US1261337A - Combined type-writing and computing machine. - Google Patents

Description

W. WRIGHT.

COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1912.- I

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. I912.

WITN ESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER WRIGHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD COMPUTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF YORK.

COMBINED TYPE-WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed April 2, 1912. Serial No. 688,014.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVALTER WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Xew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Type-Vriting and Computing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to computing machines, and is especially adapted to be used with combined typewriting and computing machines. It is herein illustrated substantially as an improvement on co-pending ap plications N0. 677,0l6, filed February 12, 1912 and No. 679,851, filed February 26, 1912.

In said applications, the numeral keys of a typewriter are disclosed as driving and locking a master wheel which operates scrim/m on computing wheels in a totalizer or register in a manner determined by the travel of the typewriter carriage.

In said applications the main drive shaft operating the master wheel is illustrated as normally free to revolve except for a universal lock which holds it. When a numeral key is operated, this universal lock is disabled, but at the same time, an individual key-operated lock is thrown in. This lock is shown as forming part of an intermediate driving unit; and this unit. comprising the lock and a gear associated with it positively locks or positively drives the main drive shaft until the key then moving has completed its operation of the computing mechanism.

. The numeral key in said applications op erates this driving and locking unit through a partly toothed segment, which segment always positively drives or positively locks said unit. Further, there are disclosed in said applications full stroke mechanism, so that it is impossible to incompletely operate a numeral key.

In the present invention a universal lock is preferably provided for the master wheel shaft which is positively moved into and out of operative position, and this is preferably accomplished by means of cams which form part of the above described unit comprising the gearwhich drives the main drive shaft.

Also means are preferably provided for positively locking the totalizer and the master wheel against transverse relative movement while the master wheel is being turned, and since the master wheel is preferably always held locked, the parts are preferably so arranged that either-the totalizer is locked against movement transverse to the master wheel, or else the master wheel itself is locked in its normal idle position. Positive means are also provided for releasing the lock.

In the applications aforesaid the master wheel shaft, as has been pointed out, is always either positively locked or positively driven by gears operated by the numeral keys. In the construction therein disclosed, when a full stroke mechanism is not employed, if a numeral key is pushed down far enough to unlock the locking and driving unitand rotate the master wheel, but not far enough to lock the unit again by its segment,if then the numeral key is allowed '.to rise again, the master wheel will be rotated backward to the same extent that it was rotated forward on the depression of the key.

In the present invention means are preferably provided for preventing this reverse movement of the master wheel, preferably by fixing a ratchet on the main drive shaft on which a pawl operates, so that it is impossible for the main drive shaft to rotate in the reverse direction. Owing to the fact that the numeral keys are positively geared to the main drive shaft when they move it, this ratchet will prevent a numeral key from being operated in the reverse direction until it has turned the master wheel to the proper extent. In other words, the pawl and ratchet constitute a full stroke device and may replace the ordinary fullstroke mechanisms.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a side view of an Underwood typewritin machine, showing my invention as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a totalizer and some of the driving parts.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the arrangement of parts in the successive positions of a numeral key, as it is being depressed.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of part of the gearing between a numeral key and the master wheel shaft,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view looking in the opposite direction of part of Fig. 7.

Numeral keys 1 and alphabet keys 2 depress levers 3 to operate bell cranks 1 to swing type bars 5 upwardly and rearwardly against a platen 6. Heels 7 on said type bars move a universal bar 8 to move dogs 9 to permit the carriage 10 carrying said platen 6 to be drawn forward in letter-feeding direction by a spring barrel 11. Said carriage moves along with it, by means of an arm 12 a totalizer or register 13 on a totalizer carriage 14, the latter riding on rollers 15 and 16 in each direction.

In said totalizer are number wheels 17 driven seriatz'm by a master wheel 18 through intermediate wheels 19 of which there is one for every number wheel. Said master wheel is driven from the numeral keys 1, in a manner to be hereafter described, as it successively engages the intermediate wheels 19 which travel past it step-by-step as the totalizer moves with the typewriter carnage.

From each numeral key 1 .a link 20 rises to a segment 21 pivoted on shaft 22. These segments may be identical for each numeral key and they have cut in them near one edge teeth "3 which are arranged to engage with teeth 24 on a mutilated gear wheel 25 loose on a fixed shaft 26. At each end of said segment is formed a flat surface which is arranged to cotiperate with the mutilated portion of said gear wheel 25 and lock it against rotation. The fiat surface 29 at the upper end of the segment is of the same height as the teeth 23.

