US743350A - Indicating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

No. 743,350. PATENTED NOV; 3, 1903.

W T TREADWAY INDIGATING MECHANISM.

. APPLICAVTIONTILBD FEB. 21. 1903. no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 743,350. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903 v W T TRBADWAY INDICATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 21, 1903. no MODEL 2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

U0. T435356). Fatented l fl'ovember 3, 1903 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMT. TREADWAY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO UNIVERSAL ACCOUNTANT MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MIS- SOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

INDICATING MECHANISM;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,350, dated November 3, 1905 Application filed February 21, 1903. Serial No. 144,469. (No model.)

F 00% whom it may concern: ber of items printed by the machine and to Beitknown that I,WILLIAM T.TREADWAY, serve simply as a counter when so desired, to

a citizen of the United States, residing at St. provide mechanism of the character of the Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new. present with means for automatically resetand useful Improvement in Indicating Mechting the same, to provide a mechanism of the anisms, of which the following is afull, clear, character indicated which is operative irreand exact description, such as will enable spective of the size of the space between lines, others skilled in the art to which it appertains to provide a simple and efficient structure to make and use the same, reference being conveniently made and assembled, and to no had to the accompanying drawings, forming provide a structure of such character that it part of this specification, in which can be readily applied to existing machines.

Figure l is an end elevation of'the carriage To these ends and also to improve generof a calculating-machine, together with the ally upon mechanism of the character indiimmediate support for said carriage, my prescated my invention consists in the various :5 ent invention being shown applied and cermatters hereinafter described and claimed. tain of the parts being broken away. Fig. 2 Referring now more particularly to the is atop plan view of one end of the said cardrawings, A represents the portion of the riage and its immediate support, together frame of a calculating-machine by which the with the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cencarriage is supported, and B indicates such zo'tral longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. a carriage, O being the platen-roller, b indiis a front view, partly in section, on the line eating one of the end plates of the carriage- 4 at of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front view, partly frame, and D representing the rock-shaft by in section, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 means of which the platen-roller O is turned is a side elevation of the parts illustrated in step by'step about its axis.

25 Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail I) is a bushing secured to the end frameviews illustrating different positions of the plate I), said bushing receiving the shaft 0 of locking-pawl and the parts immediately assothe platen-roller. ciated therewith, and Fig. 9 is an elevation Except as to the bushing the structure showing the end of the carriage opposite that above referred to is a common one in calcu- 0 shown in Fig. 1. lating-machines and will therefore be readily My invention relates toindicating mechanunderstood without further description. It isms, and is more specificallya combined sigis also common in calculatingmachines to naling, registering, and counting mechanism vary the throw of the rock-shaft D in order adapted to be used in conjunction with a calto vary the amount of movement given the 5 culating-machine for the purpose of warning platen-roller at each forward movement of the operator when a column of items of a given the said rock-shaft, the distance between lines length is about to be completed, there being being regulated by the amount of movement also provided means whereby the number of given the said platen-roller, all as is well items printed is registered and also means known and well understood. A mechanism 40 whereby the mechanism can be used for for accomplishing this variation in throw of merely counting the items printed by the inathe rock-shaft D is illustrated in Fig. 9. chine. Upon one end of said shaft is a rock-arm 50,

It will be apparent that the invention is in between which and the rock-arm 51 (upon no wise limited to use in connection with a the other end of said shaft) is the usual rod 5 calculating-machine, as the present niechan- 52, adapted to be engaged by the lever 53, ism can be applied to many other uses. which is actuated by the operating-handle of Among the objects of my invention are to the machine in a manner well understood provide a single mechanism adapted to warn and shown, for example, by patent to Frank the operator that a column of a desired length 0. Rinsche, No. 654,181, dated July 24, 1900.

50 is about to be completed, to register the num- Upon the end of the rock-shaft provided with said rock-arm 50 is a second rock-arm 54:, to which is pivoted an arm 55, which carries a pawl 56, said pawl cooperating in a wellknown manner with the ratchet 57 upon the shaft of the platen-roller O. Pivotally mounted upon the carriage is a plate 58, having several different cam- faces 59, 60, and 61, against one of which the rock-arm 51 comes to rest, the face arresting the said rock-arm being determined by the pivotal adjustment of said plate 58 and in turn determining the throw of the rockarm, as is very well known in type-writing machines.

0 indicates the knob usually found upon the shaft of the platen-roller in order to permit said roller to be operated by hand.

