Patent GB-654063-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to combined typewriting and calculating machines
Filed: 1947-07-31
Abstract: 654,063. Calculating-apparatus. UNDERWOOD CORPORATION. July 31, 1947, No. 20750. Convention date, Nov. 21, 1941. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group VIII] A combined typewriting calculating machine comprises means for typing items digit-by-digit and for entering them positively or negatively into a totalizer in which negative totals appear as complements, means for automatically printing digit-by-digit the true values of totals, means for punching on the ledger sheet coded representations of the totals and means for subsequently sensing the coded representations and causing the reentry of the corresponding totals. In the case of a negative total, the complement is punched, excepting that the non-significant nines are suppressed, and an additional hole is also punched to signify that the amount is negative and to control appropriately any subsequent re-entry operations. The invention is described as applied to a known kind of typewriting calculating machine in which depression of a numeral key 40, Fig. 2, lifts the end 56 of a drawlink 54 into engagement with a rotary match roll 57 which pulls the link 54 to the right and this through levers 50, 44, 45 flings the corresponding type bar 43 against the platen roll 58 on the typewriter carriage. When the carriage is moving through a computing zone, a cam 85 depresses in turn a series of denominational jacks 82, each arranged to rock a corresponding transverse blade 97. The machine described has three totalizers. For each totalizer there is a set of rack bars 99, one bar for each denomination, each bar being connected to its corresponding transverse blade 97. A coupler 100 is pivoted at the end of each rack bar 99. If the item is to be entered into any totalizer, the corresponding set of couplers 100 is lifted by the depression by a totalizer-engaging cam 103 on the carriage of a respective totalizerselecting plate 102 to couple the rack bar 99 to a totalizer-actuating bar 69. As each transverse blade 97 is rocked it thus, through its rack bar 99 and coupler 100, moves the actuating bar 69 slightly to the left to bring a set of stop pins 76 into register with a set of pin-setting bars 77. One of the latter, corresponding to the operated numeral key, is depressed by a rod 81, hanging from the type action, to depress a corresponding stop pin 76. As the carriage leaves the computing zone, a cam releases a clutch to cause reciprocation of a general operator bar 137 which by engaging the protruding pins 76 drives the actuating bars 69 through distances corresponding to the digits of the item to be entered. The totalizer pinions 68 are engaged with the actuating bars 69 either directly for addition or through idlers 72 for subtraction, the engagement being controlled by carriage cams as described in Specification 542,354. Printing positive totals. Control of zero printing. Depression of the total key 178, Figs. 2, 52, lifts a slide 180 having a connection which releases the carriage escapement so that the carriage moves until the balance column on the statement sheet is in the printing zone. A carriage cam then releases a latch to allow the slide 180 to be lowered to re-engage the escapement and halt the carriage. The lifting of the slide 180, Fig. 2, moves to the right by a pin 203 a comb 204 which swings the totalizer-selecting plates 102 away from the totalizer-engaging cams 103 and into the path of a total-taking control cam, also on the carriage. The swinging of the selecting plates 102 also puts them into alignment with projections 215, Fig. 52, on selecting slides 217, each connected by a linkage 220, 221 to a corresponding transverse bar 223, there being one such bar for each totalizer. The bars 223 are connected by linkage 225, 226 to rock a shaft 228 to release a slide 239 to allow a common bail 249 to move to the left, thereby releasing feelers 140, Fig. 56, which can enter slots on discs fixed to the numeral wheels, the slots having depths corresponding to the different numerals. The feelers 140 of the totalizers not selected for total-taking are restrained by the engagement of rollers 273, Fig. 47, with plates 259 arranged in packs, one pack for each totalizer, the packs fitting between end plates 254, Fig. 48. The end plates 254 relating to the active totalizer are released and allowed to drop by the rocking of a latch 266 by a lever 269 engaged by a pin 270, Fig. 56, on a bar 231 advanced by the rocking of the corresponding transverse bar 223. The pack plates 259 are carried on rods 257 supported by the end plates 254, the pack plates thus dropping with the end plates to release the feelers 140. Each pack plate 259 has a point 262 which drops between teeth 69a, Fig. 56, on the related totalizer-wheel actuating bar 69. Means are provided for advancing the actuating bars 69 seriation a slight distance to the left as the carriage passes through the