The flat surface at the rear end of said segment is lower than the teeth 23, and said surface ends in a raised portion 28, as seen in Fig. 4. When the segment returns to the position shown in Fig. 4, this raised portion'28 engages the tooth 31 on the mutilated gear 25, and moves said gear slightly, so as to move the tooth 30 on said mutilated gear into contact with the flat surface 27, so that when said segment again rotates downwardly, its teeth 23 will positively strike the. tooth 30 of said gear wheel 25 to rotate the same.

There are a sufficient number of teeth on said segment, so that said wheel 25 is given precisel one full rotation at each full operation 0 its segment, and it is locked at the completion of said rotation by the flat surface 29 at the upper end of the segment. The end teeth 30, 31 on said gear wheel 25 are much broader than the remaining teeth (see Fig. 3) and are arranged on the return stroke of the segment to ride on a raised flat surface 32 (see Fig. 3) on the segment formed at the side of the teeth 23, so that during the return stroke, it is impossible for the gear wheel 25 to turn.

The depressions 33 and 34 in the segment, (see Fig. 3), into which said teeth 30, 31 sink during the rotation of the gear wheel 25 by the segment, are cut broad enough to accommodate the full width of said teeth, so that said broad teeth furnish no obstacle to the rotation of said gear wheel 25 on the down stroke of a numeral key. In Fig. 6 is shown the relation of a segment to its gear at the end of the depression of a numeral key 9; and the broad teeth 30 and 31 are shown resting on the flat surface 29.

When the key operating the segment is released and the segment rises, the tooth 31 will fail to mesh with the depression 33, owing to some slight friction of the parts, and after this depression has passed said tooth 31, the gear wheel 25 is locked by the raised surface 32 on said segment until the key rises to its normal position. WVhen in its normal position, the mutilated gear 25 is held locked by the flat surface 28.

Formed as a unit with said gear wheel 25 and likewise loose on shaft 26, is a second gear wheel 35 having a number of teeth proportional to the numeral key operating it, the one shown in Figs. 7 and 8 being the one for the numeral key 9 d h i i teeth. It will therefore be observed that each full revolution of the wheel 25, which takes place upon the depression of its numeral key, will rotate the corresponding wheel 35 and son'otate the main drive shaft 55 through gear 55 on said shaft with which said gear wheel 35 engages, to an extent dependent upon the number of teeth in said wheel 35. Said drive shaft 55 is positively geared at all times to the master wheel 18 so that when said shaft revolves the master wheel revolves, and when said shaft is locked the master wheel is locked.

It will be observed that said wheel 35 is a mutilated wheel, and in order to lock the master wheel. against rotation durin the idle portion of rotation of said whee 35, a cam 36 is formed as a unit with said wheel and is arranged to cotiperate with-a Geneva lock 37 on the main drive shaft 55. This cam is cut away as at 38 to permit the teeth on the wheel 35 to rotate the master wheel, and is also cut away at .39, so that the master wheel shaft is normally unlocked in so far as this cam is concerned. Since there is a different gear wheel 35 for each numeral key,-there is for each of said gear wheels a gear 55*, and there is a Geneva lock 37 and cam 36 for each gear wheel 35.

There is also fixed on the end of said main drive shaft a universal lock 40 which may be identical with the individual Geneva locks 37, and with which coperates a universal lock arm 41 controlled from the numeral keys. All the parts hitherto described are substantially similar to those described in the aforesaid applications.

In the present invention this lock arm 41 may be normally held effective by means of a very light spring 42. This lock is however, positively moved into and out of effective position by means of a link 43 on an arm 44 formed as a bell crank with said look arm 41; said link 43 being operated by an arm 45 fast on shaft 46. On said shaft 46 there are fastened for each numeral key two cam fingers 47 and 48, which are arranged to coiperate with cams 49 and 50 which, together with the previously described wheels 25 and 35 and the lock 36, form a driving unit. There is one such unit for each numeral key and one such unit is seen in Fig. 8, loose as a sleeve on shaft 26.

Each pair of cams 49 and 50, therefore, turns positively with its gear wheel 25 as it is driven by its segment 21. In the normal position seen at Fig. 4 the cam finger 48 is resting on the lowest surface of the cam 50. During the time that the segment 21 moves with the depression of a numeral key from its normal position to a position. where it begins to rotate the wheel 25 by means of its teeth 23, the cam 50 will turn, so that its raised portion 51 will swing the cam finger 48 outward (see Fig. 5), rocking the shaft 46 and through the arm 45 moving the locking arm 41 to ineffective position. The cam 49 is cut away as shown at 52 in order to permit the finger 47 to rock inwardly as the finger 48 rocks outwardly.

