US2599257A - heitlinger - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1952I E. v. HEITLINGER 2,599,257

SPLITl ACCUMULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 1l, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 3, 1952 E; v. HEITLINGER 2,599,257

A SPLIT vACCUMULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. ll, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll INVENTOR. ugelze U. Hez'lyer E. v; Hel-musea 2,599,257

SPLIT ACCUMULATOR MECHNISM June 3, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. l1, 1951 A@ ma! e. www W/m wm g ,w Jc m ,ma mi B atented June 3, 1-95 a1-rant Manufacturing-113911111111117, 'Ghigo,"fll1., allem-poration of: Illinois returned to zero kposition upon-operation of "the Lsltionfandwithout'reqired further actuation 'of l -the Zeroiaing fhandle.

"ioeoselectiv, vico-rable mrsrferfeldio'fin this i prior-1f machine comprises i ajnrinallyf inoperative" oet-entrever mounted "at "its 4iowerfomi 'in' each "of 'certain'v denominationalf orders at vvthe 'fronti of'l the accumulator, by means J of s`pacer "collars`- 'disposed on 'a transverse L "tierod `land "having a' 'rearwardly extending'nfger at` `its upper end springiirged toward its dperativetposition "in" which "it willA heA engage'cl i by the "associated carrying spring Winding `rgear as 'j the Alatter is detrainedfro'm its" actuating gearj' during "a 'zero- "izngfp'eration to'prevent'return offthe` o 'eia'ted numeral 'Wheel' to'zero. lhis ls'elel'ztive fmanslsoiincldesiafnattedtrn fe'angagingL a 'centralpc'irt'i'on` of suonA detent levers to "riornfially"vv retain the `same*in"inop'eratvef position.' 'and a 'control' meinbermanoally"movable cooperativepositionitorotate the shaft to permit spring movement 'ofthe 'detent'levers 'to' operative position and' releasable" forfrfeturn 'intonormal position blya spring whichfjals'o rotatesfthegshaft to return j thev detent levers to their "normal in- 'operative "position,

"A prixieipall-bject"of ithein'stantinvention-- .Another importa-nt;V` object `iofi--ths'iinylention is `to l -m aintain i.proper'horizontalSalignrxientiofL the `-previo1isly actuated numeralllwheelsofv theoseond portion a of ;.thef.';accumu1ator with their sight openings rin the veasing; offgsuchgairnachine: :when .aofo'zeroizing'v operationv s.-effoecled wit h Split accumulator :mechanism f operativeV 5to f. prevent "their return to zero position.

i 'Each dot-eno rev-erano'- ispr'ovid'ealwioh "deten't levers infrespons'-t Wai-dende `of 4"their springs; al-tlioiigh the These objeots'are attained -by mounting a nor- -mally inoperative 'detentlevenassemblage each vdesired denominational yo 1der.of,tne machine lon Yan existing transverse Yshaft by means of; -hb portionvvhich is secured to the:detentlever ands prevented from :lateral displacement linthe'fnia- Wardly extending tail piece overlying shaft. This shaft is somewhat-sii'ilar irith'eprior machinejreferredtoibut isi-ro tbly coi'itr'olledv by a" manually* operable veoht'rl inember ofsriplified `'construction Ereci ringnoladvditional parts :to be incorporated 1 heregiilar machine oftms #typefror onglme same. "In"normalfpostionyjthe inai diameter 'fr this shaft prevents lifting of f th forvv'ardiendsfofthe eines @r ;tries@ideen-,sonrie` 'are @i1-Way or compressed fini-"response -to operatie however A are so' "shaped" Land-f disposed rel-ativeto?l Vthe deas to engage theflattei" tipreventreturn` thereof lifted during a zeroizing operation. The forward ends of the detent levers prevent any movement of the associated previously actuated numeral wheels from their actuated and properly horizontally aligned positions by engaging the rear surfaces of the adjacent numeral wheel gear teeth with a complementally shaped cam surface formed thereon. Each carrying spring in a, machine of this type tends to rotate its numeral wheel gear toward this cam surface on the forward end of the associated detent lever during zeroizing, so that return of the numeral wheel to zero position is positively prevented. Blocking of normal zeroizing action by engaging the carrying spring winding gear, as is done in the prior machine referred to, permits a certain amount of movement of the numeral wheel out of horizontal alignment with its sight opening in the machine casing because of the normal backlash in the numeral wheel gear train. The instant detent levers, however, prevent such horizontal misalignment of the numeral wheels with sight apertures, since they engage the numeral wheel gears directly to eliminate such backlash effect thereon.