total-taking zone. This small advance causes the actuating-bar teeth 69a to lift the pack plates 259 in turn. This lifts the rollers 273 which are carried on arms 144 pivoted on the feelers 140. Each feeler is positioned in accordance with the numeral standing on the corresponding totalizer wheel and a tab 143 on each arm 144 thus lifts one of a set of ten blades 147 (one corresponding to each digit and one to zero). The lifted blade 147 rocks a lever 149, Fig. 49, which depresses the corresponding draw link 54, Fig. 2, to cause the numeral to be typed and the carriage spaced to the next lower denomination. The zero blade 147 rocks a lever 149a which is not directly connected to a draw link but engages a pin 156 to rock a shaft 157 having another pin 161 which rocks a spacer draw link 162 to engage it with the snatch roll to cause carriage spacing but no printing, non-significant zeros thus being eliminated. Upon the printing of the highest significant digit, a part 50 of the type-operating linkage cams the shaft 157 to the right to disengage the pin 161 from the spacer draw link 162 and to engage it with a zero-printing draw link 54 so that any zeros appearing to the right of the highest significant digit are printed. As each digit is printed, a corresponding stop pin 76, Fig. 2, is protruded from the corresponding denominational actuating bar 69 by the action of the pendant rod 81 on the type action. The totalizer selecting slides 217 each have a projection which sets the machine for subtraction. In the carriage step following the printing of the last figure of the total, a carriage cam engages the clutch which drives the general operator 137, the amount printed thus being subtracted from the totalizer to leave the latter at zero, Automatic punctuation spacing. When during total taking the carriage passes from the units of dollars towards the tens of cents column, a carriage cam rocks a shaft which rocks the spacer draw link into engagement with the snatch roll 59 to cause a spacing step without printing. Clear-symbol printing. Discs fitted to the numeral wheels are provided with notches 294, Fig. 2, the notches corresponding to the zero position being the deepest. When all the wheels stand at zero, arms 296 enter the deep notches and this allows a bar 301 to swing clockwise to free the end 303 of a clear lever 302. That clear lever 302 relating to the totalizer from which the total has just been taken has also had moved away from it a detent 235 operated by the said totalizer selecting slide 217. As described above, a carriage cam initiates a reciprocation of the general operator 137, Fig. 2, when the carriage is leaving the computing zone. As the operator 137 moves forward to the left a link 323 is pulled up behind it so that, when the operator returns, the link is moved to the right to rock a shaft 322 to move a bar 319 to the right. The bar 319 is detachably coupled to links 315, each connected by a crank 312 to a respective clear lever 302. If a clear lever has been freed as described above the link 315 is pulled to the right and the clear lever is lowered. A stud 331 on the link 315 then rocks a bail 332 to lift a link 336 which moves a symbol-printing draw link into engagement with the snatch roll 57. Printing negative totals. When the total is negative the highest numeral wheel stands at " 9 " so that a feeler 140, Fig. 38, can when released enter a depression 141a to cause the rocking of a lever 439 to rock a case-shift draw link 443 into engagement with the snatch roll 57. The resulting movement of the link 443 to the right, Fig. 30, rocks a lever 396 about a fixed pivot 397 to move to the left a cam plate 419 to depress a link 425 which through a pin 427 rocks an arm 417. The arm 417 through a link 412 lifts a latch 404 from a fixed bar 406, the latch being pivoted to a frame 391. The frame 391 is then rocked clockwise by the continued movement of the lever 396 acting through a link 399 and thus lifts the platen 58 so that the printing impression is made by another upper numeral type on each type lever. These upper numerals are the complements of the lower numeral types used in item and positive-total printing and they are also of a distinctive kind. The true negative total is thus printed, known means having introduced the fugitive one into the units wheel of the totalizer. The platen 58 remains latched in its lifted position until total printing is completed when it is released by a cam (not shown). The lever 439, Fig. 38, rocked during total-taking when the highest wheel stands at " 9 " pulls a link 448 into the path of the reciprocated plate 419 so that the link is rocked clockwise and this through a pin-and-slot connection 450, 451 rocks a frame 447, 445, 446, the frame being retained by a latch 477. The frame operates means which uncouple the highest " 9 " (" 0 " upper case) type lever from its actuating lever. Since the platen has been lifted, this lever would print " 0 " from its upper case distinctive type in the highest denomination, but this " 0 " is