Improvements in Arithmometers and in Printing Mechanism therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arithmometers and in Printing Mechanism
therefor.
I, CHARLES CONDIT CLIFFORD, Mechanical Engineer, of 37, South Eleventh
Street, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to provide a suitable construction of adding
machine and register which shall have automatic capacity for adding together
any number of rows of figures so that at a glance the total amount may be ascer-
tained. In connection with said machine I provide a suitable printing or record-
ing device which shall have capacity for printing upon a slip of paper the
successive rows of figures which have been added, so that the said printed slip
will be a visual record of the amounts added and of the keys struck, while the
register will indicate the sum total of said amounts. The printed slip, while
not essential to the operation of the machine, may be considered as a check upon
the operator, as it would indicate any mistakes which he might have made in
striking the keys. Under certain manipulation my improved machine may be
also made to multiply.
In the description of my invention I have shown the keys, dials and type as
adapted to the ordinary numbers, and while this is specially useful in computing
in the metric system or in money denominations of the United States and Canada,
it will be readily understood that these keys, dials and type may be formed with
other marks to correspond to the money values of the country in which the
apparatus may be used. It is also to be understood that in so adapting the
machine more or less keys may be used in a set and more or less sets of keys may
likewise be employed.
My invention will be better understood by referring to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine with the casing removed
and more particularly showing the recording mechanism;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine upon the opposite side of Fig. 1 with
a portion of the casing broken away;
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of my improved machine taken on line 1, 1 of
Fig. 4;
Fig. 4 is an end view of my improved machine with a portion of the frame
broken away;
Fig. 5
a plan view of my improved machine with the outer casing removed;
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through a portion of the registering wheels on
line 6-6, of Fig. 7;
Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the key releasing bar;
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view on line 10-10 of Fig. 3;

page_text: Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the locking blocks for the step bars;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the key releasing devices;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the inking device;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the type bars;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the paper guide;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the transfer frame; and
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a portion of the registering frame.
A is the main frame of the machine and may be of any suitable construction.
As shown it is provided with horizontal guide slots A in which a key-board B
is adapted to reciprocate on rollers a. The key-board is provided with a series
of sets of keys B₁ having shanks extending downward and suitably guided in
the key-board. Springs B2 cause the keys to rise normally. Spring actuated
pivoted locking bars 133 are also carried by the key-board and are adapted to
lock the keys in their depressed position by catching over the teeth 61. There
is one of the locking bars for each set of keys, and each set of keys comprises at
least nine keys corresponding to the numerals one to nine. If desired there
may be an additional set of keys corresponding to the zeros. Each of the locking
bars may operate independently of the others, so as to lock any key of one set
without disturbing the locking action when depressing any key of another set.
All of the keys may be released by the action of a transversely reciprocating
rod B having slots which simultaneously operate all of the locking bars to
release all of the keys which have been depressed and previously locked in said
depressed position. This rod B is normally held in position to be operated by
the action of the locking bars and their springs 62 (Figs. 3 and 8). When the
key board B is moved the head 16 being beveled on the top passes under the
spring cam B7 on the end of the pivoted lever W8 and is not forced inward, but
upon the reverse movement of the carriage, the notch in the end of the head B6
receives the cam edge B7 and is forced laterally, carrying with it the bar B4
and thereby releasing all of the depressed keys. Just as soon as the head passes
the cam B7 it moves outward again under the action of the springs 62 and locking
bars 13 and the inclined edge wedges under the inclined leaf B8 (Figs. 1, 5 and 8)
and lifts the cam edge B7 so that the head will not be operated upon the next
forward movement of the carriage. Normally the locking bars will release the
keys locked with each complete reciprocation. In some cases, as when adding
duplicate numbers or when multiplying, the locking bars must not be operated
for a given number of reciprocations of the carriage, and to secure this result 'I
provide special means shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 and which I will now
describe. W is a dial having upon its face numbers 1 to 9. It also has 9 long
ratchet teeth W² corresponding to the numbers, and 9 shallow teeth W¹ arranged
about the dial. The dial is movable by hand and also by a pawl w carried by
the arm W³ hinged to the lever W. The lever W is moved toward the dial
by a spring W6, and in the other direction by the pin W7 on the link F¹ striking
its free end. In this manner the pawl is reciprocated with each reciprocation
of the carriage B and key board and operates the dial W by striking the teeth W³,
successively imparting a step by step movement. When the carriage B is in its
normal position a pin n on the link F presses upon the extension W* of the
pivoted arm W³ and holds the pawl clear of the teeth W¹ so that the dial W
may be turned and set. The moment the carriage moves forward the pawl w
is permitted to drop down into operative position.