Thus it will be seen that the previously recited objects of this invention are attained by means of these several structural improvements over the mechanism of the referenced prior machine.

Functionally, the difference between the instant .3:

mechanism and that of the prior machine referred to is that the detent levers herein are moved to operative position by the zeroizing handle, rather than being spring-actuated to active position in response to manual setting 2 of the control member to operative position; these instant detent levers cooperate directly with their denominationally associated numeral Wheel gears (which are rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft), rather than being engaged by when taken in connection with the accompany- A ing drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment seen from the right side of the machine and with parts thereof broken away to disclose the zeroizing handle and the mechanism actuated thereby and the selectively operable control member for the split accumulator mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section through the machine, as viewed from the left side thereof, showing a portion of the split accumulator mechanism, including one of the detent levers disposed in normal inoperative position and the means for moving the same to operative position in response to actuation of the zeroizing handle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section similar to Fig. 2, showing one of the detent levers restrained in inoperative position after actuation of the zeroizing handle;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the detent lever moved to operative position;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of one of the detent lever assemblages;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the detent lever assemblage of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the detent lever assemblages; and

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the front portion of the machine, with the casing and most of the other mechanism omitted to facilitate illustration of the instant split accumulator mechanism, and showing the manual control member in horizontal section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the instant embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration as being in` corporated in a calculating machine of the type commonly known as a Comptometer more specifically disclosed in the co-pending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 744,984, filed April 30, 1947, and Patents No. 2,346,601, issued April 11, 1944, and No. 1,357,748, issued November 2, 1920. As the details of construction of this type of machine readily may be understood from these patents, a brief description of the general features thereof, and more specific explanation of such parts as are directly concerned with the operation of the present improvements, are thought to be sufficient for a complete understanding of the instant invention. The machines of the referenced patents are of the key-driven type, but it wil1 also be appreciated that the instant invention likewise may be incorporated in similar key-responsive machines which embody the same type of zeroizing mechanism, such as that illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,063,962, issued December l5, 1936.

As disclosed in these referenced patents, the various instrumentalities of the calculating machine are disposed within a suitable casing 2| and are supported by a frame consisting essentially of side skeleton plates 22 and intermediate skeleton plates 23 (Fig. 8) disposed between the various mechanisms of the several denominational orders of the machine and secured together by suitable transverse tie-rods. For convenience, the same reference characters will be employed hereinafter as are used in the referenced prior application and Patents No. 1,357,748 and No. 2,346,601 for designating similar parts of the machine. A number of columns of nine digit keys each are provided, each key of which is indicated by reference numeral 25, and accumulator mechanism is mounted at the forward end of the machine which includes a transmitting pinion or gear 3i (Fig. 2) rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 30, in turn journaled in the several skeleton frame plates 23, a carrying spring winding gear' 32 normally in mesh with the transmitting gear 3| and rotatable on a transverse shaft 33, an intermediate gear 34 rotatable on a transverse shaft 35 and in mesh with the carrying gear 32, and a numeral wheel gear 3B in each denominational order operable in response to actuation of the digit keys 25 in the associated order through the agency of a column actuator and said train of gearing which is interposed between the latter and the numeral wheel gear. Each numeral wheel gear 36 (Figs. 2 and 8) is rotatably mounted upon a stationary transverse shaft 3l and secured to an associated numeral wheel 38. The column actuator mechanism and these numeral wheels for each denominational order are disposed in well-known manner between the several intermediate frame skeleton plates 23, and the said numeral wheel driving gear train is interposed between each numeral' wheel gearv 3.8 and its column actuator and, is adapted to'be detrained from; the. :latter to effect return of the actuated numeral' wheels to zero position. Each of these numeral wheel driving gear trains includes the windingfgear 32 for a carrying spring which is tensioned Vthereby during accumulative lactuation Ato veffect tens transferring operations, and shaft 33 yfor the gears 32 is supported in an auxiliary frame mechanism, pivotally mounted at the front ofthe machine on the transverse shaft 35 :for slight forward swinging movement to effect disengagement of these carrying spring winding gears 32 Vfrom their transmitting pinions 3|. `Such detraining movement ofthe swinging `frame isfaccornplished A byforward .movement of la zeroizing lever or handle 1| (Fig. 1), which Dermitsthe carrying springs 'toreturn their associated numeral wheels to zerov position.