The raised portion 51 of cam 50 continues around a large portion of its circumference, so that said finger 48 may hold the universal lock ineffective during all the time-the gear wheel 35 is turning the main drive shaft. After said turning, however, is completed, the cam 49 has turned around until its raised portion 53 strikes the cam finger 47 as seen in Fig. 6; thus rocking shaft 46 and positively moving the universal lock 41 back into effective position. The cams 49 and 50 may be made identical for each numeral key.

The universal lock is, therefore, positively positioned by movement of the driving units into ineffective position during their motion and into effective position at the end of their motion.- It will, therefore, be observed that drawn against this ratchet wheel by means of a spring 57 preventing the backward operation of said main drive shaft. Therefore, if a numeral key is depressed sufliciently to start said main drive shaft turning, the return of said numeral key will be impossible until it has substantially completed its stroke in turning the unit comprising its gear wheel 25. Thus ratchet wheel 54 together with its pawl 56 constitute a full-stroke mechanism.

On the totalizer carriage 14 is formed a' rack 58. The teeth 59 of this rack correspond to the letter-spacing of the machine; and a locking tooth 60 is arranged to be projected in betweensaid teeth 59 so that when the master wheel is engaged with a wheel on said totalizer, said tooth can enter said rack and lock the totalizercarriage against movement. Said tooth 60 is operated by an arm 61 fast on shaft 46, which operates the universal locking arm 41; said shaft is as has been seen' controlled by the cams 49 and 50.

It will therefore be seen that when a numeral key is depressed, the tooth 60 is projected upward into rack 58 and is held therein during part of the downward stroke of the numeral key; and during this down ward stroke, the entire rotation of the master wheel takes place. At other times the master wheel is positively held locked against rotation by the locking mechanisms heretofore described, and at. such times, the teeth of said master wheel will always positively aline with the teeth of the totalizer wheels. Therefore, the totalizer is always looked against movement unless the master wheel is locked in its normal idle position, so that its teeth will positively aline with the teeth on the totalizer wheels, and the master wheel is always held locked in its normal position when the totalizer is free to move. For, if a key is caught part way down, the tooth 60 is engaged with the rack 58 and locks the carriage against movement. The master wheel 18 is driven from the shaft through a wheel 62 fast on said shaft.

It will also be noted that it is impossible to completely depress a numeral key unless the shaft 46 returns to its normal position, that is unless the tooth is withdrawn from the rack 58. Also since there is a full stroke mechanism (shown here as awl 56 and ratchet 54) it will be impossib e for a numeral ke to rise unless its down stroke is com lete Therefore, if tooth 60 should jam, t e key operated will be locked down. It will also be noted that owing to the arrangement of the parts, the tooth 60 is positively projected upward, only after the numeral key, then being operated, is well started on its downward course. But before the numeral key reaches the point where, in the Underwood escapement, the universal bar is operated, said tooth has been withdrawn and the computing mechanism has completed practically its entire movement.

It will also be noted that there is practically no spring pressure to be overcome in the operation of a numeral key. The, sprin 42, as has been pointed out, may be excee ingly light,'because it need play no part in returning the parts to position, and the only other spring included in the form herein disclosed, operates pawl 56 and may also be made exceedin ly light. It will fur- .ther be seen that as t e numeral key starts downward, it first starts the segment, and when this has acquired some momentum, it starts the rocking and driving unit, which in turn, after obtaining some momentum, turns the master wheel. What reciprocating parts there are may be so light as to be unnoticeable in the movement of the numeral key.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the im rovements may be used without others.

aving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a computing machine, the combination with a master wheel operating sem'atim on number wheels, of keys for operating said master wheel,.means forholdin said master wheel positively locked or positively driven during the operation of a ke a un1 versal lock normally holding sai master wheel locked, and separate means operated by each numeral key for positively locking ilntllx for positively unlocking said universal 2. In a computing machine, the combination with a master wheel operatin seriatz'm on number wheels, of a rack an a tooth projectable into said rack for locking said master wheel and number wheels against relative transverse movement, means controlled by a numeral key for carrying numbers through said master wheel into said number wheels, and means for positivel moving said tooth into and outof said rac with the movement of a numeral key.

3. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with numeral keys, register wheels and a master .wheel, of a traveling carriage controlling the relation of said register wheels and master wheel, an

ating both locks.

escapement feeding said carriage by said keys on their upward stroke, means controlling said master wheel, so that it rotates on the downward stroke of said keys, a lock holding said carriage against movement 1 during the time that said master wheel may turn, and means for positively withdrawing said lock by the operation of a numeral key.

4. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with numeral kays, register wheels and a master wheel, of a traveling carria controlling the relation of said register w eels and master wheel, an escapement feedin said carriage by said keys on their upwar stroke, a gear rotating said master wheel on the down stroke of a numeral key, and a lock positively moved by said gear during its initial movement to lock said carriage against movement, and positively moved by said gear during its final movement to unlock said carriage.

5. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with numeral ke s, register wheels and a master wheel, 0 a traveling carria controlling the relation of said register w eels and master wheel, means for controlling said master wheel controlled by said keys, a lock for said carriage, a lock for said master wheel, and a single shaft moved by a numeral key oper- 6. In a computing machine, the combination with com uting wheels and a master wheel arranged to engage them seriatim, of a traveling carriage controlling said'engagement, keys for driving said master wheel and controlling said carriage, a lock for said carriage, means for moving said lock to effective position by the driving operation of a numeral ke and means for positively moving said to. ineffective position by the completion of said driving operation.

7. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination, with numeral keys, 3 master wheel, and traveling carriage; of a shaft for drivin said master wheel; a series of units for locking and driving said shaft, each of said keys having a unit individual thereto and positively driving the same; and a lock operated by each unit for holdin said carriage against movement while sai master wheel and shaft are being turned by a unit.

8. In a comblned typewriting and computing machine, the combination, with numeral keys and a traveling carria of a master wheel; means for turning said master wheel and ositively holding it locked both immediate y before and immediately after it is turned bv a numeral key; means for locki said carriage against movement while sai master wheel is turning; and a single controlling means for controlling the action of both said locks.

9. In a computing machine, the combination with a masterwheel and a set of keys for rotating the same, of a universal lock for sand master. wheel, and cams 47,- 48, 49, :50, controlled by the keys for positively movmg said look into and out of operative posi- 10. In a computing machine, the ombination-with keys, 9. master wheel and means to enable the keys to rotate the .master wheel, of a universal lock for the master wheel, cams 47, 48,and cams. cooperating therewith and formin part of a unit comprising a gear whic drives themaster wheel, and means controlled by said camsto positively move the universal lock into and out of operative position.

. 11. The combination with a master wheel, of means for lockin the totalizer and master wheel against re. ative traveling while the master wheel turns, means for holding "said master wheel normally locked, and cams 49, 50, 47 48, for either locking the totalizer against movement transverse to the. master yflllieel, or else locking the masterwheel itself 1 t 12. In a combined typewriting and com- .puting machine, the. combination, with a master wheel, and a shaft to drive the same; of a set of computing wheels; a traveling carriage providing relativetraverse between said master wheel: and said computing wheels; .9, lockengage'able with said carriage to'hold the latter against movement; driving connections, between said keys and said v shaft; and separate cams on said shaft 00- acting with said carriage lock, one to p'osi-- tively render it effective, andthe other to.

positively release it; v 13.In a combined typewritmg andcom puting machine, the combination, with a master wheel, and a shaft to drive the same; of a set of computing wheels, a traveling carriage providing relative traverse between said master wheel and .said computing wheels; a rock shaft parallel with thefirstnamed shaft' a lock connected to said rock shaft to be shifted thereby into and out of engagement with said carriage; driving connections between said keys and said firstnamed shaft and separate cams on said firstnamed shaft coacting with said rockshaft to rock the latter in opposite directions, so as to positively efl'ect theengagement and dis-. engagement of said lock.

14; In a combined typewriting and puting machine, the combination, with a master wheel, and a shaft to drive the same; of a set of computing wheels, a traveling carriage providing relative traverse between .ingf said lock positively: into and out of said master wheel and said computing-wheels;

a rock shaft parallel with the first-named shaft; a pair of fingerson said rock shaft for rocking it first in one direction and then in the other; a lock connected to said rock COIII- shaft to be shifted thereby first intoand then out of engagement with said carriage; driving connections between said keys and said first-named shaft; and separate cams on said first-named shaft for .coaction with said fingers.

15. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination, with a master wheel, and a shaft to drive the same;

of a set of computing wheels; a traveling carriage providlng relative traverse between said master wheel and said computin wheels; a rack fixed to said carriage; a tooth movable alternately into and out of engagement with said rack, to alternately lock and release said carriage driving connections between saidkeys and said shaft; and separate wheels; a rock shaft parallel with the first-- named shaft; a pair of fingers on said rock shaft for rocking it first in one direction and then in the other; a rack fixed to said carriage; a tooth connected to said. rockshaft to be alternately'moved thereby into and out of engagement with said rack, to

alternately lock and release said carriage driving connections between saidkeys an said first-named shaft; and separate cams on said first-named shaft forcoaction with said fingers. :17. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with nu meral ke s and a travelingcarriage', 'of a master w eel, means intermediate said keys and said master wheel comprising units always making one complete revolution in the same direction at each" key stroke for turning said master wheel, a lock normally holding said master wheel, a lock for boldin said carriage, a connection between said loc ks so that one is always eifectivewhen the other is ineifective,'-and means moved by said units for positively moving said locks into and out of effective position.

