US2091728A - Key release for calculating machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1937.

H. w. CLARK 2,091,728

KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 p A V 1 3mm Harold W Clark WV ZMEW Aug. 31, 1937.

H. w. CLARK 2,091,728

KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z I 6 I I so 46 'I ml? mm I' II IIF i' IW I, 5.9 41 I 52 I 55 f l' 4 4a wi -fi 2 4 46 I I 5 I! I :I T\ 1 61/ 47 I I '22 51 zz- H55 1 2 4 GE) E) @J G) E) lg I I l 25 5 za 5a 24 i I z i F 7- J 5 n2 III 5 1 I ll 1 I 1,] ,l\ 48 I: I T I F 44 47 U a 49 4! I M I I I J -@@@@@@3@;1 l 9 "a? a x65 56 Aug. 31, 1937. w. CLARK 2,091,723

KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINES corporation of Ohio Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97,582

8 Claims.

10 or department keys, or keys for any kind of listing for indicating the clerk handling the transaction or the department in which the transaction is made or any other indication or listing desired. It is desirable to print such code letter or designation at the time a total is taken but with machines such as are now in general use it has been impossible to do this since the depressing of the clerks or department key will not permit of printing the same with the total since the clerks or department key is released the instant the total key is depressed.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for printing a code letter or other designation at the same time that a total of a transaction is taken so as to indicate on the total any desired listing, such for instance as the clerk or department making the transaction.

In machines of this general type a pair of pivoted plates is provided adjacent to each bank of keys, one plate serving as a key lock to hold the key in depressed position, the other plate serving as a rack bar stop for normally locking against movement the rack bar which controls the calculating and printing mechanism.

A key release bar or comb is provided upon such machines adapted to be operated by the rotation of the main shaft, either through the hand lever or motor button as the case may be, said comb being provided with a plurality of wedge tteeth adapted to be projected between said pivoted lock plates to release any keys which are depressed, after the printing operation and as the main shaft approaches the normal position. This key release bar is also operated by the depression of the total key so that no printing of any depressed key is accomplished when a total is taken.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means upon the key release bar to prevent the same from releasing the key lock ing plate of the code key bank or banks when the total key is depressed, whereby the letter or other designation of any of the code keys will be printed with the total.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description or which may be hereinafter referred to, may be accomplished by constructing the improved key release mechanism in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a calculating machine of the general type referred to;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the machine looking from the rear, showing the improved key release mechanism, keys in several banks being shown depressed and the key release bar shown in normal position;

Fig. 3, a similar view showing the key release bar in position to release the key locking plates of all banks excepting the code keys;

Fig. 4, a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the key release bar at the instant it releases the key locking plate of the code bank;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary elevation with parts broken away showing the means for operating the key release bar through the operation of the main Z0 shaft of the machine;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary elevation with parts broken away showing the means for operating the key release bar by the total key;

Fig. '7, a detail sectional View showing one key in raised or normal position;

Fig. 8, a similar view showing the key in depressed position; and

Fig. 9, a section taken as on the Fig. 7.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the drawings.

The machine may be mounted within a casing ill, of usual and well known construction, in which a detail or record strip H is adapted to be passed over a platen E2, in front of which an ink ribbon I3 is passed, whereby transactions upon the machine may be recorded on the detail strip as by the type bars l4 responsive to the usual keys.

The particular machine shown is of the split or dual type such as used in places of business where transactions from two or more different departments of the business are recorded upon the same machine. It should be understood, however, that the invention is by no means limited to this split machine but may be used upon any machine of the general type referred to.

In the machine shown, several banks of amount keys l5 and iii are provided for recording transactions in two different departments of a business and may be separated by a bank of code keys I! having letters or other designations thereon to indicate, for instance, the clerk makline 99,

similar parts disclosed in the patents above referred to.

ing the transaction. Additional banks of code keys may be added for any other indication or listing. If desired, another bank or banks of keys shown at I8 may be provided for indicating the goods sold in a transaction, although this in itself has no reference to the particular invention. However, the invention may be applied to such keys if it is desired to print the name of the goods with the total.