Now assuming that it is required to add a given number 5 times (which is
equivalent to multiplying it by 5), I turn the dial W until the figure 5 comes
in line with the pointer X (Fig. 5). The carriage B may now be reciprocated
five times before the depressed keys are released. The reason of this is that
when the dial was turned the teeth W¹ operate on the heel of the pivoted
lever Wand raise the cam B7 out of the path of the head B. Now as the
pawl w moves the dial one tooth W with each reciprocation of the carriage B,
it follows that when five teeth have been moved the parts are once more in the

page_text: position shown and the next reciprocation will cause the locking bars to be so
moved as to release the keys.
In multiplying by two or more numbers, the dial W is operated as above with
each number of the multiplier, but in so doing the keys are set with same
numerals but corresponding to the high positions on the key board as for instance
the tens, hundred's or thousand's for the lowest figure according as the multiply-
ing number is in the ten's, hundred's or thousand's position. In this manner
any numbers may be multiplied.
The teeth 61 are made slightly rounded so that if a wrong key is depressed,
another of the same set may, be depressed and locked and at the same time
automatically release the wrong key. The key-board may be reciprocated in
any suitable manner, but as shown it is connected by means of a detachable
connection with a transfer frame G directly reciprocated by hand lever F and
links F. The detachable connection is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. It
consists of a locking lever I¹ pivoted to the carriage B and forced downward by
a spring so as to hook over a sharp edge G2 on the transfer frame G. When
the frame G is moved forward by the links F¹ it pulls the key board and
carriage B with it. When the full movement of the carriage is made and the
dials moved the arm 13 of the locking lever I¹ strikes the stop I³ and releases
the carriage from the frame G. At the same time the lever I¹ locks itself upon
the downwardly extending lug I which is received in the notch 15. This holds
the carriage B in position until the return of the transfer frame G. To make
the parts move smoothly I prefer to carry the transfer frame G on the carriage B
by sliding connections G³. Springs G tend to bring the carriage and frame
normally together but permit of the transfer frame moving, after the carriage
has been disconnected and arrested.
It is essential in a machine of this class that a full movement be given to
the parts to avoid any possibility of defective registration, and to insure this
action, I employ the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. H is a rack movable with
the transfer frame G. H is a pivoted two point pawl and has an obstruction H*
adapted to snap to either side of a spring tooth H. The pawl H has also a
downwardly extending arm h. The rack H has at each end a pin H³ to strike
the arm hand oscillate the pawl so that first one of its teeth engages with the
rack and then the other. As shown the forward movement of the carriage and
transfer frame must be completed before they can be returned, because the left
hand pin H³ must strike the arm h and tilt the pawl H before the rack can be
returned. Likewise, in the return movement a full return must be made before
the machine can be again operated for registering. Any other suitable means
may be substituted for insuring these movements.
Arranged below each set of keys is a step bar C, the steps.c thereof being of
uniform length but of less length than the distance between the several keys
of a set. The steps are so disposed with reference to the lower parts of the
shanks 6 of the keys that the key corresponding to No. 9 shall strike its step in
the step-bar C when depressed in a manner to impart a longitudinal movement
to said step bar sufficient to turn the registering dial D a space corresponding
to nine units. The relation between the next key shank and the next step of
the step-bar will produce a corresponding movement of the registering dial equal
to eight units, and so on. This is secured by permitting more or less lost motion
between the lower ends of the key shanks and the steps before the forward
movement of the key-board shall operate upon the step-bar. The step-bars C
are provided with longitudinal slots C₁ through which pass transverse rods C
for sustaining and guiding them. Each step-bar C is connected with a rack
bar D at d with provision for a small amount of lost motion, the object of which
is to permit of the step bar C moving a short distance before operating the rack
bar, which movement is intended to facilitate the printing of the zeros in the
recording mechanism to be described hereinafter. The rack har D of each set
transverse shaft E. The
meshes with a pinion D¹ loosely journalled upon a

page_text: pinión D¹ is connected with a ratchet wheel D2 by a pawl d³ and ratchet wheel D³,
so that when the pinion D¹ is operated by the rack bar in the forward direction
it rotates the ratchet wheel, but in the reverse movement it moves the piniou
and ratchet wheel D³ under the pawl. The ratchet wheel D2 is connected with
the registering dial 14, having upon its periphery numbers from zero to nine,
which may, if desired, be repeated. As shown there are two sets of these numbers
on each dial so as to permit the dial to be of considerable diameter. This,
however, is not essential, as it is only necessary to properly proportion the parts
to employ a single set of numbers. A notched disk 1 is also carried with the
dial having as many notches as there are numbers, so that a spring actuated
pawl De presses into said notches to normally prevent accidental spinning of
the dial wheels D. The same action may be produced by any suitable friction
creating devices. The pawl d³ may be assumed as being directly connected
with the registering dial D, so that the rotation of the pinion D operates the
said dial through the pawl. A suitable spring S¹ returns the rack and step
bars to their normal position. There is a dial for each of the step bars and conse-
quently for each set of keys. As shown there are six sets of keys, but it is
self-evident that there may be more or less of said sets of keys employed as
desired.
