Patent GB-190309588-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Calculating Machines.
Inventor: JUSTICE PHILIP MIDDLETON
Filed: 1903-04-28
Granted: 1903-09-03
Abstract: 9588. Justice, P. M., [Universal Accountant Machine Co.]. April 28. Calculating-apparatus. -Relates more especially to improvements in the machine described in Specification No. 13,316, A.D. 1900, for adding sums of money, and printing each item and the totals of all the items. The objects are to lock the total key in its depressed position, for preventing the elevation of the key after the operating-shaft has started its stroke, to lock the keys to prevent a different example being placed on the keyboard before the completion of the rotation of the operating-shaft, to prevent the setting up of key stops when the total key is manipulated, to print the total in a different colour from the items by a single ribbon, to lock the segment which actuates the transferring-devices until the segment has completed its work, and to provide a motor instead of a handle, whereby, when a motor key is depressed, the motor is connected to the machine to make a complete operation. The rear end of the machine is shown in Fig. 1, the forward end in Fig. 2, and the driving or motor connections are shown in Fig. 13. The different mechanisms in the machine are operated by the rocking of the main shaft 57 ; forward rocking moves the slide bars 32, which are released upon the depression of a key, forward until they are arrested by the key stops, and reverse rocking causes the pivoted racks 39 carried by the slide bars to engage the gear wheels of the adding-mechanism. The segment 99 actuates the transferring-mechanism. To prevent the total key 127 from being operated after the power shaft has been started, a track extension is arranged on the quadrant 106 to engage the pin b on the lever 129. To lock the total key 127 in its depressed position the pin d on the lever 129 engages with the shoulder e of the spring-pressed lever f mounted on the shaft g. Release is effected by the quadrant 106 engaging with the arm-piece h of the lever f, and a spring through the lever 110 then depresses the rear end of the lever 129 and automatically restores the total key, clearing the machine, unless the total key is kept depressed by the operator. The shaft 57 has the projection i to engage, in the normal position, with the lever j. The lever j is connected to the movable frame l, which carries the independently-movable spring-pressed fingers m cooperating with the sliding plates 15 of the keyboard. If the plates 15 are restored wrongly, the pins m drop in advance of the restored plates and prevent their forward movement, on setting up another example on the keyboard, until the power shaft has completed its operation and been returned home, so as to raise the frame l and the pins m out of the path of the plates 15. The plates 15 are rotated by the rocking frame 23, which is connected by the link n' to the pivoted lever 134. The frame 135, carried by the lever 134, has an upper cross-bar 136 extending beneath the rear ends of the fingers of the bell cranks 44, on which are arranged the latch pins 42 to prevent the slide bars 32 from moving forwards when their friction drivers are actuated, except when a key has been depressed, and a locking-plate 15 co-operates with the bell crank to raise the latch pin. A single printing-ribbon with colours in stripes is substituted for the two ribbons in the machine described in Specification No. 13,316, A.D. 1900. Locking- mechanism is provided for the segment 99 operating the transferring-devices, so obviating the possibility of operating the machine by hand or power before the transferring-devices are home, and obviating the necessity for an idle stroke before taking a total. When the segment 99 moves upwards, energy is stored in the spring p, this being used to return the segment and rotate the pinion 100 of the transferring-mechanism. The heel q on the segment co-operates with the pawl r, which is operated by the pin s on the arm n, while the hook t co-operates with the pin u on the arm n. To govern the movement of the segment, the dash-pot W is provided. The motor F constantly drives the ratchet clutch member E, and, when the motor key I is depressed, the inner end of the lever G is pulled into the path of the ratchet teeth, and the disc D rotates, and vibrates the segments A, B. Upon the completion of one revolution of the disc D, if the key I is raised, the lever G is raised and a brake spring applied to a projection on the disc to prevent the disc from being carried beyond its home position. The key I is locked by the pawl K and is released when the normal position is reached by the segment 99 driving the link o against the bell-crank lever M. The link N restores the key I to its home position when the power shaft completes its initial rotation.