The usual total key I9 is provided and the charge and paid out keys are shown at and 2f respectively, although these two latter keys in themselves have no connection with the invention. The several type bars M are respectively responsive to the several banks of keys as in usual and well known manner.

The type bars l4 are each provided with a full set of figure, letter or special character type, and the different types are presented to the platen l2 by vertical movement of the bars in usual and well known manner. This vertical movement of the type bars is controlled by the same sliding rack bars 22 which serve for controlling the accumulator mechanism as in the manner The key stems 23 of the keys I5, l6, l1 and I8, as in usual practice cooperate as limiting stops for the rack bars 22, and the movement of the rack bars in one direction is accomplished by springs in a well known manner.

The stems 23 of all of the keys of each bank or set slide between latching devices comprising a pair of spring pressed swinging latching plates 24 and 25 which serve as a key lock and a rack lock respectively, as in usual and well known manner. As in common practice, these swinging plates are journaled at their upper edges in the corresponding end plates of the main frame of the machine and the effect of the usual springs thereon is to normally close the plates of each bar upon the corresponding key stems 23.

Each of the plates 25 is provided at one end with a depending leg 26 which normally extends in front of one of the usual shoulders upon the corresponding rack bar 22 but, as in usual manner, is moved laterally out of the path of said shoulder upon the swinging of the plate 25.

Each of the plates 24, on the other hand, is provided with a series of instanding fingers 27, for holding the keys in their depressed positions. As shown, notches 28 and 29 (Fig. 9) are formed in the key stems 23 and these notches register with the fingers 2'! in the depressed and elevated positions of the keys respectively, as in usual and well known practice. In order that each plate 24 will be swung outwardly against'the effort of the corresponding spring, upon the depression of any key l5, l6, II or it, in the corresponding row, the upper portion of each finger 2'! is formed with an inclined shoulder 30 for cam engagement with that part, as 3 l, of the key stem which separates the notches 28 and 29.

Similarly, each plate 25 is formed with a series of inturned fingers 32, which have cam engagement with the parts H of the key stems for swinging the plates 25 outwardly upon the depression of any key in the corresponding row. This construction provides that each rack bar 22 is released upon the depression of any key in the corresponding row, and also that the depression of any key serves to release any previously depressed key in the same row.

The machine may be actuated with the familiar form of forwardly swinging oscillating handle 33 retracted by a main spring. The handle 33 is 10- cated at one side of the machine and is fixed to one end of the main shaft 34. If desired, the main shaft may be operated by the usual motor button instead of the handle 33, as in ordinary practice. The main shaft extends transversely through the machine near its forward end and has the crank arms 35 fixed thereto at each side of the machine.

These crank arms serve for communicating motion through the link 35 and segment 31 to the control shaft 38, which extends transversely through the main frame near its rear end. In the particular form of construction illustrated in this application, the control shaft 38 has an oscillating movement similar to that of the main shaft 34.

In the form of machine illustrated, depression of the total key l9 serves both to release all of the rack bars 22 and to clear the keyboard by swinging of the key lock and rack lock plates 24 and 25 respectively. For this purpose a comb 39 extends transversely through the machine immediately in rear of the main frame. The teeth 49 of this comb serve as wedges for separating the plates 24 and 25 ofeach set.

To provide a support for the comb 39, its two ends 4! and 42 are turned forwardly and pivotally secured against the side frame as at 43 (Fig. 5) and at M (Fig. 6) respectively. The end 42 of this comb extends beyond the pivot 44, as shown in Fig. 6, into the path of a lug or stud 45 carried by the sliding plate 46, which is depressed by the total key I 9.

