US1271677A - Combined type-writing and computing machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. S. DENNIS.

COMBlNED TYPE WR'TING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULYZZ. 1912. RENEWED NOV. 8, 1915.

1 ,271 ,677. Patented July 9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

iJ/M @Q M A bm M 0K zzy.

A, S. DENNIS.

COMBINED TYPE WRHING AND COMPUTING MACHSNE. APPLICAHON HLED JULY 22 1912. RENEWED NOV- a, I916.

1 ,27 1,677. Patented July 9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m: noun-s "was as Prlom Urmz wnsumcmn o c A. S. DENNIS.

COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IuLvzz. I912. RENEWED NOV-8.1915.

1 ,27 1,677. Patented July 9, 1918.

In zrszzzar' QQMZ/CAZAJ 6'. 180mg;

m: mum: rnza; w IRON-ANNA, wasumurow, n c,

ADOLPHUS s. DENNIS, or LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

COMBINED TYPE-WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed July 22, 1912, Serial 0. 7%,553. Renewed Nowiember '8, 1916. Serial No. 136,276.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOILPHUS S. DENNIS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuynhogn and State of Ohio, have invented a. certni new and useful Improvement in Combined y'pe Writing and Computin Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

T is invention relates to combined typewriting and coniputin machines, wherein compilting mechanism is set or operated for each actuation of a numeral key of the typewriter. One of the objects of the invention is to provide connecting mechanism between the numeral keys of thetypewr'iter and the computer in such form that it "shall not interfere with the numeral keys being sperated by a touch of the same force as used to operate the letter keys. A disadvantage of combined typewriting and computing machines, as heretofore constructed, is that considerable extra force is required to depress the numeral keys over that requires to depress the letter keys due to the necessity for operating the mechanism of the computer by numeral keys. This results, either in the numeral character being stuck too lightly on the paper, or the letter characters too heavily, or it requires a slow operation and constant attention by the operator to avoid this result. Sometimes, in the old 111echanism, the effect was that the numeral keys, \vliile actuating the coihp'n'ter, would not be depressed far enoirgh to properly typcwrite, thus giving a wrong computation for the matter typewritten. My invention does away with these defects.

To the above end, I provide in the connoction between the typewriter and computer a series of clutches, one for each numcrul key, and I mount these clutches be tween a series of continuously rotating shafts and a corresponding serles of nor mally idle shafts adapted to operate the computer mechanism. and l arrange each clutch so that it is thrown into action by the depression of the correspondin numeral key of the typewriter. Accord ngly, the numeral key lever is relieved of all extra work except that necessary to throw the clutch into action. in the mechanism devised by me. this work is very slight indeed. and is negligible in practical operation.

Other features of my invention contribute in the eilicienoy and simplicity of the device. A referred forth of the mechanism is shown in thedr'awings hereof and is hereinnfi'sr more fully described and such pief'erred form, as well as the invention in its broader aspect, is comprised within my in etention and designed to be covered in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a combined typewriting and compiitmg machine embod ing my invention' Fi 2 is a sectional end view thereof; i ig. is a detail illustrating an end View of one of the operation clutches and the cams which operate the escapement for the computer carriage; Fig. 4 1s a front view, part1 sectional, of one of the clutches and mechanism operated by it; Fig. 5 is a plan of that portion of the connecting mechanism which stands beneath the typewriter" Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a portion oi the mechanism showing the escapement for the comp'nting ni'ach'ine carriage; 7 is a do: tail 0 a safety device which may be used with each numeral kej to insure a complete depression therein in case the key has been depressed only partially but enough to start the actuation of the. computing mechanism.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate, at 10, the frame of the typewriting machine. This machine ma be of any ordinary type having keys wit kn levers 11 which operate type Bars 12', or of er printi' device; 13 indicates the platen, which is s own as carried by the traveling paper carriage 14; 15 indicates the feet of the typewriter which are adepted to rest in suitable sockets 2O cit'rried on the frame of the connecting mechanism. This enables the typewriter to be moved when desired and to be properly positioned when returned.

21 indicates the frame of the computing machine, and 22 the key board thereof, This key board is designed to be connected with suitable computing mechanism (not shown) within the frame, the keys being depressed to set the mechanism and thereafter a suitable lever. indicated at 23, bein operated to effect the com uutation. according to the keys set. Any of the well known type of computing mechanism me be used within the computer frame for e fretting the result, as, for example, that shown in my prior Patent No. 949,97 9, granted Feb. 22, 1910.