This zeroizinglever or handle 1| is pivoted at its transverse shaft 13 that is journalled in the skeleton frame members. The arm 11 is provided with a transversely extending face 19v adapted to engage a second arm 80 secured to the shaft 18. When these parts are in theirr normal positions of Fig. l, a short swinging movement of the Zercizing handle 1| forwardly (to the left therein) thus will impart a rocking movement to the shaft 18 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in this gure. Additional rocker arms 8| (Fig. 2) are fixed in spaced relationship to each other on the transverse shaft 1B for rotation therewith. These rocker arms 8| are pivotally connected with curved links 82 having slotted shifting pivots upon a transverse shaft 83 extending through the skeleton frame members. The rocking movement imparted to the shaft 18 by the above-described forward swinging of zeroizing handle 1| will be in a clockwise direction from the normal position illustrated in Fig. 2, and the resulting forward movement of the curved links 82 (to the right in Fig. 2) eects the detraining movement of the swinging frame previously described to disengage the gears 32 from the pinions 3| to accomplish a Zeroizing of the accumulator, as fully set `forth in the referenced patents. lt should be noted that the swinging frame carrying the carrying spring winding gears 32 remains in such forward position following release of the zeroizing handle 1| to maintain the numeral wheel driving gear trains detrained from their actuating mechanisms until a digit key 25 subsequently is actuated. All of the mechanism above referred to is old and well known in this type of calculating machine, and some further additional old mechanism will now be described which is incorporated in the machine disclosed in said Patent No. 2,346,601, the following reference numerals being the same as those employed therein for designating similar parts.

This latter patent illustrates significant-digit indicating means incorporated in such a calculating machine, a portion of which is employed herein to actuate the instant split accumulator mechanism. As also illustrated in thispatent, the

casing 2 |y of the machine isprovided above. and

in Atransverse1 alignment with, each lof the' :nu-f4 meralzwheels 38 with.anumeral` wheel'sightaperture |39 (Fig. l). IAsshown'in Fig. 2, a linl -|f11| and' a three-armed bell `crank lever |12 f-.arefoperatively connected with each of the rocker arms.

on=a transverse rod 5| 11 whichiextends acrossfthe.

machine through :suitable enlargedfaperturesfin the skeleton framefplates; 23 adjacent .and .behind the Vnumeral wheels 38. The rod |11is .swin'gabiy suspended from the numeral wheel shaftz31 by curved levers|18 which are'pivotally connected at their lower endsV to the rod |11 and rotatably mounted at their upper ends on the shaftg31. Clockwise rotation of the rocker .arms 8| from. their normal position of Fig. 2 in response telforward swinging ,of the .zeroizing handle 1|,.as .previously described, will result inv counterclcckwise rotation ofthe bell crank levers |12 .aboutvthe shaft 83 to lower the links |16 from their vnormal position of Fig. 2 which, in turn, will swingthe. rod |11 to the full line position of Figs. 3 and 4, since this rod is supported for arcuate movement by the levers |18 suspended from vthe"'numeral wheel shaft 31. In Patent No. 2,346,601 this forward swinging movement of rod |11 is employed to reset the significant-digit indicating members therein illustrated, but the latter are not shown herein since they form no part of the instant invention. However, this forward swinging of' rod |11 in response to actuation of the zeroizing Ahandle 1| is employed to actuatethesplit accumulator mechanism presently to be described.

