Patent GB-190403383-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Adding or Calculating.
Inventor: O'BRIEN BENJAMIN THOMPSON
Filed: 1904-02-11
Granted: 1905-04-11
Abstract: 3383. O'Brien, B. T., and Browning, W. H. Feb. 11. Calculating-apparatus; receipts, checking and recording. - An adding-machine, which may be combined with devices for indicating and prioting each transaction and with a cash-drawer, is of the key-operated type, and has no counting-wheels. Two forms of machine are described ; in the first, Figs. 1 and 2, the inner ends of the keys C of each row rest under a horizontal rod, which is raised when a key is depressed, and releases a corresponding weighted rocking-lever D. This rocking- lever falls into a notch under the key struck, and above the other keys, the length of each notch being proportional to the value of its key. The rearward end of each rocking lever has above it a piece B which slides vertically in a pivoted frame 111, and which is raised a corresponding distance when a key of its denomination is struck. A second frame 110 is pivoted to the same shaft as the first, and hangs in front of it. This second frame carries a series of counting-plates A, one for each denomination, which are in front of, and are lifted by, the corresponding pieces B in the first frame 111. Each counting-plate A has at the bottom a series of holes equal in number to the dividing-number of its denomination, and at the top a similar set of numerals ranging from zero to the highest figure of the denomination. Each lifting-piece B has a horizontal pin b which engages with a hole in a counting-plate A and so lifts it. The counting-plate frame 110 is swung away from the lifting-pins b after lifting has taken place, the plates A being carried on to a second set of pins 118<a> before they leave the lifting-pins b, so that they remain lifted. Carrying is effected by means of a series of horizontal sliding bolts 116. Each counting-plate has at its side a second or subsidiary sliding plate, also with holes, which is lifted by a lug on its counting-plate when the latter indicates its highest number. The sliding bolts 116 are placed next to the subsidiary - plates, and normally are held by the ends of pivoted levers each of which passes through a notch in its subsidiary-plate. The bolts 116 carry the second set of pins 118<a> referred to above, on to which the counting-plates are carried at the return of their swinging frame. Each bolt also carries a small projecting piece or push-lever, which ordinarily passes through a second notch in its subsidiary plate. In addition, each bolt supports the lifting-piece B of the denomination above, when this piece is not raised. When a subsidiary plate is lifted by its counting-plate A, it lifts the locking-lever of the adjacent bolt 116, and its second notch is also raised above the push-lever of this bolt. When the swinging frame 110 returns, the push-lever meets the subsidiary plate instead of its accustomed notch, and the bolt is pushed back. Thus the counting-plate A does not reach its bolt-pin 118<a>, and falls from its lifting-pin b to the zero position. At the same time the lifting-piece B of the denomination above rests at the bottom of a grooved notch of the bolt, and engages with a hole lower in its counting-plate A, which is raised one hole when the bolt is put back. The subsidiary plates are supported at the return of their swinging frame by a set of fixed pins carried by the locking-lever shaft. The counting- plates are all returned to zero by moving back the first pivoted frame 111 carrying the lifting-pieces B, so that the counting-plates A on leaving the boltpins 118<a> do not engage with the lifting-pins b. Fixed pins are provided each of which enters a corresponding hole in a lifting-piece and supports it when the first frame is moved back. Apertures are provided for reading the totals at any time. After each transaction, the machine is re-set by means of a special lever D<2>, Fig. 2, having a horizontal bar D' which passes over the rocking levers D. The re-setting-lever D<2> may be operated by hand, or by a cash-drawer. Any carrying-bolts 116 wbich may have been pushed back are replaced by a cross-bar attached to the swinging frame 110, which is itself moved by means of a pivoted lever actuated by the re-setting-lever D<2>. An indicating- apparatus is shown, and has a numbered dial R for each denomination, each dial being rotated by a rack engaging a pinion on its spindle. Each rack has an arm fixed at right-angles to it, which rests on the top of a vertical sliding plate r<4> which is above the end d<6> of a corresponding rocking lever D. The vertical sliding plates r' have holes and are kept in position between the transactions by pins on a horizontal pivoted bar S, which engage with the holes except when the bar S is swung back by another bar S<1> connected to the re-setting-lever D<2>. A printing-mechanism is also shown, each rocking lever carrying a quadrant with a type block, upon which an inked ribbon and paper strip t are. depressed after each transaction by a pressure pad T'. The ribbon and paper are moved by ratchet gears driven by the swinging frame 110, and the pressure pad T' is attached to a rocking lever T<2> driven by a trip-cam t<5> and pin t' on the re-setting- lever D<2>. When combined with a cash drawer G, as shown in Fig. 2, the re-setting -lever is driven by a tumbler g<4>, a tail on which is moved by a projection g<5> on the drawer, against the action of a spring. The re-setting- lever D<2> is normally held by a pawl m<1> and rack M', this pawl m<1> being released by a pivoted rod M' to unlock the re-setting-lever and keys. The drawer G is kept closed against the action of a spring by another pawl, which is raised by a hook k on a vertically-sliding bar K. A weight L hung from the bar K strikes the hook k to disengage it promptly. The pivoted rod M' is lifted by another hook m and bar. The first lifting-bar K for opening the drawer has several projecting rods which are raised by corresponding special keys called initial keys and bearing a letter. These projecting rods pass under similar projecting rods from the second bar, and lift it, so that each initial key will lift both bars. The second set of projecting rods pass through slots in the first bar and overlap the locking-lever F moved by the counting-keys, and so are raised when a counting- key is struck. A third lifting-bar is provided and is raised by the pivoted rod M' lifted by the second bar to release the re-setting-lever D<2>. The first bar K also releases a spring-pressed horizontal rod P<1> which causes a bell P to be struck, and is restored to place by the re-setting-lever D<2>. This horizontal rod P' has another at right-angles to it, which it moves forward over the free ends of the rocking levers D, thereby locking them while the drawer is open. When one key is depressed, also, the top front bar of its rocking lever D resting below it and above the remaining keys locks them. A ball-locking or other device 23 may be added besides. The initial keys also actuate a separate slotted rocking lever D', which carries a type-block for printing an initial beside each transaction. The free end of this lever moves a sliding plate connected to an indicating-dial having corresponding letters on it. The ends of the rocking levers D, D<1> of the counting and initial keys are held by a strong pawl which takes the strain of most of the weights and springs, and is released by the top of the third sliding rod. The second form of machine, Fig. 27, has a slotted bar E<1> which is released by the keys and is connected to a weighted rocking lever of inverted T-shape, which actuates sliding counting-plates as before. In this case, the frames are pivoted below, and the numerals carried by, pivoted quadrants A<2> resting on the plates. Motion is given to the swinging frame by a hand-actuated lever C' which also depresses the re-setting-lever. This latter may, however, be moved separately by another handle. A printing-mechanism similar to that described may be used with this form of machine. The Provisional Specification also states that the swinging frames may be replaced by horizontal sliding frames, that the subsidiary plates are placed behind the counting-plates, and that teeth may replace the holes in these plates. It also states that the pins to engage the holes of the counting- plate may be carried by the ends of the key or counting-levers, and that the sliding bolts may be looked by vertical sliding rods connected to the subsidiary-plates and released when these reach the top. Also that the sliding bolts may oscillate instead of sliding horizontally, and are contained in a swinging frame, which is drawn back to retnrn the plates to zero. The Provisional Specification also describes a carrying-device in which, when a sliding-bolt is pushed back, the adjacent lifting- piece falls on to one end of a bell-crank or other lever, the other end of which is oscillated by the lever which moves the swinging frame. This oscillating motion raises the next counting-plate one unit.