The return movement of the frame G operates upon, all of the step bars C
previously moved in registering, and returns them all to their normal position
as shown in Fig. 3, and yet by the slotted connection d permits a slight move-
ment of any step bar in a further registering action of the machine without
moving the registering dial, as for instance when printing the zero as explained
later on.
A spring S insures a positive return of the rack bars D) and at the
same time holds them against vibration or movement when the step bar is moved
forward for printing the zero, as at that time no movement must be made by
the dial.
It is evident that as the dials correspond to the cents and dollars it will con-
stantly happen that when 10 is registered upon any dial it will be necessary to
carry a unit to the next dial as is well known, and to accomplish this automatic-
ally and in connection with one or more of the dials as the case may be, I provide
a series of devices K which I will term transferring devices or mechanism. This
mechanism consists of a lever K¹ pivoted to a transverse bar K5 secured to the
main frame. The upper end of the lever K¹ carries a pawl K³ which operates
in connection with the ratchet wheel D2. A spring pressed pawl K is con-
nected with the lever below its pivot point and locks with the lower edge of the
frame K. When in this position the pin R carried at the lower part of the
lever is out of alignment with the transfer finger I pivoted at G¹ on the transfer
frame G and held in normal horizontal position by a spring i. It will be
observed that when the frame G moves forward the transfer finger I will pass
above the pin k of the lever and consequently will not operate it. If, however,
the pawl K should be liberated by a stud J upon the dial of the next lowest
order, the spring K2 will oscillate the lever K³, throwing the pink upward
into alignment with the transfer finger I and at the same time move the pawl K³
forward one tooth of the ratchet wheel D. When this position is assumed, the
forward movement of the frame G will cause the notched end of the transfer
finger I to receive the pin k and oscillate the lever to the position shown in
Fig. 3 with the result of turning the ratchet wheel D³ and its dial D one point,
and at the same time relocking the pawl K upon the frame K³, where it remains
until a further operation of this character is required. As the dials have twenty
figures about their circumference, two pins or studs J are arranged upon each
dial, and these studs on one dial operate upon the pawl K of the transfer device
corresponding to the next dial of higher order, and so on. From this it will
be evident that when any dial passes the zero point it operates the transfer device
to insure one additional movement to the next dial, and such action takes place
irrespective of the amount of movement given to the dials under the operation

page_text: of the keys of any set corresponding to its own particular dial. The dials should
only be read when the transferring device K is in the position shown in Fig. 3,
and consequently when a transfer device is tripped after the transfer fingers I
were fully moved and did not have the opportunity to register, the shield L will
be held under the sight opening L' in the case to prevent the numbers on the
dials being read, and thereby indicating that a second movement is required to
be given to the frame G. In the latter case the next amount added gives the
requisite movement. The tripping of the pawl K is a very simple matter and
is positive, and whenever this takes place the shield L is pushed forward again
by the projection L2 against the action of a weight or spring and remains in
this position until the transfer is positively made. The transfer fingers I are
made flexible so that when engaging the pins & they may follow the downward
arc of said pins, or should one of the levers K' be liberated after the fingers have
been fully thrown the pink of said lever may rise and press the finger I upward.
In this latter case the shield L will be moved over the sight opening and will
remain there until the next movement of the transfer frame G.
If 99 were on the dials and a number was added to it the first movement of
the frame G would turn the first dial to the proper number and set the trans-
ferring devices for the second dial, and this would necessitate a second movement
of the frame G without operating any of the keys. Without the second move-
ment the sight openings are covered and the dials could not be read. If the
addition was to continue the second movement would not have been required
as a special operation as the next additions made would produce such a movement.