The instantinvention comprises the addition to the calculating machine. such as that abovedescribed, of means selectively operable to prevent clearing of some of the numeral wheels 33 upon subsequent operation of the zeroizing handle 1|, so that any values contained in such num.- eral-w'heels will be retained therein while the other numeral wheels inthe accumulator will be returned to Zero position. This means-includes a `zeroizing control number or key 36| (Figs. 1 and 8) located in the lower right-hand portion of the machine, extending downwardly through a suitable slot in the casing 2|, and pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of a forwardly extending lever 382. A spring is connected at its lower end to the rearward portion of this lever 302 and at its upper end to an auxiliary side plate 39.4 Iwhich is old in the machine, and the.` rear end of the lever 302 is pivotally mounted uponthe transverse shaft 8,3, so that the spring 33 normally maintains the control member .138| in its upper, full lineposition of Fig-1. The forward end of lever 332 is maintained on the shaft 83 by means of a suitable U-shaped retaining clip 385, the outer leg of which engages the lever 302,*while its inner Vleg engages the inner surface of an adjacent portion of the right-hand main side framev 22 (Fig.8). the transverse lportion of this -clip extending through a suitableV cutout portion of .the frame plate. -Thefupper enduof the zeroizing-control 7 member is provided with a suitable iinger button 303 which is aligned longitudinally of the machine with the similar linger button provided on the zeroizing crank 1I to facilitate serial or simultaneous operation of these two control members 30| and 1|. The stem of control key 30| is provided interiorly of the casing of the machine with a forwardly extending recessed lug 301 (Fig. 1), and is cut away on its rear edge to define a rearwardly extending horizontal should- 1 er or shelf 308. A crank arm 300 disposed adjacent the outer surface of the control key 30| is provided with an inwardly extending finger on its rear end which rests upon, and is lsupported by, the shoulder or shelf 308. The forward end of this crank arm 309 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the righthand outer end of a flatted transverse control shaft 3|| journalled in suitable apertures provided in the several skeleton frame plates 22 and 23. The left end of this transverse shaft 3I| (Fig. 8) is provided with a suitable slot for engagement by a spring washer or clip 3|2 which also engages the outer face of the left-hand side frame 22 to retain the shaft 3| I, together Iwith the crank arm 309, in assembled position. The right hand end portion of this shaft 3|| extends through the apertured lug 301 of the control member 30|, normally engaging a lower, rearward portion 3|3 of the aperture or movementlimiting recess in this lug (Fig. 1) which comprises a vertical slot for limiting upward movement of the control member 30| by its spring 303. The forward portion of the aperture in the lug 301 comprises a recess 3|4 communicating with the vertical slot portion 3|3 and shaped at its lower edge to engage the shaft 3H to retain the control member in its operative, broken line position of Fig. l, when the control member is depressed manually against the action of spring 303 and urged rearwardly to such operative position.

The instant split accumulator mechanism also comprises a plurality of detent lever assemblages, each indicated generally by reference numeral 3|5, mounted respectively in selected denominational orders of the machine (herein illustrated as those at the left side thereof) on a transverse shaft SIS which extends through, and is journalled in, suitable apertures provided in the skeleton frame plates 22-23 (Fig. 8). Referring more particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, each detent lever assemblage 3 5 comprises a main body portion 311 terminating at its lateral ends in a pair of downwardly bent ears 3| 3 which are spaced in parallel relationship from each other a distance equal to that obtaining between the adjacent auxiliary frame plates 23 so as to be slidable between the latter and prevented thereby from shifting movement transversely of the machine. Extending between, and supported at its opposite ends by, these ears 3|8 is a tubular hub portion 3|9 which extends through suitable apertures provided in the ears 3|8 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. The main portion of a coiled spring 32| is wound upon this tubular hub portion 3|9, with the right-hand end 322 of the spring engaging against the under surface of the transverse part of the main body portion 3|1. The left-hand end 323 of the spring 32| extends forwardly from the hub 3|9 and is maintained longitudinally spaced from the lefthand ear 3|8 by a suitable ring or spacer washer 324 mounted on the tubular hub 3|9. It will be understood that the spring 32| and the ring 324 are slidably mounted upon the liub 3|9, and it is preferred that the hub 3I9 have a relatively tight sliding iit in the apertures in the ears 3|8 to provide a unitary assemblage that still may be disassembled, if necessary. without requiring any special equipment. The main body portion 3|1 is provided with a rearwardly and slightly downwardly extending finger 325 and a forward extension 326 formed integrally therewith in alignment with each other. The under surface of this forward extension 326 is provided with a slot 321 milled, stamped or otherwise suitably formed therein and of suiiicient width to accommodate a central portion of the left-hand end extension 323 of the spring 32| to maintain this part of the spring in longitudinal alignment and engagement with the forward extension 32B of the detent lever assemblage. The extension 326 of the detent lever terminates at its forward end in an upturned nose 323 having an angularly disposed cam surface 329 (Fig. 3) at its forward outer edge. The left-hand end portion 323 of the coiled spring 32| is reversely bent forwardly and downwardly from its point of engagement in the aligning slot 321 and terminates at a point spaced forwardly from the forward end or nose 328 of the detent lever.

