US3313481A - Readout device - Google Patents

Description

A ril 11, 1967 NQKONDUR, JR, ETAL 3,313,431

READOUT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1966 INVENTORS. lV/6HOLAS KONDUR JR. BY RONALD H. MACK.

April 11, 1967 N. KONDUIIQ, JR., ETAL READOUT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1966 INVENTORS.

NICHOLAS KO/VDUR JR. BY RONALD H. MACK.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,313,481 READOUT DEVICE Nicholas Kondur, Jr., Northvilie, and Ronald H. Mack, Plymouth, Mich assignors to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 533,079 2 Claims. (Cl. 235-61) This invention relates generally to accounting machines and particularly to number read-out and storage devices therefor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved number read-out device operated by cyclical operation of an accounting machine to read-out and store amounts recorded by the machine.

Another object of the invention is to operatively connect a read-out operating member to an accounting machine diiferentially positionable amount rack without need of gearing and similarly expensive interconnecting mechamsm.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of an accounting machine having a number read-out and storage device embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3 -3 of FIG. 2 and;

FIG. 4 is another vertical sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

. FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view, taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another vertical sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view similar to FIG. 4, showing the operating parts in another position.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, FIG. 1 shows a well known type of accounting machine having a supporting frame on which is mounted a keyboard 10, a platen carriage 12, a printing mechanism 14 and a main camshaft 16. In the conventional manner, the keyboard is mounted on the supporting frame forwardly of the camshaft16 and the carriage 12, rearwardly thereof. An electric motor (not shown) drives the main camshaft 16 through a one revolution clutch to effect a cycle of operation of the machine, as is well known in the art.

The keyboard 10 has the conventional rows of amount keys 18, only one row of which is shown, representing different digit orders. As is well known, such keyboards also include a motor bar to initiate a cycle of operation of the camshaft 16 which actuates and controls various components of the machine.

- Beneath the keyboard there is a plurality of parallel index slide members 20 respectively for therows of keys 18, the slide members being movable respectively by cam follower levers 22 which are actuated by earns 24 on the cam shaft 16. Movement of the slide members 20 is limited by the stems of depressed keys, and such movements are transmitted through index levers 26, respectively to position arcuate stop members 28 to stop differentially positionable amount racks 30. Coil springs 32 respectively urge the amount racks forwardly, as seen in FIG. 1, and a horizontal bail 34, common to all of the racks, normally holds the racks in their rearward positions shown. The bail 34 has links 36 connected to opposite ends thereof and to lever type cam followers 38 which are pivotal by cams (not shown) on the cam- 3,313,481 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 shaft 16. Thus, on cycling operation of the camshaft 16, the bail 34 is moved forward through the cam followers 38 and link 36 connections which allows the spring 32 to move the amount racks forwardly until they are stopped by the keyboard indexed stop members 28.

Forwardly of and adjacent the platen there is a plurality of laterally positioned print heads 40, of which only one is shown, and each of the heads carries print elements 0 to 9 in vertical spaced relationship. The print heads 40 are respectively secured to the upper ends of vertically movable bars 42 which are respectively movable by the amount racks 30 through gears 44 to move the print elements to a print line position corresponding to the amounts indexed by the keys 18. A plurality of laterally positioned print hammers 46 are located forwardly of the print heads 40 and are actuated under the control of the camshaft 16 to effect the printing operation.

Each of the amount racks 30 is provided with the well known rack lock member 48 which functions to hold the racks against movement during the print operation. For a more complete understanding of the accounting machine, reference may be had to the patent to Thomas M. Butler, No. 2,629,549, issued Feb. 24, 1953, for Automatic Function Control Mechanism for Accounting Machines.

Mounted on the machine frame is our improved number read-out and storage device, designated generally by the numeral 50, it being understood that one or more of such devicesmay be used for each of the amount racks 30. The devices 50 are contained within a box-like supporting structure including end walls 52 and a top wall 54, the structure extending beneath the racks 30 and being mounted on the machine side frame members 56, as

shown in FIG. 2. As the number read-out and storage devices for each of the racks 30 are the same in construction and function, the description is limited, for convenience, to one of such devices. The device 50 shown is for the tenths order or denomination and comprises, in general, a circuit board 58, a settable switch member 60, and a switch member operator 62 to set the switch member 60. The circuit board 58 is vertically positioned, and the settable switch member 60 and operator 62 are coaxially pivoted on a horizontal shaft 64 which has its opposite ends secured in and to the end plates 52 only one of which is shown.