Fixed to the carriage-frame or to the bushing 1) is a plate 1, provided with an opening through which the said bushing extends, and rotatably supported upon the said bushing, and therefore about the shaft 0 of the platenroller, is a ratchet-disk 2, which is preferably provided with an elongated sleeve 3 in order to afford a firm bearing, the inner face of said ratchet-disk moving against the outer face of the stationary plate 1. Said disk is provided in its inner side with a concentric annular recess 4, and in this recess is received a spring 5, having one end connected to the said disk and its other end connected to the fixed plate 1, whereby the disk can move against the force of the spring, the spring being wound by such movement of the disk,and said spring serves to move the disk backwardly.

Rotatably supported upon the sleeve 3 is a disk 6, provided with a peripheral flange 7 upon its outer side, the outer surface of said flange being provided with the scales 8 and 9. Formed upon and extending outwardly from said disk 6 is a bearing-sleeve 10, whose inner diameter at its outer end is preferably enlarged in order to form a spring-chamber 11, and suitably connected to the outer end of said sleeve 10 is a concavo-convex gongplate 12, whose central portion is secured to the said sleeve and whose edge lies adjacent the outer edge of the flange 7 upon the disk 6. The gong-plate and the disk 6 are thus connected to move together. In the springchamber 11 is a spring 13, coiled about the sleeve 3 and bearing between a spring seat or shoulder 14- upon the sleeve 10 and any suitable member fixed to the shaft 0, such as the inner end of the knob O. The sleeve 10, with its carried disk 6 and gong-plate 12, is adapted to move longitudinally over the inner end of the said knob, the said sleeve, with its carried parts, being normally held in innermost position by means of the beforementioned coiled spring 13. Projecting inwardly from the disk 6 is a slotted finger 6, in whose slot is adapted to be received any of the teeth upon the ratchet-disk 2, these teeth being preferably of the character of spur gear-teeth, the said finger and teeth thus forming means by which the ratchet-disk 2 and the scale-disk 6, with the parts carried thereby, can be adjustably connected. Pivoted upon a suitable supporting-post 15, connected to the said disk 6 and extending upon the outer side thereof, is a bell-crank lever 16, having upon one arm a striker 17, adapted to cooperate with the gong-plate 12 in a manner which will be clearly apparent, the other arm of said lever being connected to one end of a spring 18, whose other end is fixed to the said disk 6, said spring being of such charactor that when it is placed under tension and then released the striker 17 will be caused to strike the gong-plate. Also pivoted upon the said post or stud 15 and between the disk 6 and the before-mentioned bell-crank lever 16 is a plate 19, which is provided with fin gers 20, which lie upon opposite sides of the striker-arm of the before-mentioned bellcrank lever, there being a certain play permitted the said striker-arm between the said fingers. A trip-arm 21, extending from the said plate 19, projects through the space between the adjacent edges of the flange 7 and the gong-plate and hasits free end extending beyond the peripheries of the said parts. A pointer 22 upon the said stationary plate 1 extends outwardly from said plate in a position to cooperate with the scales upon the periphery of the disk 6, and a finger 23 also extends outwardly from the said fixed plate 1 and lies over the periphery of the said. disk 6 and extends outwardly beyond said disk in order to cooperate with the before-mentioned trip-arm 21. If the disk 6 be moved to the left from the position shown in Fig. 5 and the trip-arm 21 be engaged by theiinger 23 during such movement, said arm will be forced to the right, thus rocking the plate 19, by which the said arm is carried, and causing the upper finger 20 to engage the striker-arm of the bell-crank lever 16, and thereby move the striker away from the gong-plate against the force of the spring 18, and as soon as said trip-arm passes the said finger 23 the said spring causes the striker-arm to be thrown in such manner that the striker strikes the gong-plate. In the reverse movement of the parts there is sufficient play between the plate 19 and the striker-arm to permit the trip-arm 21 to ride under the finger 23 without effecting movement of the hell-crank lever 16, the lower finger 20 preventing undue movement of the said plate 19.