As best seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 8, the tubular hub portion 3|9 of each of these detent lever assemblages 3|5 is pivotally mounted upon the transverse shaft Slt and the forwardly extending end 323 of the coiled spring 32| rests upon the transverse rod 111, the rod normally engaging that portion of this forward extension of the spring which is disposed in the slot 321 just rearwardly of its reversely bent 'terminal portion (Fig. 2). in such normal or inoperative position, the rearward extension or finger 325 of each detent lever overlies, and is slightly spaced upwardy from, the transverse control shaft 3| I. This control shaft 3 is provided with a flatted portion 33| extending throughout its length which is normally disposed in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when the selectively operable i control member 30| is in its normal, full line position of Fig. 1. The shaft 3| I also is provided adjacent the right-hand skeleton frame plate 22 (Fig. 8) with an annular groove 332 to provide clearance for the swinging movement of the upper portion of the Zeroizing lever 14.

The several parts of the instant split accumulator mechanism above described and designated by reference numerals 30|, 302, 303, 309, 3|| and 3|5 correspond generally in function to the parts identified, respectively, in application Serial No. '744,984 referred to by reference numerals 20|, 202, 233, 203, 2|| and 2|5.

The operation of the instant split accumulator mechanism is as follows. With the selectively operable manual control member 30| in its normal, full line position of Fig. 1, the crank arm 339 has its inwardly extending rearward end resting upon the shoulder 300 to maintain the transverse control shaft in its position of Figs. 2 and 3. Downward and rearward swinging movement of the upper end of this zeroizing control member 30| to its operative, broken line position of Fig. 1 against the action of spring 303 will result in the rearward end of crank arm 309 being lowered to its broken line position of Fig. l, and such movement of crank arm 309 results in the flatted portion 33| assuming a horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Subsequent forward swinging of the zeroizing crank or handle 1| from its normal position of Fig. 1, as

,g previously described, will swing the transverse rodl 'Y |'|1 from-itsncrmal position,- as shovn in Fig'. 2 an'dinbroken lines in Fig. 3, tothe opera'- tive? position illustrated in full Vlines in Figs. 3 and* 421-' As vhasv als'oepre'viou'sly been described, thisfcontrol rod H7 remains in such vforward operativepsition upon release ofA the zeroizing handle f1!" and returnthereof to its' normal positioniofllfigfl and until any one of the digit keys subsequently is depressed to eiect an accu- 'mulative'actuation Movement of the transverse cntrol--rod romits normal or inoperative p''sition to' itsy forward, operative position of Fig. 4"thuswill-result inlif-ting of the Vforward nose nds732'81of all-ofthe detent levers 315 into Vengagement with-an adjacent tooth'eoi Vthe assoelatedV numeral wheelgears through the agency :of theforwardly extending ends 323 of thecoiled springs 32| of the several detent lever assemblages. However, if-th'e transverse control shaft 3|| is disposedin its normal position ci Fig: 3` when'such' actuation of thezerciz-ing handle f'H is effected, the resulting lforward swinging of the Vtransverse rod |11 fromVV its broken line to its full line position of Fig.- 3 will result only in tensioning or liftingA of the nforwardly extending ends 323 of the several detent lever springs 32|, since engagement of the detent levers with their numeral Wheel gears 35 will be prevented by contact of the rearwardly extending-fingers 325 of the detentflevers rwith the outer diameter of the transverse control shaft 3| l, as shown in this figure. In other words, each time that'the zeroizing handle 1| is actuated to effect zeroizing of the accumulator, all numeralv wheels in those denominational orders having no detent lever 3|5 will be returned to' zero position; and whether orr not the numeral wheels 33 willbe returned to-zero in-those denominational orders of-theaccumulator in which detentlevers 3|5 are provided, will depend upon the position in which the-zeroizing control member 38| is disposed. AIr" this control member 39| is in its normaliull line position of Figi, the numeral wheels in allorders oftheaccumulator will be/zeroized. l-lowever, n

the control member 38| isin its operative, broken line' positionof Fig. 1, the detent levers 3|5 will be movedto their blocking position of Fig. '4 and retained-therein to prevent return of their associated -numeral wheels 38' to zero position.

Following operation of the' zeroizing crank 1| with the control member 33| in its operative, broken line position of; Fig. lfdepression of any oneofthe digit-keys 25 will eiiect re-engagement otalliofv the numeral wheel gear trainswith-their column actuators and lreturn of thetransverse rod-|11- rearwardlyl to its normalinoperative position of Fig. 2.v Thisvwill enable the several detent levers 3 5 to be returned by ,gravity to their normal inoperative positionsn of Fig. 2, and 'subsequent actuations of zercizing handle 'H similarly will effect, or not eiiect, zeroizing of the numeral'- wheels in those orders in whichr detent levers 3|5 are disposed,depending upon-fthe particular setting of the zeroizing control member` 30|.