The same would be the case if the numbers were 999, only in this case a further
additional movement would be required excepting in case of the addition of
other numbers where the natural movement of the frame G would accomplish
the same office. If the dials cannot be read on account of the shield the operator
knows he must give the machine another forward movement.
As the last registering dial of the series is not required to have a transfer
device for registering nevertheless it is advantageous to provide it with means
to operate the shield L as above. To do this I provide the same parts K' K¹
but do not require the pin k or the transfer pawl I. Furthermore, as there is
no dial of a higher order to move the pawl K³ is replaced by the slide L³ which
moves the pivoted shield L. This slide may also have an upward arm L' to be
operated by the hand in case it is desired to withdraw the shield. This will be
necessary under certain conditions because there is no means to again automatic-
ally move or reset the lever K¹ carrying the slide L³.
I do not confine myself to the particular details of the transferring devices
here shown as it is evident that other forms of mechanism may be employed for
obtaining the same results.
I will now refer to the recording mechanism, which may or may not be employed
in connection with the registering devices as desired.
M are a series of type bars having type corresponding from zero to nine upon
their under surfaces. These type bars are guided in a suitable guide M¹ and con-
nected by frames m with the corresponding step bars C, so that the movement
of any step bar moves the corresponding type bar. Arranged below the type
bars are the paper guides N through which the paper strip or sheet passes. The
paper strip or page of a book may be fed or moved through the guide N in any
suitable manner. As shown the guide N is hinged at N5 and is pressed upward
toward the type M by a spring N. It is pressed downward against the action
of the spring by a roller N8 moving on a cam surface No attached to the guide.
A frame R carries at its free end the inking roller r adapted to travel under all
of the type bars M so as to ink the type. This frame R is pivoted to the end of
the lever R¹ and is pressed upward by a spring R2. The lever R¹ is reciprocated
by the lever F through the pin R³ in one direction while the spring R* moves it in
the other direction. This insures the shifting of the inking roller. The roller N8
is carried on the end of the lever R¹ so that when the inking roller moves forward

page_text: to ink the type, the guide N is depressed out of the way. N2 is a feeding roller
carried with the guide and is combined with a ratchet wheel N', and when this
feeding roller is depressed with the guide, the pawl N° operates the ratchet wheel
and roller to feed the paper.
A spring arm P secured to the lever O carries at its lower and free end a series
of spring fingers weighted at P¹ and having impression surfaces 7, the said parts
constituting a series of hammers which upon rising produce an impression by the
type upon the paper. The movement of the lever in one direction is caused
by the spring T, and its stroke is limited by an adjustable screw t.
The lever O has at its upper end a pivoted spring pawl device which has a
shoulder 0 adapted to catch upon a stop 02. This pawl is actuated by a pin 0³
to release the lever O at one time and to reset it in the position shown in Fig. 1
at another time.
The operation of this recording or printing mechanism will now be under-
stood: When the keys are depressed and the key-board moved, the type bars M
are moved to the requisite distance, the pin (3 will have approached the lever (
and the said pin will next strike the surface 0 and depress the pawl from the
stop 02 permitting the spring T to operate the printing hammer. Upon the return
movement of the key-board, the pin 03 catches upon the shoulder 05 of the pawl
and draws the lever O back to the position shown in Fig. 1, when it is again
locked by the pawl 01. Various forms of printing and feeding mechanism may
be employed in lieu of those here shown.