18. In a combined typewritingand computing machine, the combination with numeral keys and a master wheel, of a unit for each numeral key driven through a comways revolving in the same direction, a lock for-said master wheel, and means for mov-- plete revolution at'eachfkey stroke and almeral keys and a traveling carriage, of a unit for each numeral key driven through a complete revolution at each key stroke and always revolving in the same direction, a lock for said traveling carriage, and means for moving said lock positively into and out of effective position by the revolution of each unit.

20. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with nuineral keys, a traveling carriage and a master wheel, of a lock for said master wheel, a lock for said carriage, a connection be tween said locks so that one is always effective when the other is ineffective, a unit for each numeral key driven a complete revolution, at each key stroke and always revolving in the same direction, and means driven by said unit for positively moving saiid locks into and out of efiective position.

21. In a computing machine, the combination with a master wheel and a traveling carriage, of a series of keys for turning said master wheel, a driving unit always rotating in the same direction for each key to so turn the master wheel, a lock for said carriage, and means operated by said unit for moving said lock to effective and then to ineffective position on the downstroke of a key.

22. The combination, with numeral keys and a traveling carriage; of a master wheel; a unit actuated by each key for driving said master wheel; a lock for said master wheel; a lock for said carriage; and a common controlling means for both locks positively operated to both locking and unlocking positions by said units.

23. The combination, with numeral keys and a traveling carriage; of a master wheel; a unit actuated by each key for driving said master wheel; a lock for said master wheel; a lock for said carriage; a member common to all of said units to be operated thereby; and connecting means between said member and both of said locks for positively operating the latter from the former in both directions.

24. The combination with a rotatable master Wheel, a traveling carriage and a lock for said carriage, of means for rotating said master wheel, and means connected to said master wheel rotating means for positively making said lock effective and ineffective.

25. The combination with a traveling carriage and a master wheel, of means for positively'completely locking the carriage before the master wheel turns, and for positively unlocking said carriage after the master wheel has completely'ceased turning.

26. The combination with a master wheel and a traveling carriage, of locks for holding said master Wheel against turning unless it is positively turned, a lock for holding said carriage, and means controlling the master wheel for making all said locks effecing, and the other for positively unlocking said lock.

29. In a computing machine, the combination with a master wheel and a travelin carriage, of keys for controlling them, a 100 for positively holding said master wheel against rotation, a lock for holding said carriage against traveling, positive connections between said locks so that said locks are always alternately effective, and positively-acting connections from said keys to said locks.

30. The combination, with a master Wheel, and a set of numeral keys for rotating the same; of a universal lock for said master wheel; means driven by said keys for positively moving said look into operative position; and means, separate from the firstnamed means, driven by said keys for positively moving said lock out of operative position.

31. The combination, with a master shaft;

of a series of numeral keys; a connection between each key and said shaft for rotating the latter upon the d pression of a key; a. universal lock for said shaft, comprising a. locking plate fixed to the shaft and an arm cooperative therewith; a rock shaft; a single connection between said rock shaft and said arm, fonpositively moving said arm alternately into and out of engagement with said plate; and connections between said rock shaft and the first-named connections, for positively turning said rock shaft alternately in opposite directions.

32. The combination, with a master wheel, a shaft for driving it, and a set of numeral keys for controlling the rotation of said shaft; of a universal lock for said shaft; a pair of cams controlled by each key; a counter-shaft; pairs of arms on said counter-shaft for co-action' with said pairs of cams, to cause rotation of. said counter-shaft first in one direction and then in the other; and connections between said counter-shaft and said lock for positively locking and unand a numeral key for driving it; of a pairof reversely-arranged cams controlled by said key; a counter-shaft; a pair of reversely-arranged arms on said counter-shaft,

one arm c -actingwith each cam, so as to the latter alternately out of and into effeccause rotatlon of said counter-shaft first in tive position. one direction and then in the other; a universal lock for said master shaft, said lock WALTER WRIGHT comprising a movable controlling member; Witnesses:

and connections between said counter-shaft C. RIPLEY,

and said controlling member for. shifting EDWARD THOMAS.

Gonies of this patent may be obtained of five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatentl,

. Washington, D. 0.

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