US951143A - Automatic check-handling attachment for calculating and listing machines. - Google Patents

Description

A. S. MGCASKEY. AUTOMATIC CHECK HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR GALGULATING AND LISTING MAGHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19-, 1903. RENEWED AUG. 3, 1909.

951,1;3, Patented Mar.8, 1910.

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AUTOMATIG CHECK HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR QALGULATINGLAND LISTING MAGH'INES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1903. RENEWED AUG. 3, 1909.

Patented Mar. 8, 1 910.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1903. RENEWED AUG. 3, 1909.

951,143. Patented Mai.8,1910.

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ALFRED S. MGCASKEY, OF'CHICAGO', ILLINOI$, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MCCASKEY ELECTRIC CALCULATOR'COMPANY, OF CHICAGO. ILLiNOI$, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC CHECK-HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR CALCULATING AND LISTING MACHINES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

Application filed May 19, 1903, Serial No. 157,770. Renewed August 3, 1909. Serial No. 511.057.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED S. MoCAsKnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Check-Handling Attachments for Calculating and Listing Hachines, of which the following'is-a specification.

This invention relates to calculating and listing machines, and particularly to at.- tachments therefor adapted to automatically transfer from one pile to another individual checks, drafts, notes, and the like, as each is viewed and listed.

My invention contemplates the absolutely automatic handling of such papers, the operation being preferably timed so that each paper is lifted from one pile to the other immediately upon the depression of the first value-determining key struck, of the calculatingor listing machine, whereby said pa per is transferred during the subsequent dcpression"or'striki'ng of other keys and the transn'iission .of the number to the calculating or printing mechanism, immediately exposing to view the next succeeding paper underneath.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the listing of checks and similar papers as carried out by various forms of calculating and listing machines, with a view to increasing the speed at. which the work may be accomplished and eliminating all manual effort.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists, generally, in a swinging arm provided with means for picking up or securing a. check or similar paper, and means for raising said arm, moving the same horizontally, lowering said arm, rcleasing said paper, and returning it to the original position.

My invention further consists in the novel means for picking up-or lifting said paper. My invention further consists in thenovel means employed for breaking and controlling the movement of-said arm.

My invention further consists in the novel manner of timing all operations whereby the check or paper is transferred at. the

;board of the machine whereby the check lifting operation isstarted immediately 'upon the depression of the first digit or value-determining key, representing the first numeral in the number or value indicated by the check or paper.

My invention further consists in the novel manner of employing normally open electric circuit to properly time the various operations, in means upon the digit. keys of the machine to close said circuit, and in positive means for breaking said circuit at the proper time. And my invention further consists in the various details of construction and in combination of parts all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to -the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which 'I have shown a practical and convenient embodiment which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a check handling device with its operating parts. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation looking from theleft of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view, showing-- a power shaft, one of the digit keys of the machine, an electric circuit, and the manner of closing the same. Fig. (5 is a plan view of a portion of the cam shaft showing its. connection with a conthcreof, and in -stantly rotating shaft, through afriction clutch and miter gears. t is anenlarged detail view of one of the circuitclosers or spring contacts.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, A represents a base or support for the mechanism, which may be a bracket secured to the calculating or listing machine. In-and upon the support A are suitable bearings-for the horizontal cam shaftfB, a -crane or carrier C and an actuating shde-rod D for the arm F of said crane. Said support also carries a bellows G, and pro ecting arms or brackets K raise said aria an f mg an upward movement thew v operates a pneumatic check-grip on the end of said arm, each movement being timed by the arrangement of the cams to take place at the proper moment; or, in other Words, stare 111g from. the position of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, the cam 2 first expands the bellws G, creating a suction or nartial vacuum, which grips the topmost of the stack of checks. immediately thereafter, while the suction is continued, the cam 3 permits spring 20 to raise the arm of the crane and lift the check from its position deposit the check. upon, the cam 2 permits sprineQG to coinpress the bellows releasing the check, the earn 4'; swings the crane back, and the cum 2 la the shaft B, Whereas the other part or the circumference describes an arc eccentric to the shaft. lhese cams there tore transmit movements during about one halt oi their revolutions Whereas 3 has L circumference which is practically all cccentric to the shaft. The cam 2 is opera- "vely connected with the bellows G through '10 recigrocating bar 5, attached at one end 0 the bellows, the other end thereotbeing Jent at an angle and carrying an anti-friction roller 6, engaging the periphery the cum 2. 'lhis'bar is slidably held in bearings 70, mounted on the base A. T he cam t operates against a similar bar 8, having an ar nally in fixed bearing 10, also suitably secured to the base or support A, the latter bar being pivoted at its other end to the crank 11, of the post 12, carrying the-parallel bars 13 and let of the arm and a portion of the air-tube 15 connecting the bellows G with the flexible suction cup 1t. The earn 3, on the other hand, rocks a lever 17., pivat one end to the slide-rod D, slidably held in the base and having its other end provided with a roller 18. This lever is fulcrunied upon a suitable support 17 between the shaft B and the slide-rod D held for sli'clable movement in the bearings 19.