It is evident from the foregoing description that when desired zeros should be
printed, and to insure the printing of such I provide a special attachment illus-
trated more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 10 and 11. The lower parts of the step
bars C are provided with downwardly projecting portions or pins C and also
with lateral cam portions C3 located to the rear of said portions C and formed of
considerable length. C is a transverse plate carrying upon its outer surface a
series of blocks C arranged end to end and pressed in one direction by the action
of a spring C. These blocks are formed with notches or grooves through which
the pins C normally pass as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 10. The plate C5 is
driven in one direction by the springs C10, and is adapted to be moved in the
other direction or toward the registering dials by hooked rods C7, the said rods C7
being connected to extensions from the reciprocating frame G. It will now be
understood that if any of the step bars C be moved in the direction of the arrow
(Fig. 10), that is to say, toward the registering dials, the knife edge forward
part of the plate C3 will act upon the pins of the sliding blocks and push
them sidewise against the action of the spring C, so that all of the said blocks
corresponding to the keys of the lower orders are operated upon by the beveled
side of the said plate C3 and caused to move in such a manner as to form abut-
ments relatively to the pins or projections C6, so that when the rods C7 finally
move the frame C³ also in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 10), the blocks which
have been shifted sidewise will catch upon the projections or pins C6 and move
the corresponding step bars a short distance so as to bring the zeros of the type
bars into printing position. It will thus be seen that every one of the step bars
which has not been positively moved forward under the action of the keys and
the key-board will be caught by the blocks C4 and moved the short distance
necessary to bring the zeros into line, but this only applies to the step bars corre-
sponding to the lower order of keys. That is to say, that if 500 were printed, no
zero would be printed in the thousand position, and likewise if the amount to be
printed were 50, no zero would be printed for the columns corresponding to 100
or 1000, and this is true whether we assume the amounts to be printed as made
up of cents and dollars or of dollars alone. When the small movement is im-
parted to the step bars by the blocks C in moving the type bars, it is permitted
by the slotted connection d (Fig. 3) between the step bar and the rack bar D,
to which reference has heretofore been made, the said connection permitting of
the movement of the type bar and its corresponding step bar without moving

page_text: the rack bar D and its registering dial. This automatic mechanism for operating
the printing or type bars to insure printing the zero is not essential to the
practical operation of my machine, but is desirable in that it makes the columns
of the figures more natural and easier to read. Any other form of mechanism
may be employed for securing the adjustment of the type bars for the purpose of
printing the zero as above described.
When it is desired to lock the printing mechanism against operation, the
lever U³ is moved so as to throw the catch U3 over the free end of the lever O
to prevent the hammer of the printing device working, and at the same time to
press the locking lever U down at its free end to lock the inking frame R against
reciprocation. This latter function is accomplished by the projection U¹ striking
the short arm of the lever U. When the parts are in position for operating, the
lever U2 is turned so that the arm O is liberated and the portion U³ strikes the
lever U and raises it clear of the pin on the inking frame R as will be readily
understood.
Under some conditions it is desirable to operate the printing devices without
the registering mechanism, and to permit this I provide the following construction.
The racks D are carried at their free ends upon a transverse bar S which is
pressed upward by springs S2. This bar may be moved upward or downward by
an arm S on a rock bar S which has upon its end a lever S adapted to be
moved by hand. When it is desired to throw the registering devices out of
action the lever S5 is moved back until the pin $8 catches in the notch of the
spring catch S6. In this position the guide S is lowered and the racks D are out of
gear with the pinions of the registering devices. This device would be used
when it is desired to print the sum total of the amounts printed without disturb-
ing the registered amounts.
I have not shown any special mechanism for resetting the various registering
dials or wheels to zero as such devices are common, and further because my
machine may be quickly manipulated to bring the dials to zero. This latter
operation is secured by adding by one manipulation the difference between the
amount registered and the maximum capacity of the machine, the result being
that all the dials come to zero under the sight opening. A2 is a cushioning
cylinder having its piston rod A³ connected with the frame G.
While I prefer the construction herein set out and illustrated, the various
details making up the complete structure may be modified without departing
from the principles involved, hence I do not limit myself to the particular details
illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The calculating machine substantially as herein described and as shown
in the accompanying drawings, in which the key carrying frame and the register-
ing devices have a relative movement with relation to one another, by which the
registering devices are operated when the keys are depressed.
Second. The transferring devices substantially as described and shown for
moving the registering devices of a higher order upon the completion of a given
extent of movement of the registering device of a lower order.
Third. The movable step bars controlled by the keys for operating the register-
ing devices.
Fourth. The common releasing mechanism for the locking devices of the sets
of keys for simultaneously releasing all of the keys upon the completion of the
registration.
Fifth. The devices for automatically controlling the key locking mechanism
to release and unlock the keys only after a given number of reciprocations,
whereby multiplication may be effected.

page_text: Seventh. The shield controlled by the transferring devices to shield the
numbers of the registering devices from view in case the transferring device
fails to register or has not completed its. registration.
Eighth. The printing bars respectively carried or operated by the intermediate
mechanism, such as the step bars, which controls the operation of the registering
devices.
Ninth. The sliding type bars, one for each set of keys by which they are
controlled.
Tenth. The devices for throwing either the printing mechanism or the regis-
tering mechanism out of action.
Eleventh. The devices for throwing the zero type of the printing mechanism
into printing position for all unoperated sets of keys below the set of keys of
the highest order in which a key has been operated.
CHARLES CONDIT CLIFFORD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.