- It may be: that an operator, after -having zeroizedthesrigh-t-hand portion of the accumulator While preventing-return of the numeral Wheels in lthe left-handl-portion thereof to zero position,-

'will desire to zeroize these latternumeral/Wheels, and such may be accomplishedv merely by manually returning the control member Si?! from its broken -linew to its full line position of- Fig. 1. 'rnis-wiii-permit the spring ece to lift-'the rear getogen 10 end v'oi crank arm 339 yfrom its positionof Fig;- i toits-psition'of Fig. 3. The spring 303 is of sufficient strength to overcome the several springs 32|, so thatv vsuch lifting of the rear end'of crank arm' 359 Will cam the tail pieces 3275 Of all Of th detent levers 3|5 upwardly to move the latter 'to theirposition cf Fig. 3 to disengage the Vdete'nt noses-328 from their `associated numeral wheel gears '36. The carrying springs in thesedenmlnational ordersv of the accumulator Will thereby be permitted to return their respective numeral wheels to zero position.

It is thought that the functional differens and advantages of Vthe instant mechanismovei' that disclosed in application Serial No. '744,984 referred `to will be fully appreciated vfrom the `pre-- ceding description. The structural differences and-advantages of the instant mechanism'o'vr that disclosed in said application are maniioldf. It is extremely desirable to loe-able to add the* in?i stant split 'accumulator' mechanism to 'anyfdesired denominational orders of an otherwiseco'm plete calculating machine of the present type. This is al-simple matter with the present mechanism, since'itis necessary only to incorporate in the regular machine suitable apertures in the frame plates 22 and -`23 for receiving the trar'isvh verse shaft 3| Such a machine thereafter may be converted to employ the instant split accumulator mechanism in any desired denominational orders merely by removing the casing VV2|, ins"ert ing the transverse control shaft 3i l, mountingit's manually operaJoleV control members 30|^l23f3, 3|35-39, andpartially removing the shaft 315 andv slidably replacing it `in the machine lWhile serially placing detent lever assemblages 3|5 thereon between the auxiliary skeleton frame plates 23 confining such desired denominational orders of the accumulator. It will be understd, of course, that the simplied construction of the members for controlling the position Vof the shaft 3|I, such as keyill, not only facilitatesV the mounting thereof in a standard machine of vthis typefbut also the manufacture of these parts. The latter advantage results frornth'e design of these parts requiring only simple stamping oper*- ations for their manufacture. And the mounting ofY a spring 32| as part of each detent lever as'- semblage 3|5 eliminates the necessity of inde'- pendently mounting such springs inthe machine and insures retention of these springs in proper operative relationship at all times. Also, since the flatted portion 33| extends substantially the full lengtlfi'ofv controlfshait 3| thefdetentlever assemblages3l5 may be mounted Yin-anydesired order Vor orders of the machine.