The angle-spring 20, suit-ably secured to i already listed and and, when raised, cam 4 permits spring 27 1 M to saving the crane to the desired point of Immediately there- 1 -iiriction roller 9am]. slidable longitudi- I l l 1 i i l transm t 5 except lowers the crane arm lnto position shown in 3 relation between the check in .lfig. 5, F:

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the post 12, by screws, rivets or otherwise a1 one end, and a" the other end linked arni by means 0" link 21, tends to l (let the force imprrh downward movement imparted to the said arm through the s iderod l), and an elastic connection or spring; connects the sliderod l) with the arn'i l.

The pa'nllcl bars .133 and oi the rane arm 1* are forked at their en and embrace both sides of the post 12 and the 1011i; bracket 23 to which the suction or vacuum cup 125 is secured, and are pivoted to said arms by means of pivots A suitable aperture provided in said bracketcon'ununicating with the interior of the cup in which aperture the end the ilCIL'ilOlO tube Numeral 2-2 refers cl;

ready for listm trans." erret W to the shelf H.

n ot connected 111 011?) direction. des for ing in cln iiszn, but the 82.1110 uuiy rcpr'" a shaft 0 the calculating machine. lu 5, have.illi'istrated, (hag ammatically, the

lifting devitm and the calculating machine, whereby the relais (:(mtrolled and timed to tion ot asharU U operate the check 11 ting mechanism at the and a catch lhci'euprm, as shown at the also placed in. operative relation to a mechanism forming a part of the calculating machine. In this niecl'umisni 28 rcprescnts a collar, fixed upon shaft B, providml with a shoulder or catch 29 engaging the end of an armature 3O pivoted at 31.

30 is an electi'oinaguet :t'or actuating the armatiu'e, and 32 and 33 are Wires leading from opposite poles of a suitable source 60 interposed in this circui-t are two contacts and 35, each of which consists of two spring plates. one above the other, suitably insulated II'Olli each other and held together by insulated screws 36.

3? refers to one of the digit keys of a calcollating machine, each of which keys is provided with a. contact block or shoulder 38 wliicn operates against projecting pin 39 upon the free end ot an arm 46, p voted at adapted to close the circuitin like manner between the plat 34.

46 refers to the register bar, which may be substantially similar to the spacing bar of an ordinary typewriter. 'lhis bar is fixed to the pivot 47, and upon the latter is a series of T-shaped rocking members 463, one for each digit key. Each of these memlers is provided with projecting pins 48 and '49 for engagen'ient with the levers 44 and 42, respectively. Acam 50 is fixed upon the shaft ll iior throwing the bar 51 in one direction, said car being preferably provided with antidriction roller 52.