The comb 39 also serves for clearing the keyboard as the control shaft 38 approaches its position of rest after each operation. As shown, a pawl plate 41 (Fig. 5) is pivotally secured against the inturned end ll of the comb as at 48. The lower end of this pawl plate extends into the path of a stud 49, which is secured against the crank segment El upon the inside of the same. During the forward movement of the control shaft 38, the stud t9 lifts the pawl plate 41 without lifting the comb 39.

On the other hand, swinging of the pawl plate 41 in the other direction, independently of the comb 39, is prevented by providing the pawl plate with a projection 58 which extends over the pivot 43. As the disk segment 3'! approaches the limit of its return movement, the stud 49 accordingly serves to engage the lower end of the pawl plate 41 and lifts the comb 39 to clear the keyboard.

The machine as thus far described is of usual and well known construction of machines of this general type, and it will be seen that in such machines it is impossible to print the designations controlled by any of the keys upon the keyboard at the time a total is taken, because the depression of the total key, through the lug t5 and pivoted inturned end 42 of the comb, swings the comb upward, projecting the wedge-shaped teeth thereof between the lock plates 24 and 25, releasing all of the keys and rack bars.

The present invention contemplates the application to such a machine of means whereby a clerks or department letter or other designation, as controlled by the bank of code keys ll, may be printed at the time the total is taken so as to indicate the clerk or department making the transaction, or any other desired designation.

This is accomplished by rendering the comb 39 inoperative as to the particular bank or banks of keys desired when the total key is depressed, by permitting the comb to function as to that particular bank or banks of keys after the printing operation has been accomplished and as the main shaft and comb approach the normal position.

To accomplish this result, the tooth 40 of the comb, which cooperates with the lock plates of the bank of code keys IT, is cut away on the side toward the corresponding key lock plate 24. A bar 5| is mounted for sliding movement upon the comb 39, as by the studs 52 fixed upon the rear sideof the comb received in the elongated slots 53 in the sliding bar 5|.

A tooth 54, similar in shape to the cut away tooth 40, is formed upon the sliding bar 5| and adapted to normally overlap the cut away tooth 40' of the comb, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the

sliding bar being normally held in this relative position upon the comb as by the spring 55 connected to one end of the sliding bar 5| and to an adjacent portion of the frame of the machine.

A gravity cam plate 56 is pivoted as at 51 upon a bracket 58 fixed to the frame of the machine and located above the comb 39, this cam plate having an elongated slot 59 engaged by a stud 60 upon the bracket 58. The cam lug 6| upon the lower portion of the cam plate cooperates with the stud 62 upon the adjacent end of the sliding bar 5|.

As the key release comb 39 is raised, the stud 62 upon the sliding bar 5! engages the cam lug 6| of the gravity cam plate 56, swinging the cam plate upward and to the right without causing any operation of the sliding bar 5|. As the comb reaches its extreme height, the cam lug 6| will fall into place below the stud 62.

Assuming that a key in the bank I! and keys in any of the banks l6 may have been depressed before the operation of the comb, the parts will be in the position as seen in Fig. 2. Upon depression of the total key to move the comb into the position shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the lock plates 24 for all of the banks, excepting the bank of code keys will have been released by the corresponding teeth 40 of the comb on its upward movement, thus releasing any depressed keys in any banks excepting the bank ll.

The cut away tooth 40' of the comb, which cooperates with the lock plates in the bank I'l,

will not swing the corresponding lock plate 24 outward to release the depressed key in the bank H, as shown in Fig. 3. The operating handle 33 may be pulled forward and allowed to move back to its normal position, operating the machine to print the total and with it the code letter or designation of the depressed key I1, said key remaining in the depressed condition until the total key I9 is released, or the operating handle approaches the end of its return movement. It should be understood that the machine is provided with the usual mechanism for locking the total key l9, and for releasing the same at m) the end of a cycle, such mechanism being completely illustrated and described in Patent No. 1,306,112 for Adding machine, granted June 10, 1919 and Patent No. 1,336,840 for Listing machine, granted April 13, 1920 to Oliver D. Johantgen.

