Patent GB-190718516-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Calculating Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1907-08-15
Granted: 1908-07-31
Abstract: 18,516. Boult, A. J., [Burroughs Adding Machine Co.]. Aug. 15. Calculating-apparatus. - The Burroughs adding-machine, described in Specifications No. 17,126, A.D. 1893, No. 21,268, A.D. 1897, and No. 27,874, A.D. 1903, is provided with a clear " signal which shows whether any items remain registered upon the totalizing- counter of the machine, and also with a corresponding type character that gives an impression against the first item printed and registered after the machine has been cleared. The " clear " signal 12<1>, Fig. 5, is a semicylindrical plate exhibiting through an aperture in the keyboard the word " clear " or a red portion according to its adjustment, and it is positioned by the lever 12<b>, Fig. 1, which is shown at " clear " ; the keyboard locking-plate and universal member displace the pin 12<c> on the arm 4<a> whenever an item is set, and thereby free the lever from the control of the detent 12" ; before, however, the lever can pass into the other position, the item must be registered by operation of the main shaft with consequent displacement of the arm 12<g>, freeing the pin 12<f>. During the operation of taking a total, the movement of the link 9<c> and the spring member 12<i> thereon restores the lever to " clear," provided the total key 2<a> is held down during both strokes of the operating-lever; if. however, it is so held during the first stroke only, as in taking a sub-total, the lever and signal are not moved to " clear." For the purpose of printing a corresponding character against the first item of a new series as well as the known character against a total, an additional type-bar 6<c> is provided on the extreme right, carrying two types above one another ; this type-bar, like those of the denominations, has its own hammer, catch, and controlling-pawl, which, however, only come into play when the hammer of the units' denomination gives an impression. The type-bar may occupy one of three positions ; in the lowest no character is printed thereby, in the next the " clear " sign is at the printing point, and in the highest the " total " sign; normally the bar is held depressed by a pin on an arm 6<m>, but during each operation this arm descends into the position shown in Fig. 4, and the bar then rises to a height determined by the previous setting of the pivoted lever 27<a>, which occupies a position, Fig. 1, corresponding to " clear " whenever the lever 12<b> draws a slot 12<m>, Fig. 5, in a sliding plate out of register with the slot 2<j> in a fixed plate through which the upper end of the lever 27<a> rises save at such times as the totalizing-counter may be at zero. If the slots are in register, the lever 27<a> is forced forwards by the spring 28 and prevents any printing by the type-bar 6<c> unless the total key is operated, in which case the links 27, 26 press the lever to the rear against the stop 27<b>, and the projection 6<i> upon the type-bar is arrested by the end of the lever, with consequent printing of the upper or " total sign. During the printing operation, the lever 27<a> is held locked and all strain thereby removed from its setting-parts by the hooked extremity of the arm 6<e>, which also serves to simultaneously lock the total key.