Theadditional featureprovided by the instant split accumulator mechanism of insuring proper horizontal alignment of the indicating indicia on the nonezeroized numeral Wheelsl V33 with their sight apertures |39 in the machine casing after the remaining numeral wheels have been zeroized is extremely important. As previously mentioned,- engagement of Suitable members sim-- ilar to the present detent levers 3|5 withany members of the numeral wheel gear trainssich as' theV carrying spring winding gears 32 in "the desired denominational orders,V in' which rzer`o`- izing of the numeral wheels is to be prevented upon actuation ofthe zeroizing crank "Hf, other than the numeral wheel gears 33, will result/in the previously actuated numeral wheels becoming misaligned horizontally with their sight apertures |39 by virtue of the normal backlash-in such numeral wheel gear trains permitting-a slight rotational movement of the numeral wheels by their carrying springs. While such partial rotation of the numeral wheels due to backlash in the numeral wheel gear trains is very short in angular displacement of the numeral wheel gears 36, being substantially less than the width of one of the teeth of such gears, it is amplified in effect of resulting misalignment of the indicia on the numeral wheels relative to the lower edges of the sight apertures |39 because of the dinerence in diameters between the numeral wheels 38 and their gears 3G. Such misaligned position of a numeral wheel is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the numeral Wheel gear 35 has been over-rotated in a clockwise direction an arcuate distance of slightly less than that subtended by one of the teeth of this gear. It is true that the numeral wheels will assume such misaligned position when zeroized, and it is the zero position of the numeral wheel which is illustrated in Fig. 3. but such is of no importance because a machine operator is not required to scan the accumulator for an answer or result when the same has been zeroized. However, the operator is required to scan the accumulator to determine the accumulated values indicated in those denominational orders in which detent levers 3|5 have been rendered effective following manipulation of the zeroizing crank 1|. Therefore, the upper edge of the nose 328 of detent lever 3|5 is provided with the cam surface 329 previously described which is so disposed relative to the associa-ted numeral wheel gear 35 that upward movement of this forward end of the detent lever from its position of Fig. 3 into engagement with the associated numeral wheel gear 36, as illustrated in Fig. 4, will impart a partial rotation to the numeral wheel gear in a counterclockwise direction sufficient to overcome the abovedescribed partial rotation in a clockwise direction by the carrying spring due to the backlash in the associated gear train. It will be understood, of course, that the above discussion is primarily only explanatory in nature, since during normal operation of the detent levers 3|5 the upper edge portions of the cam surfaces 329 will become engaged with their associated numeral wheel gears 36 prior to complete disengagement of the carrying spring winding gears 32 from their pinions 3|. But for this design of the nose portions of the detent levers 3|5 and their engagement directly with the numeral wheel gears 36, such misalignment of the indicia on the previously actuated numeral wheels would require downward lengthening of the sight openings |39 in the casing of the machine, in order to enable an operator accurately to scan those numeral wheels following a zeroizing of the other denominational orders of the accumulator not having the detent levers 3|5. The instant mechanism, however, assures proper horizontal alignment of the numeral wheel indicia in those orders in which the detent levers 3|5 have been operatively actuated, maintaining the same alignment relative to the sight apertures |39 as obtained just prior to actuation of zeroizing handle 7|.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a multidenominational order accumulator with a vnu.- meral wheel, a numeral wheel driving gear train and a carrying spring in each order, an actuator for said accumulator including a transmitting gear normally in mesh with each said gear train. and zeroizing means selectively operable manually to detrain said gear trains from said trans'- mitting gears to permit said carrying springs to return the actuated said numeral wheels to zero position to clear said accumulator; means for splitting said accumulator to prevent clearing of said numeral wheels in certain denominational orders, comprising detent means mounted in each of said certain orders, means operable by said zeroizing means to move said. detent means into engagement with their associated said gear trains as the same are so detrained, and control means normally disposed in operative position to block such movement of said detent means by said last means and selectively movable manually to inoperative position to enable such gear train engaging movement oi said detent means by said zeroizing means.

2. In a calculating machine having a multidenominational order accumulator with a numeral wheel, a numeral wheel gear, a carrying spring and a carrying spring winding gear meshing with said numeral wheel gear in each order, an actuator for said accumulator' including a transmitting gear normally in mesh With each said Winding gear, and zeroizing means selectively operable to detrain said winding and transmitting gears to permit said carrying springs to return the actuated said numeral wheels to zero position to clear said accumulator; means for splitting said accumulator to prevent clearing of said numeral wheels in certain denominational orders, comprising a detent lever assemblage mounted in each of said certain orders, means operable in response to operation of said zeroizing means for moving said detent lever assemblages into engagement with their associated said numeral wheel gears, and control means normally disposed in operative position to block such movement of said detent lever assemblages by said last means and selectively operable manually to inoperative position to enable such movement of said detent lever assemblages into engagement with said numeral wheel gears in respense to operation of said zeroizing means.

3. A calculating machine according to claim 2, wherein each said detent lever assemblage comprises a pivotally mounted detent lever having one end. disposed for swinging movement into engagement with its associated said numeral Wheel gear, and a coil spring secured thereto and having one end spaced therefrom for engagement by said detent lever assemblage moving means.

4. A calculating machine according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises a shaft mounted transversely of the machine for engagement by a rear end of each of said detent levers and having a fiatted portion alignable with said rear ends of said detent levers by rotation of said shaft, and a zeroizing control key manually operable to eiect rotation of said shaft to selectively dispose the same in blocking or unblocking position relative to said rear ends of said detent levers.