Upon the releasing of the total key, the spring 63 will pull the comb 39 into normal position. As the comb moves down, the stud 52 upon the sliding bar 5| will ride over the cam lug 6| upon the cam plate 56, sliding the bar 5| to the left against the pull of the spring 55, as shown in Fig. 4, the finger 54 upon said bar engaging the lock plate 24 of the bank releasing the same and permitting the depressed key ll to return to normal position, all as shown in Fig. 4.

As the comb 39 moves further downward to its normal position, the spring 55 will pull the sliding bar 5|" back to the position shown in Fig. 2, moving the finger 54 of said sliding bar over the cut away finger 40 of the comb.

. It will thus be seen that code letters or designations upon any bank or banks of the keys may be printed with the total, thus accomplishing a result which cannot possibly be obtained on machines of this general type such as are at present in general use.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class referred to, key stems of rows of keys, a pair of swinging lock plates between which each row of key stems slide, cooperating cam lugs and shoulders on the plates and key stems, a comb having wedge teeth movable between the plates for separating them to release the key stems, a total key, means operated by the depressing of the total key to operate said comb to release the key stems, one of said wedge teeth being cut away to prevent release of the corresponding row of key stems when the total key is depressed, a tooth movably mounted upon said comb, and means for operating said movable tooth for releasing said row of key stems when the total key returns to normal position.

2. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys, latching devices one in each bank adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, means cooperating with latching devices of certain orders to release the keys thereof, means cooperating with the latching device of one order to release the keys thereof, and a total key adapted to operate both said means, said first means being effective on the downward stroke of the total key, and said second means on the upward stroke thereof.

3. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys, latching devices one in each bank adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, means cooperating with latching devices of certain orders to release the keys thereof, means cooperating with the latching device of one order to release the keys thereof, a total key for control of total printing adapted to be depressed at the beginning of a cycle and returned to normal substantially at the end of a cycle, and a member associated with said total key and adapted to operate both said means, said first means being elfective on the downward stroke of the total key, and said second means on the upward stroke thereof.

4. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys having stems, a pair of latching plates between which each row of key stems slide, adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, means cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release the keys thereof, means cooperating with the latching plates of one order to release the keys thereof, and a total key adapted to operate both said means, said first means being effective on the downward stroke of the total key, and said second means on the upward stroke thereof.

5. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys having stems, latching plates adjacent to which each row of key stems slide adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having teeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release the keys thereof, a tooth upon said comb cooperating with the latching plate of one order, a gravity cam cooperating with said last tooth to release the keys of said one order, and a total key adapted to operate said comb, said first teeth being effective on the downward stroke of said total key, and said last tooth on the upward stroke thereof.

6. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys having stems, swinging latching plates adjacent to which each row of key stems slide adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having teeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release the keys thereof, a tooth upon said comb cooperating with the latching plate of one order, a gravity cam cooperating with said last tooth to release the keys of said one order, and a total key adapted to operate said comb, said first teeth being effective on the downward stroke of said total key, and said last tooth on the upward stroke thereof.

'7. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys having stems, latching plates adjacent to which each row of key stems slide adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having fixed teeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release the keys thereof, a movable tooth upon said comb cooperating with the latching plate of one order,

a gravity cam cooperating with said last tooth to release the keys of said one order, and a total key adapted to operate said comb, said fixed teeth being eifective on the downward stroke of said total key, and said movable tooth on the upward stroke thereof.

8. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys having stems, latching plates adjacent to which key stems of each row slide adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having fixed teeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release the keys thereof, a sliding bar upon said comb, a tooth upon said sliding bar cooperating with a latching plate of one order to release the keys thereof, a gravity cam plate cooperating with said sliding bar, and a total key adapted to operate said comb, said fixed teeth being effective on the downward stroke of said total key, and saidgtooth upon the sliding bar being rendered efiective by said cam plate on the upward stroke thereof.

HAROLD W. CLARK.

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