Patent GB-190427874-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Calculating Machines.
Inventor: THOMPSON WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Filed: 1904-12-20
Granted: 1905-03-02
Abstract: 27,874. Thompson, W. P., [Mallmann, J.]. Dec. 20. Calculating-apparatus; counting-apparatus.-In a keyboard adding-machine, the keys set stops which limit the motion of rackbars forming the actuating-elements of a complex counter provided with detent, transferring, and zero-setting mechanism ; the number of items added is registered upon a simple counter, and the rack-bars set the types of the printing apparatus, which is furnished with paper and inking-ribbon feed devices ; means are also described for interlocking the various parts, for r ensuring at each setting complete operation by means of an external handle, and for clearing the machine and printing the total when required. Figs. 1 and 2 show side views of the machine, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section, passing through the keyboard, the parts being supported by the sidepieces 36 and cross-bars 37 of the frame. Depression of one of the nine keys 76 allotted to each order of figures forces the the corresponding slide 73 to the rear by means of pins on the key entering grooves in the slide, and thereby prevents operation of a second key in the row, swings the zero stop lever 147 and blank stop lever 152 by means of a bevelled cam end so that they move out of the path of a lug on the actuating rack - bar 99, and finally locks the key and all these parts in position by allowing the spring stop.81 to snap in front of the slide. The operating-Landle 58 then begins its complete forward and backward motion, and by means. of the arms 40 and links 42 moves the return bar 44 forwards, so that the actuating rack-bars, which abut thereon and are urged forwards by the springs 104, may follow the movement unless held by a blank or zero stop lever or until held by the stem of a depressed key, means being described for moving the blank stop bars to the right of significant figures in order that such rack-bars may assume the zero position. These rack bars are out of gear with the pinions of the totalizing-wheels during their forward motion, and are in gear during the return, the effect being derived from the oscillation of the shaft 116, driven from a crank-arm on the main shaft 38 by the rack-and-segment mechanism shown in Fig. 1. On the forward stroke, the roller 135 on the arm 128 follows the cam-path 122, 121, 120 and through the medium of linkwork rocks the plate 102, on which the rack-bars rest, first down and then finally up ; it remains in this position while the roller passes over the bridge lever 124 on the return stroke, the racks 110 being then in gear with the totalizer pinions 115<a>, and the upward motion of the plate lifting the lever 141 to take the spring detents 138 out of gear with the pinions. The motion of the return bar is utilized to count the items of an addition by striking the depending bar 233, which operates the driving-pawl of a ratchet counting-disc 229 provided with a spring detent which at the end of a revolution is displaced by a zero-arm on the disc and held out of gear until a spring has returned the disc to zero. Upon the return stroke of the operating-handle, the pivoted cam 92 on the link 41, Fig. 2, rocks a roller on the lever 85, and thereby slides a transverse release bar 83, removes the spring stops, and allows the slides, keys, zero and blank stop levers all to assume the normal position ; this effect is also obtained independently when the arm 90 is rocked by hand. Transferring in the totalizer is effected by lugs on the wheels 115, which at the zero position engage trip-levers 161, release the frames 155, and thereby remove a stop from the path of the next higher rack-bar, which can then move backwards enough to turn its wheel one tooth. During the next forward stroke of the handle, the roller 178 rides up the cam-tongue 177, rocks the plate 180 against projections 112 on the transferring rack-bars, and carries them one unit forward, whereupon a second cam and roller lift the bar 170 to restore all trip-frames and stops to position. To set the totalizer to zero, a full stroke of the operating-handle is made, in order to restore the slides and carry the lugs 202 thereon out of gear with the linkwork 201, 198, 197, 196 and detent arm 203, so that the lever 196 may fall away from the pin 195 ; on the backward movement of the handle, the linkwork 183 ... 186 is operated to snap the lug 193 under a shoulder 92. As the result of this, the shaft 116 is moved longitudinally, and, by substitution of oppositelyshaped cam - surfaces and bridges fur those ordinarily governing the rack - bar supporting- plate 102, the racks are caused to gear during their forward stroke only, and to re-set the counter wheels by the aid of zero detents 143 and cam-lugs on the wheels ; the final stroke of the operation then actuates the lever 85 as described and also allows the lever 186 to return to normal position and restore the plate-actuating cams. During the zero-setting strokes, the zero and blank stop levers are controlled to allow the necessary motion of the rack-bars, and the item counter is likewise set to zero. To print the items of the addition, types 253, Fig. 5, carried by an extension of the rack-bars are forced by hammers against a paper strip and inking-ribbon moving over a cylindrical platen 279. The hammers 257 of operated rack-bars then no longer rest upon the lugs 259, but have arms contacting with a pivoted plate 268, which at the proper moment is withdrawn by linkwork, and the hammer is spring- pressed upwards to strike and move slightly upwards the type at the printing point. The platen is carried on a carriage 276 which can be moved transversely across the machine, without interrupting the rotary feed given during the forward stroke of the operating-handle by a train of wheels deriving motion from the arm 39 on the main shaft as shown in Fig. 2 ; one wheel of the train takes the form of a toothed cylinder 294, extending across the machine. From the same arm is also derived the ratchet feed for the ribbon, which is governed as to extent by the hand-lever 307, feeding taking place alternately from one reel to the other, and each reel bearing a crown-wheel 319 adapted to be driven by the spur-wheels 322. When one reel becomes empty, the gravity arm 320, Fig. 29, swings down, forces its pin 321 into engagement with a skew-toothed wheel on the shaft 309 carrying the wheels 322, and thus determines which crown-wheel shall be driven. During the re-setting operation, the total is printed on the paper. This may be obtained without setting the totalizer wheels to zero if the arm 90 is moved during the last backward stroke of the operating- handle to release the link 186, and to keep the racks in gear with their pinions as they return to normal position. For repetition, opposite motion of the arm 90 swings the locking-bar 93 into engagement with pins 94 upon the slides, and thus holds the keys in position until the number set has been added as many times as required.