The circuit board 53 has an arcuate contact member or bus 66 extending coaxially about the center of the shaft 64, and parallel with the bus there is an arcuate row of contact members representative of the numerals O to 9, as designated at their terminals along the leftward edge of the board 58. A pair of contact members 68 and 7'0 are carried by the settable switch member 60 and are radially spaced apart such that contact member 68 may traverse the bus 66 and the contact member 70 may traverse the arcuate row of contact members 0 to 9 on the circuit board. The switch member 60, which is preferably a sector or segment of a disc, is normally held in its home or zero position by a return spring '74, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The spring 74 has one end thereof connected to an arm 78 of the switch member 60 and the other end is connected to the switch member operator 62.

The switch member operator 62, like the switch member 60, is a sector or segment of a disc having an arcuate portion 80 overlying the arcuate portion of the switch member, as shown in FIG. 3. In the arcuate portion 80 of the switch member operator 62 there is provided an arcuate slot 82 which is generated from the axis of shaft 64 to receive an abutment or pin 84 secured in and to the arcuate portion of the switch member 60. An upper extension 86 of the switch member operator 62 extends behind and engages a laterally extending pin 88 on the amount rack 30, and the operator is urged counterclockwise by a coil spring 90 such that the operator will pivot upon forward movement of the rack. It will thus be seen that the slot 82 and pin 84 provide a unidirectional coupling which is effective to couple the switch member 60 and its operator 62 to pivot together only when the operator pivots counterclockwise.

An arm 92 is pivoted on the fixed shaft64 and has an upturned end 94 which is normally in abutting relation with the pin 84, carried by the switch member 60. In the arm 92 there is a vertical slot 98 to receive a pin 100 which extends into the slot and is carried by the operator 62. A retaining clip 101 on the outer end of the pin 100 limits axial movement of the arm 92. A coil spring 102 has one end connected to the arm 92 and the other end is connected to the operator 62. The spring 102 holds the lower end of the slot 98 against the pin 100 and the upwardly facing end 94' of the arm 92 against the pin 84 which establishes the home position of the settable switch 60 relative to its operator 62. The spring 102 also provides a shock absorber for the settable switch member 60 on return of the latter to its home position. A cushion or rubber bumper 103 is mounted on a lower flange of the container 50 in position for engagement by the settable switch member 60.