The shaft B is constantly subject to a force which tends to rotate it, for example, hereinafter explained, and when a key 37 is depressed the incline 38 thereupon will move the arm 40 against the pin 43 upon the lever 42, the lower end of which will he forced between the plates 35 closing the circuits, the circuit at 34, as shown being normally closed by a lever 44. When the circuit is closed to energize the magnet armature.- 30 will be withdrawn from engagement. with the catch 29, permitting the shaft to rotate and therewith the cam 50.

lhe latter, in turn, operating against the roller Will throw the rod 51 against the upper end of lever 44, thus breaking the circuit at 34 permitting the armature to return and engage the catch 29 on contpletion ofone rotation. In the meantime, the (air-nit remains broken at 34, the lever 44 having been thrown over so that its center i or" gravity is on the opposite side of the n 45. The pin 48, on the release, will we the lower end of lever 44 and limit otalion. With the end of lever 42 held ielw'een the contacts 35, the upper end of lever 44 thrown out of contact with contacts 34, the operation of additional keys 37 will not therefore make it possible to again close the. circuit by means of a key 37 until the levers 4.2 and 44 have seen returned to position shown in Fig. 5. This return of the levers is accomplished by depressing the register bar 46, which will cause the pin to push the lever 42 out of, and the pin. 43 to pre s the lever 44 into, engagementwilh their respective contacts. This return of the mechanism is accomplished without closing the circuit and actuating the mechanism above described, by so relating the engagements of "pins 48 and 49 device.

with levers 44 and 42 as to cause the lever 42 who drawn out of engagement with its contacts 35 before the lever 44 is thrown into contact.

In the foregoing descriptioi'i, the key 37, incline 38, pin 39, arm 40, lever 42, and related parts, have been referred to as separate mechanism for each key. In practice, however, two arms 40, with a rod 39 there between and common to all of said keys, 7 will be provided.

Referring to the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, in connection-with the checkdifting mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and assuming that the different elements are in the respective positions shown and the stack ot'checks24 ready for listing or entry. If it is desired to list or add the amounts represented by these checks, the operator will glance at the check on the top of thcstack and if the amount is, say, $125.00, he will first depress a digit key 37 representing the digit 1. This operation immediately puts the check-lifting; I device into movement, transferring the check for $125.00 from the shelf H to the shelf H while the operator strikes the remaining keys 37 hearing the digits 2, 5, O and O, successively, to complete the amount. The latter keys, as previously explained, do not further affect the mechanism, which remains in the position in which it has been placed by the depression of .thc first key. When the five keys comprising;- the amonntof $125.00 have been depressed and the check or paper moved to expose to View the next amount, the operator do presses the register bar 46, thereby opening: the circuit between the contacts 35 and closing it between the contacts 34'. The above operation is repeated until all of the checks have been listed.

If it is desired to list the name of payee, date of checky'eto, as well as the amount, or in other words to enter more than is possible in connection with an ordinary calculatlng' machine, my check lifting device may be employed in connection with an ordinary typewriter by simply providing the letter keys and the spacing har corresponding to the register bar 46 with the auxiliary parts or elements herein shown and described. 0r, a

single key 37 and a separate release key 46 may be provided to the check lifting mechanism into operation and to reset the In this arrangement only one key 37 would be provided with the inclined shoulder 38 etc, and a single key corresponding tothe her 46 operating only in combination with that one key instead of all of the digit keys. It is obvious that the samearrangement mayalso be employed in connection with a calculating machine, if it is desired to avoid providing all of the digit keys with the shoulders. In its employment in combination with a typewriter it is further obvious that other documents besides checks may be handled in the-same way to relieve the operator-of the inconvenience and the loss of time incident to picking up and transferring each sheet copied, thereby 't'acilituting more rapid work.