Pivotally supported upon the iixed plate 1. is a locking-pawl 24, which is most clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Said pawl is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-disk 2 and forms a part of a pivoted plate 25, which is provided with a notch 26 and has upon the side of its pivot opposite the said pawl a bar 27, one end of which is included within the circumference of the ratchet-disk, its other end extending outwardly in order to be conveniently accessible to the operator. Also pivoted to the fixed plate 1 is a plate 28, which has a finger 29 normally resting upon the edge of the pawl-plate 25 and in rear of the IIO said notch 26, a spring 30 being connected to said finger plate 28 and to the hereinaftermentioned actuating-pawl 31, whereby said finger 29 is yieldingly held in engagement with the pawl-plate 25. Theinner end of the said bar 27 lies between the ratchetdisk 2 and the scale-disk 6, and said ratchet-disk is provided with an outwardly-extending pin or projection 32, adapted to cooperate with said bar 27in a manner to be fully hereinafter explained. Upon the rock-shaft D is a rockarm 33, to which is pivoted the before-men-- tioned actuating-pawl 31, which is adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet-disk 2, the point of the said pawl being adapted to rest upon a support 34, which lies over certain of the teeth of the ratchet-disk, this support being conveniently a struck-up portion of the fixed plate 1 and integral with the before-mentioned finger 23. During the final portion of the driving movement of the rockshaft D the free end of the pawl 31 leaves the supporting-plate 34, engages a tooth of the ratchet-disk 2, and moves said disk one step.

When the parts are assembled, the ratchetdisk is permitted to assume the position shown in Fig. 1t'. 6., its pin 32 engages the inner end of the bar 27 when the locking-pawl 24 is in locking engagement with the ratchets of the disk 2. The finger 29 engages the edge of the pawl-plate 25 with sufficient force to hold the pawl in looking position and lies in rearof the notch 26. If it be not desired to use the present mechanism, the scale-disk 6, with its carried parts, is pulled outwardly in order to cause the finger 6 to disengage the ratchetdisk, and the disk 6 is turned toward the right until the pointer 22 indicates 1 upon the scale 8,'when the spring 13 is permitted to force the disk 6 inwardly, and to thus cause engagement of the appropriate tooth of the ratchet-disk by the finger 6. When the parts are in this positionfthe trip-arm 21 of the striker mechanism lies just to the left or in advance of the finger 23, and the finger 0 lies immediately in rear of the inner end of the bar 27. The parts being in the positions indicated, as the platen-roller is advanced one space circumferentially the actuatingpawl 31 advances the ratchet-disk 2 through one step, as will be apparent; but as the finger 6 is connected to this ratchet-disk and lies immediately in rear of the inner end of the bar 27 as the said ratchet-disk advances the said finger 6 causes the locking-pawl to be thrown out of locking position, whereupon the spring 5 asserts its force and throws the disk, with the parts connected thereto, into the position from which it has just moved, the pin 32 striking the inner end of the bar 27 as the said disk reaches its position of rest, and thus throwing the locking pawl again into locking position. Therefore when the mechanism is set as just described operation of the platen-roller C serves merely to oscillate the present mechanism through one We will assume, however that the step.