A retractable detent 105 is provided and is positioned to engage in a selected one of the notches to 9 in the edge of the switch member 60. The detent 105 is mounted on a pair of rocker arms 104, pivoted respectively on the opposite end plates 52 of the container 50 for moving the detent between holding and retracted posi- Operation It is to be understood that at the start of a cycle of operation of the accounting machine, the switch member 60 will be in its previously set position which, by way of example, may be the digit 5 position, as shown in FIG. 9. Also, the amount rack 30 has been returned to its rearward or starting position by the bail 34 and is holding the operator 62 in its starting position against the tension of spring 90. Following the indexing of an amount into the keyboard 10, a machine cycle key is depressed and at about 17 of rotation of cam 106, the cam rotates arm 104 which retracts the detent 105. This releases the settable switch member 60, allowing the spring 74 to rotate the switch member to its home position. On return of the switch member 60 to its home position, the pin 84 strikes the upper end 94 of the arm 92 which causes the shock absorbing spring 102 to yield and the lower edge of the switch member 60 strikes the bumper 103 which further cushions the force of inertia. The spring 102 now rotates arm 92 counterclockwise, facing FIGS. 3 and 6, until the lower end of the slot therein engages the pin 100 of the operator 62, as shown in FIG. 8, during which the end 94 of the arm 92 abutting the pin 84 moves the settable switch member 60 to its starting position. At about 90 of the cycle of operation of the camshaft '16, the cam follower 38 is pivoted to draw the bail 34 forwardly which allows the operator 62 to pivot counterclockwise under the tension of the spring 90 until the rack stops in the position corresponding to the amount key indexed, which, for example, may be the 8 digit position. The settable switch member 60 has, of course, followed the operator 62 under the influence of spring 74 and the contact 70 now rests on the digit 8 contact. At about 200 of rotation of the camshaft, the cam 106 operates arm 104 to pivot the detent into holding relation with the 8 in the periphery of the settable switch member to store the number, the rack 30 and the operator 62 return to their normal positions as the cycle of operation is completed. On the next cycle of operation of the camshaft 16, the detent is retracted at about 17 of rotation of the camshaft 16, as described above, and the switch member 60 is again returned to its home position. In FIGS. 3 and 4 is illustrated the example where the digit 0 is to be read-out. -In this case, the 0 contact member. This is possible because, in the accounting machine, the rack 30 does not move forward in the case where the 0 is to be raised to the print line position. Instead the head 40 is raised to place the 0 at print line position by an auxiliary rack 112 and associated mechanism which is old in the art. For a complete understanding of the mechanism and its operation for positioning the head 40 to print 0, reference may be had to the patent to Thomas M. Butler, No. 2,629,549, issued Feb. 24, 1953, for Automatic Function Control Mechanism for Accounting Machines.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that we have provided an improved number read-out and storage device of a character wherein the formerly employed expensive gear train connection between the amount rack and the settable switch member operator has been eliminated. This has been accomplished by mounting the settable switch member and its operator for rotation about a common axis and extending an arm of the operator to engage behind an abutment on the rack. Further, durability is achieved by the provision of separate coil springs respectively to bias the settable switch member and its operator and by the provision of a shock absorber for the settable switch member.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for storing a number in accordance with the position of a rack movable to any selected one of a number of positions representative respectively of different numbers comprising supporting means, a plurality of electrical contact members mounted on said supporting means and representative respectively of numbers corresponding to the different selectable positions of the rack, a first arm pivotally mounted on said supporting means, a pair of contact members carried by said arm and settable by the pivoting of said arm into contact with any one of said mounted contact members, said arm having a home position, a second arm pivoted on said supporting means coaxially with said first arm and in abutting relation with the rack, said second arm having a home position, a filst spring urging said second arm against said rack in a direction to effect a pivoting of said second arm away from home position as the rack moves to a selected one of said positions, an abutment pin on said first arm engaging an abutment on said second arm in a relationship to effect unidirectional movement of "said first arm by said second arm to set said pair of contact members, said second arm returnable to home position by and upon return of said rack, a retractable detent operable to engage and hold said first arm in contact selected position, a second spring urging said first arm and said second arm together and operable to return said first arm to home position following retraction of said detent, and a shock absorber positioned to yieldingly oppose return of said arm to home position prior to engagement of said pin abutment with the abutment on said second arm.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said shock absorber has a third spring and a third arm pivotally mounted coaxially with said first and second arms and positioned in the return path of said pin between said'pin and the abutment on said second arm.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1916 Goldberg 235--6 12/1931 Watson 235-58

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE FOR STORING A NUMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POSITION OF A RACK MOVABLE TO ANY SELECTED ONE OF A NUMBER OF POSITIONS REPRESENTATIVE RESPECTIVELY OF DIFFERENT NUMBERS COMPRISING SUPPORTING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND REPRESENTATIVE RESPECTIVELY OF NUMBERS CORRESPONDING TO THE DIFFERENT SELECTABLE POSITIONS OF THE RACK, A FIRST ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, A PAIR OF CONTACT MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID ARM AND SETTABLE BY THE PIVOTING OF SAID ARM INTO CONTACT WITH ANY ONE OF SAID MOUNTED CONTACT MEMBERS, SAID ARM HAVING A HOME POSITION, A SECOND ARM PIVOTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS COAXIALLY WITH SAID FIRST ARM AND IN ABUTTING RELATION WITH THE RACK, SAID SECOND ARM HAVING A HOME POSITION, A FIRST SPRING URGING SAID SECOND ARM AGAINST SAID RACK IN A DIRECTION TO EFFECT A PIVOTING OF SAID SECOND ARM AWAY FROM HOME POSITION AS THE RACK MOVES TO A SELECTED ONE OF SAID POSITIONS, AN ABUTMENT PIN ON SAID FIRST ARM ENGAGING AN ABUTMENT ON SAID SECOND ARM IN A RELATIONSHIP TO EFFECT UNIDIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST ARM BY SAID SECOND ARM TO SET SAID PAIR OF CONTACT MEMBERS, SAID SECOND ARM RETURNABLE TO HOME POSITION BY AND UPON RETURN OF SAID RACK, A RETRACTABLE DETENT OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND HOLD SAID FIRST ARM IN CONTACT SELECTED POSITION, A SECOND SPRING URGING SAID FIRST ARM AND SAID SECOND ARM TOGETHER AND OPERABLE TO RETURN SAID FIRST ARM TO HOME POSITION FOLLOWING RETRACTION OF SAID DETENT, AND A SHOCK ABSORBER POSITIONED TO YIELDINGLY OPPOSE RETURN OF SAID ARM TO HOME POSITION PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT OF SAID PIN ABUTMENT WITH THE ABUTMENT ON SAID SECOND ARM.

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