5. In a calculating machine having a multidenominational order accumulator with a numeral Wheel, a numeral wheel driving gear train and a carrying spring in each order, laterally 13 spaced frame plates separating adjacent said orders and having transversely aligned apertures therein, a transverse shaft extending through certain of said apertures, an actuator for said accumulator including an actuating gear normally engaged with each said gear train, and zeroizing means selectively operable to detrain said actuating gears and said gear trains to permit said carrying springs to return the actuated said numeral wheels to zero position to clear said accumulator and including a transversely extending control rod; means readily mountable in said machine to enable selective splitting of said accumulator to prevent clearing of said numeral Wheels in certain denominational orders in respense to operation of said zeroizing means, comprising a flatted control shaft insertable transversely of the machine through certain of said apertures in said frame plates in adjacent parallel relationship to said transverse shaft and having a crank arm mounted on one end thereof, a selectively movable control member mountable on a said frame plate for engaging said crank arm to maintain said control shaft in operative cr inoperative position, and a unitary detent lever assemblage mountable on said transverse shaft in each of said certain orders, comprising a detent lever having a hub portion rotatable on saidl transverse shaft and engageable with adjacent said frame plates to limit movement longitudinally of the shaft, a first end portion engageable with the denominationally associated said gear train, and a second end portion engageable with said control shaft, and a coil spring mounted on said hub portion and having one end engaging said first end portion of said detent lever and terminating in a curved portion spaced from said detent lever and engageable with said control rod.

6. A calculating machine according to claim 5, wherein said control member comprises a key stem having a movement-limiting recess surrounding said control shaft and a shoulder engaging said crank arm, and a spring for normally maintaining said key stem in a raised position to retain said control shaft in operative position and operable to retain said key stem in a depressed position by maintaining a portion of said recess engaged with said control shaft to maintain the latter in inoperative position to which it is rotated in response to depression of said control key.

7. In a calculating machine having a multidenominational order accumulator, means for zeroizing said accumulator, and selectively operable means for preventing zeroizing of certain of said denominational orders of said accumulator; a unitary detent lever assemblage mounted in each of said certain denominational orders as part of said selectively operable means, comprising a detent lever having a substantially U-shaped main body portion terminating in laterally spaced legs, a hub comprising a tubular member spaced from said main body portion and supported at its opposite ends by said legs, said main body portion having a rearwardly extending linger and a forwardly extending arm formed integrally therewith, and a coil spring mounted on and surrounding said tubular member and having a first end engaging said main body portion and a second end engaging said forwardly extending arm and terminating in a bent portion spaced from said detent lever.

8. A detent lever assemblage according to claim '7, including a spacer member interposed between said second end of said coil spring and the adjacent said leg of said detent lever to maintain said spring on said tubular member with said second end in longitudinal alignment with said forwardly extending arm.

9. A detent lever assemblage according to claim 8, wherein said forwardly extending arm is provided with a recess in that surface thereof adjacent said hub portion for receiving that portion of said second end of said spring engaging said arm to prevent lateral shifting of said second end of said spring relative to said arm.

l0. In a calculating machine having a multidenominational order accumulator with an indicia-bearing numeral wheel, a numeral wheel gear, a carrying spring and a carrying spring winding gear meshing with said numeral wheel gear in each order, an actuator for said accumulator including a transmitting gear normally in mesh with each said winding gear, a casing having a plurality of sight apertures each associated with a said numeral Wheel and so disposed as to be aligned horizontally with the indicia thereon upon actuation of said accumulator, and zeroizing means selectively operable to detrain said winding and transmitting gears to permit said carrying springs to return the actuated said numeral wheels to zero position to clear said accumulator; means for splitting said accumulator to prevent clearing of said numeral wheels in certain denominational orders and for maintaining horizontal alignment between the indicia on said actuated numeral wheels in said certain orders and said sight apertures while preventing clearing of such wheels, comprising detent means mounted in each of said certain orders and including a pawl disposed adjacent the denorninationally associated said numeral wheel gear, means operable in response to operation of said zeroizing means for moving said pawls into engagement with their associated said numeral wheel gears to prevent movement of their numeral wheels relative to said sight apertures, due to such detraining of said winding and transmitting gears, and control means normally disposed in operative position to block such movement of said pawls by said last means and selectively movable to inoperative position to enable such movement of said pawls into engagement with said numeral Wheel gears in response to operation of said zeroizing means.

l1. A calculating machine according to claim 10, wherein the numeral wheel gear-engaging end of each of said pawls is provided with a cam surface opposing rotation of the associated said numeral wheel gears in the direction normally effected by said carrying springs in returning the same to zero position and operable to insure proper horizontal alignment of the numeral wheel indicia with said sight apertures in said certain orders following clearing of the remaining orders of said accumulator.

EUGENE V. HEITLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,016,276 Kilpatrick Feb. 6, 1912 1,326,504 Horton Dec. 30, 1919 2,060,704 Turck Nov. 10, 1936 2,095,368 Muller Oct. 12, 1937 2,422,103 Lambert June 10, 1947

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