators, that is On the inside of the actuator 319.

FIGURE 27 shows a form of the invention which is a slight modification of that shown in FIGURES l8 and 21. The counter 10 is the same. In this form of the inventron, the counter end shafts are journaled in

discs

350 and 244, the disc 244 having an extending skirt 351, this disc having relative sliding relationship with the barrel 236. The pawl 58 is mounted inside the barrel. The holder bar 27 is at the bottom extending between the

discs

350 and 244. In this form of the invention no detents are used and no return spring so that it is only necessary to add to the counter the two discs and the barrel 236 with the pawl. An indicator pin may be provided as shown at 353 extending from the disc 350 to provide a reference line or mark.

The foregoing discloses in detail various preferred forms of the invention. It is to be understood that certam modifications and variations can be made in the forms of the invention shown. For example, in FIG-

URES

9 and 13 instead of using friction wheels, the drive wheels and counter wheels may be geared together or the driving wheel may be in the form of a sprocket wheel having teeth engageable with ribs on the counter wheels allowing for axial movement. While the devices are shown as being manually operated, it is to be understood that if desired, the rotatable input element could be driven by a miniature electric motor. In such an arrangement the motor is operated by a single, manual switch button. Closing of the switch energizes the motor driving the input rotor to the desired position; upon deenergization of the motor by opening the switch, the return spring returns the input rotor to the start position.

The device shown in FIGURES 23 and 24 may be modified to have the rings 307 to 310 on the outside of the housing 300 rather than on the inside with the pawls remaining on the inside. With this modification, the actuators 316 to 319 are omitted and the operator rotates the rings themselves which have numbers from to 9 inscribed on them like they are on the rotor 236 of FIG- URE 17.

In all modifications using a pawl, the pawl may be simply a resilient serrated member shaped as shown in FIGURE 5a, so that it will slide over the counter wheels in one direction and frictionally engage with them and rotate them in the opposite direction. With this arrangement it is unnecessary to form the grooves in the counter wheels and the counter may be used in its commercial form without modification.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in all illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A calculating device comprising a counter having counter wheels having transfer means between the wheels whereby a predetermined revolution of a wheel imparts a step movement to an adjacent wheel, means for manually feeding numerical inputs selectively to individual counter wheels comprising a member selectively engageable with the periphery of any one of the counter wheels, and means for rotating said member about the axis of said counterwheel to impart a predetermined angular rotation to the selected counter wheel.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said member is mounted whereby to be movable axially with respect to the counter wheels for selective engagement with any one thereof.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said member is a ratchet paWl engageable with the periphery of the counter wheel.

4. A device as in claim 2 including a rotor operable to rotate said member to any one of a plurality of numerically identified positions.

5. A device as in claim 2 including gear means for rotating said member and a manually movable member for actuating said gear means.

6. A device as in claim 5 including a pistol grip support member having the calculator mounted thereon.

7. A device as in claim 1 including a cylindrical housing around said counter, a second cylindrical housing associated with said first cylindrical housing and movable axially of and rotatable with respect thereto, said member being carried by said second cylindrical housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,465 5/ 1900 Hubbell 235-116 865,200 9/1907 Moore 235144 999,011 7/1911 Corell 235-- 1,009,886 11/1911 Von Bechtolsheim 235-117.1 1,110,327 9/1914 Madsen et al. 235117.1 1,120,138 12/1914 Druschke. 1,749,365 3/1930 Zubaty 235117.1 1,775,066 9/1930 Bulova 235--117.1 2,082,256 6/1937 Nitschke 74-133 2,148,768 2/ 1939 Miller 23591 3,035,451 5/1962 OConnell et al 74-133 3,070,297 12/ 1962 Mehlmon 23598 X 3,100,602 8/1963 Lear Voo 235-444 FOREIGN PATENTS 226,159 1/ 1959 Australia.

624,110 5/ 1949 Great Britain.

616,261 6/ 1961 Italy.

72,866 7/ 1953 Netherlands.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.