operator desires to print columns of ten items each. lie pulls the disk 6 and its carried parts outwardly in order to cause the finger 6 to disengage the ratchet-disk 2'and turns said disk with its carried parts to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, until the pointer 22is in line with the division 10 ofthe scale 8, when he permits the spring 13 to force the disk (3 inwardly, whereupon the finger 6 again engages the ratchet-disk 2. In the new relation between the disks 2 and 6 the finger 6 lies nine teeth in rear of the inner end of the bar 27, while the trip-arm 21 lies such a distance in rear of the forward edge of the finger 23 that the disks 2 and 6 must be advanced through nine steps before said trip-arm is released from said finger 23. When now the rock-shaft D oscillates, the disk 2, the disk 6, which is connected to said disk 2, and the striker mechanism are advanced one step for each circumferential advance of the platenroller, the trip-arm 21 passing under the finger 23 and being released thereby at the ninth step through which the parts are moved, so that when the platen roller has been brought to its ninth position, or one position in advance of the limit set by the operator, the signal is sounded and the operator is warned that in order to complete his column he can print only one additional item. By the end of the ninth movement the finger 6? has advanced to lie adjacent the rear side of the bar 27, while the pin 32 upon the ratchetdisk has advanced nine steps in front of the said bar 27, Fig. 7 showing the positions of the parts just described. At the tenth movement the finger 6 moves the bar 27in order to throw thelocking-pawloutofengagementwith the ratchet-teeth, the pawl-plate being thus moved in opposition to the force of the spring 30, whereupon the finger 29 slips into the notch 26 and serves to hold the pawl 2-t out of locking position until it is desired that the same shall again move into such locking position. As soon as the locking-pawl has moved out of its locking position the spring 5 asserts itself and forces backwardly the disk 2, with its connected disk 6 and the parts carried thereby, said disk moving backwardly until the pin 32 engages the inner end of the bar 27, and thus rocks the pawl-plate 25 into looking position, when the parts come to rest in position to commence a new series of operations. Fig. 8 shows in full lines the parts in the positions they assume at the tenth stroke of the actuating-pawl and in dotted lines the parts in their reset positions. It will be noted that by reason of the above-described construction the present mechanism can be so set that the machine can be operated without causing effective operation of said mechanism, and it will also be noted that after the mechanism has been set for a column of a desired length the mechanism automatically returns to normal position after the column has been completed, so that after once setting the mechanism the operator need give the same no attention until it is desired to set the same for a column of different length. Of course the mechanism can be caused to reset itself by manually operating the bar 27. Furthermore, the scale 8 travels over the pointer 22 during the operation of the mechanism, and thus forms a register by means of which the operator can readily determine the number of items which he has printed in a given column and also the number of items which he can still print in such column. The actuatingpawl 31 partakes, of course, of the full throw of the rock-shaft D; but during a port-ion of the throw of the actuating-pawl it merely rides upon the supporting-plate 34, the throw of saidpawl beyond said plate being only that necessary to cause the same to engage a tooth of the ratchet-disk and advance the same one step. Thus the throw of the rock-shaft can be varied at will in order to regulate the circumferential spacing of the platen-roller 30 without in any manner affecting the movement of the present mechanism for each circumferential movement of the platen-roller, the actuating-pawl 31 operating upon the ratchet-disk during the latter portion of its advance movement and any movement of said actuating-pawl greater than that necessary to effect the advance of the ratchet-disk being merely idle movement of the pawl upon the supporting-plate 34. Therefore the present mechanism accurately and uniformly responds to each circumferential advance step of the platen-roller irrespective of the distance through which this platen-roller may be moved for a given step.

The present mechanism can also be employed merely for the purpose of counting the number of items printed. In order to do this, the scale 9 is employed in conjunction with the pointer 22. It will be noted that there is a space between the ends of the scales, and this space is of such length that when the scale 8 is at l the arm 6 lies immediately in rear of the bar 27, while when the scale 9 is at O the arm 6 lies in advance of the bar 27, the pin 32 being also in advance of said bar. I/Vhen the parts are placed with 0 of the scale 9 in alinement with the pointer, each advance movement of the platen results in simply an advance movement of the ratchet-disk. The scale advances with said ratchet-disk, and the operator can therefore at any time readily determine the number of items which he has printed. Should the ratchet-disk and its carried parts be moved through almost an entire revolution, the pin 32 will engage the rear edge of the bar 27, and thus throw the locking-pawl 24 out of locking position, whereupon the spring will return the ratchet-disk and its carried parts until the finger 6 strikes the forward side of the bar 27 and returns the locking-disk to locking position, the parts being at zero position when the locking-pawl thus reengages the ratcheirdisk. It will be further noted that although the ratchet-disk is advanced each time that the platen-roller is advanced by its actuating rock-shaft D the only operative connection between the platenroller and the present mechanism is through the actuating-pawl 31, and as this pawl normally rests upon the supporting-plate 34: the platen-rol1er is free to be moved by hand for the purpose of correcting work or otherwise without disturbing the present mechanism. In some instances it may be found advantageous to have the point of the actuating-pawl rest in advance of the supporting-plate 3-1 when the machine is set for-driving the platenroller through a single space; but even under such conditions, if it be desired to move the platen-roller manually, the pawl 31 can be readily thrown up and the platen-roller thus moved without disturbing the present mechanism.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

The scale-bearing and signal-carrying disk 6 can be conveniently termed the movable indicating part of the present mechanism, for it is through the immediate instrumentality of this disk that the various indications are given, whether the particular indication be a signal or information as to the number of items printed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part provided with an indicator, means for advancing said part, means for resetting said part, a locking element for locking said part in advanced positions, means for throwing said locking element out of locking position, and a member movable with said movable part and adapted, as the latter reaches reset position, to engage said locking element and throw the same into locking position; substantially as described.

2. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part provided with an indicator, means for advancing said part, means for resetting said part, two projections movable with said movable part, and a locking element for locking said movable part and having a portion lying between said projections and adapted to be engaged by said respective projections in opposite movements of said movable part; substantially as described.

3. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable locking element having a notch upon its outer side, and a movable finger normally bearing upon the outer side of said locking element to hold the latter in looking position and adapted, when said locking element is thrown 'into unlocking position, to enter said notch and thus retain said locking element in unlocking position; substantially as described.

4. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part provided with teeth, operative mechanism cooperating with said teeth, resetting mechanism, and a member adjustably positioned by said teeth and controlling said resetting mechanism; substantially as described.

5. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part, means for advancing said part, means for resetting said part, an indicating member, and an element carried by said indicating member and supportable upon said movable part in adjusted positions, said element controlling said resetting means; substantially as described.

6. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part provided with teeth, operative mechanism codperating with said teeth, means for resetting said part, an indicating member, and a finger upon said indicating member and adapted to engage the teeth upon said movable part, said finger controlling said resetting means; substantially as described.

7. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part, a sounding device carried thereby and including a striker, a second movable part to which said first-mentioned movable part is adjustably connected, and a relatively fixed member adapted to cooperate with said striker; substantially as described.

8. The combination with a platen-roller or the like having a shaft, of a disk mounted upon said shaft and rotatable with respect thereto, sounding mechanism carried by said disk and including a trip-finger, and a relatively fixed member adapted to cooperate with said trip-finger; substantially as described.

9. In an indicating mechanism or the like, a rotatable disk, means, for actuating the same, a second rotatable disk, means for adjustably connecting said disks, said second disk being provided upon its periphery with a scale, and a relatively fixed pointer cooperating with said scale; substantially as described.

lO. In an indicating mechanism or the like, a rotatable disk, means for actuating the same, a second rotatable disk, means for adjustably connecting said disks, said second disk being provided upon its periphery with a scale, a signaling mechanism carried by said second disk, and a relatively fixed member cooperating with said signaling mechanism; substantially as described.

11. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a relatively fixed plate provided with a pointer and with a projecting finger, a disk rotatably mounted with respect to said plate, means for actuating said disk, a second disk provided upon its periphery with a scale 00- operating with said pointer and adjustably connected to said first-mentioned disk, and

signaling mechanism carried by said second disk and including a member adapted to cooperate With said projecting finger; substantially as described.

12. The combination with a movable part adapted to be moved through varying distances, of an indicating mechanism cooperating with said part, and means whereby said indicating mechanism is uniformly operated upon movementof said movable part notwithstanding the distance through Which said movable part may he moved at a given operation; substantially as described.

13. The combination with a movable part, and an actuating member therefor adapted to have varying movement, of an indicating mechanism, an actuating member therefor controlled by said first-mentioned actuating member, and means whereby said secondmentioned actuating member uniformly actuates said indicating mechanism notwithstanding the variation in movement of said firstmentioned actuating member; substantially as described.

14. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable indicating part, an actuating member therefor adapted to have varying movement, and means whereby said actuating member uniformlyactuates said movable part notwithstanding the varying movement of said actuating member; substantially as described.

15. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable indicating part, a pawl cooperating therewith, means for throwing said pawl through varying distances, and means for preventing engagement of said pawl with its cooperating element except during a predetermined portion of each throw of said pawl; substantially as described.

16. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable indicating part, a pawl cooperating therewith, a supporting-plate for the free end of said pawl, and means for throwing said pawl through varying distances and giving the same uniform throw beyond said supporting-plate to permit the pawl to actuate said movable part; substantially as described.

17. The combination with a calculatingmachine or the like including a platen and the platen-actuating rock-shaft, of a counting mechanism including a movable part, a pawl cooperating with said movable part, and means for causing said pawl to uniformly move said movable part irrespective of va riations in movement of said rock-shaft; substantially as described.

18. The combination with a calculating-machine or the like including a platen and the platen-actuating rock-shaft, of a counting mechanism including a movable part, a pawl cooperating with said movable part, and a support for the free end of said pawl and beyond which said pawl has uniform throw; substantially as described.

19. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a pointer, a movable part provided with two scales, each of which cooperates with said pointer, and a signaling device carried by said movable part and cooperating with one of said scales; substantially as described.

20. In a mechanism of the character indicated, a movable part, means for advancing the same, means for resetting the same, a pointer, a part provided with two scales each of which cooperates with said pointer, and a member carried by said scale-bearing part and adapted to be connected to said firstmentioned movable part in adjusted positions, said member controlling said resetting mechanism, the zero-points upon said scales being so related that when one of them is in

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