Patent GB-190801810-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Adding and like Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1908-01-27
Granted: 1909-04-27
Abstract: 1810. Boult, A. J., [Burroughs Adding Machine Co.]. Jan. 27. Typewriters and like machines.-Improvements in adding-machines, described with special reference to those of the Burroughs type as set forth in Specifications Nos. 17,126, A.D. 1893, No. 21,268, A.D. 1897, No. 27,874, A.D. 1903, and No. 20, 728. A.D.. 1906, comprise (1). means for effecting and varying the line-spacing and for preventing overthrow of the feeding-pawl; (2) means for effecting column-spacing and for automatically interrupting the line-spacing-function when necessary ; (3) the provision of interchangeable and adjustable stopdevices for determining the lateral position of the carriage ; (4) means for interrupting the adding function of the machine as a result of the position of the carriage ; (5) the disengagement of the platen feeding-pawl by the act of throwing-back the platen from printing position ; (6) other details, such as the provision of a gauge for indicating the printing-point on throwing-back the platen, means for holding the platen firmly both in the printing and in the non-printing position, and for rendering the pressure on the paper uniform by the use of independent and detachable rollers. (1) Line-spacing is effected from a cam 38, Fig. 9, which is rocked at every operation of the machine, through a lever 78 connected to a sliding bar 74, on the back of the machine, provided with a jaw 72. A spring-controlled dog 103 pivoted at 77 to the lever and sliding bar 74 normally engages a projection 106 at the bottom of a superposed sliding bar 102 provided with a jaw 73, thus causing both jaws to move together and rock the cross-rod 71 of a bail 70 pivoted at 7. The rocking of the shaft 7 in turn rocks the lever 64, Fig. 19, provided with a stud 65 which moves in the arcual slot of a connecting-rod 57 and engages a stud 60 which can be adjustably positioned therein to vary the feed of the platen. The vertical movement of the connecting-rod effects the feed through its connexion.with the arm 54 pivoted to the platen-spindle 15, and the spring- controlled pawl 53. Overthrow of the pawl in either direction is prevented by the stop-piece 66. one end of which comes into contact with the stud 60 of the connecting-rod on its upward movement and the other end with the pivot 56 of the pawl on its downward movement. (2) A series of fingers 92, Figs. 6 and 9, adjustably attached to a rock-shaft 8, pivoted on the carriage, are adapted to come into contact successively with the shoulder of a stop-plate 91 fixed to the back of the machine, and serve as stops to determine the various columnar positions of the carriage. These fingers project forwards beyond the stop - plate and during the lateral movement of the carriage, normally engage the bevelled surface of the dog 103, and disengage the dog from the bar 102, thus disabling the line-spacing mechanism by preventing the cooperation of this bar with the bar 74. Upon the movement of the latter, the dog is carried clear of the particular finger 92 engaging the stop-plate 91 and on its upward movement engages beneath the finger, thus releasing it from the shoulder of the stop-plate and rocking the shaft 8. A spring within the casing 93<a> thereupon moves the carriage to the lett until the next finger 92 engages the stop-plate. The extreme right-hand finger 92, Fig. 6, however, does not project forwards beyond the stop-plate (see Fig. 18) ; the line-spacing function is therefore not interrupted, and automatic column-spacing does not result. When desired, column-spacing may be effected manually by means of a notched rod or bail, Fig. 15, pivoted upon the rock-shaft 8 and engaging a projection upon the stop-plate 91. The notched rod is disengaged from the stop-plate by rocking the shaft 8 by means of a thumb-lever 143, Figs. 18 and 19. (3) Stop-rods to suit different kinds of tabulation may be readily attached to the carriage by means of suitable carriage bearings, one of which is longitudinally movable while the other is provided with a tongue by which the rod can be rocked from the thumb-lever 143. (4) One or more of the fingers 92 may be provided with a detachable roller 92<d>, Figs. 6 and 9, which, in the position of the carriage determined by this finger, engages with a lever 110, and, through a link 113 and lever 114, Fig. 1, prevents the engagement of the usual wipe-plate 821 with the rearward pin upon the three-armed lever 913, thus interrupting the adding function of the machine, while allowing the item to be listed as usual. (5) When the platen is thrown back, Figs. 18 and 19, a lever 68 is rocked by the engagement of a lug 69 with the cam-shaped lower arm, and its upper arm engages with a stud on the pawl 53 which is thus rocked away from the platen. (6) The platen is held in its printing and non- printing positions, which are determined by radial shoulders 43 upon the platen-cradle and logs 44, Fig. 9, by the engagement of a roller upon a spring - controlled lever 39 below and above, respectively, a projection 38 upon the cradle. When the platen is thrown back, the graduated edge of a spring-controlled gauge 22, Fig. 5, comes into contact with it, and indicates the printing point. The series of independent spring-controlled rollers 27 can ba rocked away from the platen by operating the lever 34.