I have referred to the shaft as having a constant tendency to rotate, the force to accomplish which may be provided in a number of dilt'erent ways. A CGIlSl'tiIltl}'-I'0- tating shaft S may be employed, if desired, provided, shown in Fig. 6, with a triotion clutch and comprising a cup 53 upon an independently-rotatable sleeve sliding against the inner face of the cylindrical portion of which is a series of shoes suitably connected to said shaft. and spring-pressed against said face. Should it be necessary to change the direction of motion the outer extremity of the sleeve 5% may be provided with a miter-gear 56 meshing with a similar gear 5? fixed to the shaft 33. that when the shaft is checked or held against rotation, the shoes will slide against said rim, the spring pressure being sufl icient to cause rotation of the said shaft S immediately upon the release of said checking or holding means.

Many modifications offv the details of my improved device for handling checks and the like will doubtless readily themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appcrtains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention to the specific construction and manner of attachments to calculating, listing or printing machines herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, the c mibinat.ion, with a key, of an arm, means for raising, moving laterally and lowering said arm and returning the same to its initial position, means normally checking movement of said arm, means interposed between said key and the arm operating means to release said arm upon operation ol' said key, means upon said arm for temporarily securing a sheet of paper thereto prior to primary movement, and means for releasing said paper at the end of said primary movement.

2. in a device of the class described, the combination, with a key, of an arm normally checked against movement, means for raising, moving laterally and lowering said arm and for returning the sameto its initial position, means interposed between said key and the armbperating means to release said arm upon operation of said key, a suction device at the extremity of said srm, means for creating and breaking a partial vacuum "in said suction device, and means for interdependently timing the above operations.

It is obvious 3. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a key, of an arm normally checked against movement, means interposed between said, key and said arm to release said checking means upon operation of said key, a suction device at the end of said arm, means For creating a partial. vacuum in said device, means for raising, moving laterally and lowering sait. arm, means for breaking said vacuum, ant, means for returning said arm to its initial position. i

t. in a device of the class described, the con'zbiuation, with a key, of an arm normally checked against movement, means for raising, moving laterally and lowering said arm and for returning the same to its initial position, n'zeans interposed between said key and the arm-operating means to release said arm. upon operation of said key, a suction cup at the extremity of said arm, an air pump having suitable connection therewith to exhaust air from and supply air to said cup, and means for interdcpendently timing operations of said arm and air pump.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a key, of an arm, means for raising, moving laterally and lowering said arm and for returning the same to its initial position, means interposed between said key and the arm-operatingmeans to release said arm upon operation of said key, a suction cup at the extremity of said arm, means for maintaining said suction cup in a vertical position throughout the movements of said arm, an air pump having suitable connections therewith to exhaust air from and supply air to said cup, and means for interdependently timing operations of said arm and air-pump.

(3. The coml: ination with means for automatically"moving checks or sheets of paper from one position to another, of power driven connections for actuating said means, said connections including a. constantly totating driving shaft, :1 key, and menus actuatcd from said key for controlling the operation of said cheek-moving means by said constantly rotating shaft through said connections.

The combination with means for automatically moving checks or sheets of paper from one position to another, and power driven connections for actuating said means, of a. key, means actuated fro m said key for controlling the operation of said check-moving means by said power-driven connections, and means automatically arresting said operation at a predetermined. point.

8. The combination with means for automatically moving checks or sheets of paper 1 from one position to another, and power driven connections or actuating said means, of a key, and electrically operated meanslot) . adapted to be thrown into o eration bwsaid key and controlling the operation of" said 13fl check moving means by said power driven connections.

E). The combination with means for ,automatically-moving checks or sheets of paper from one position to another, and power driven connections for actuating said means,

- of a key, and electrically operated means ing said operation at a predetermined point, and throwlng said electrical means out of operation.

In testimony of the foregoingI have here- 15 unto set my hand in the presence of two witmesses.-

ALFRED s. M GASKEYQ itnesses GEORGE W. Bmrrox E. BERMAN.

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