25 indicates a suitable traveling carriage for the computing machine. This carriage is connected with an escapement (hereinafter described) so that it moves from left to right a correspondin movementpf the typewriting machine. onnected with the carriage are a series of rock shafts 30, on each of which is a rock arm 31 designed to act downwardly on the key which stands beneath it and thereby depress and set the same. The rock shafts 30 telescope within and are splined to a series of rock shafts 33 which do not travel, but are mounted above the mechanism and desi ed to rock. It will be seen that by this mechanism the computer carriage, escaping within the typewriter carriage, will set the varlous rock arms 31 successively over the different rows of keys 22, and that whatever the position of these rock arms, they may be operated to de ress the computer bars by rocking the tu ular rock shafts 33. The mechanism for rocking the rock shafts will now be described.

The rock shafts 33 are rotatably mounted near one end in the frame bar 34 and near the other in the frame bar 35. On these shafts are rock arms 36 (Figs. 3 and t). These arms are connected by links 37 with cranks 38 on the series of shafts 39. The shafts 39 aline with a series of shafts 40 which are under constant rotation, and at the junction of such shafts are suitable clutches controlled by the lever of the numeralkeys of the typewriter, which, when thrown, connect the constantly rotating shafts with the shafts 39. When any clutch is so thrown, the rotation of the shaft 39 rocks the shaft 33, and depresses the arm 31, depressing the correspondin key in the computing machine. At the en of the retation, the clutch automatically withdraws itself from action and the rotation of the shaft 39 stops. A suitable turn buckle 42 in the link 37 enables adjustment so that the proper actuation will be given to the ke of the computin machine.

The constant rotation of the shaft 40 is provided by any suitable mechanism. For example, each shaft may have a gear 43, the various gears meshing with each other and the final shaft being geared, as shown in Fig. 5, by the gears 46 and 47 with the shaft 48, which is shown as having a gear 49 meshing with a driving gear 50. This driving gear is shown as on a suitable hub 51 which receives a sprocket chain 52, which may lead from a suitable motor, not shown. It is to be understood that for each alined pair of shafts 40. 39 there is a clutch adapted to connect the two shafts. I will now describe such clutch.

The clutches are illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and l. on the end of the shaft 40 is a ratchet wheel 55. The hub of this ratchel wheel is extended so that there is a cylindriral recess beyond the end of the shaft providing a bearing for the shaft 39. ()n the shaft 39 is a disk 56 having a hub 57 pinned to the shaft 39. On the face of the disk 56 is pivoted a pawl 58 which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet 55. A spring 59, secured to the disk, tends to force the pawl into engaging position. A flange 60 on the disk, preferably extends over the pawl and spring, and with the disk 61 incloses them. The pawl has a tail which stands opposite an opening in the flange 60. 62 indicates a lever having a downwardly extending nose adapted to enter such opening and thereby press the tail of the pawl downwardly and Withdraw the nose of the pawl from the ratchet wheel.

The lever 62 is shown in Fig. 3 as pivoted on a hinged bracket 64 and extending to the rear thereof and there provided with spring means tending to raise the rear arm of the lever and thus depress the nose 63. In normal position the nose stands in the opening 65 against the pawl. This spring means referred to, as shown, consists of a link 66 connected with the lever 62 and surrounded by a compression spring 67 compressed between a shoulder on the link and the base plate 68 of the frame for this mechanism. a The lever 62 is provided at its rear end with a laterally extending lip 69, furnishing a shelf on which mechanism may thrust down to elevate the other end of the lever to release the clutch. Whenever the lip 69 is thrust downwardly. the rising of .the nose 63 releases the pawl 58. which. under the action of the spring 59 engages the ratchet wheel. This causes the members of the clutch to rotate together and thus gives a rotation to the shaft 39, rocking the shaft 33 and depressing the computer keys, as heretofore explained. After the rotation has started, when the depressing force is removed from the lip 69, the spring 67 tends to return the lever 62 to normal position. and the nose 63 thereupon bears against the flange 60 of the clutch and that flange rides beneath the nose until the rotation is almost. completed. Then the nose springs into the opening in the flange and engages the tail of the pawl and forces the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet and the drive. member of the clutch mines to rest. The nose 63 standing in the eluloh 65 of the sleeve 60 acts as a stop to accurately post tion the driven member when at rest. The lips 69 are depressed by the numeral keys 0 the typewriter by suitable mechanism. as will now be described.

It will be understood that one of the clutches described is provided for each shaft lUll lllll 39 and is adapted to connect it with the corresponding constantly rotating shaft 40. Accordingly, there is oneclutch-operating; lever for each key lever. As shown in Fig. 5, some of these levers (52 extend to the rear and others to the front. They may extend in either direction, as most suitable to enable them to be operated by the respective numeral keys of the typewriter.

Extending from front to back of the innchine, above the shafts 40 and 39 and the interposed clutehes, a1'e a pair of support ing bars 70. On these supporting-bars is mounted a suitable frame, consisting of a bottom plate 7,1,.a to, plate 72,1and corner members 73. This ,rame carries a series of plungers (one for each rdigit) which are positioned to stand beneath the respective numeral key levers and ,above the respective lips 69. Each plunger is given a pressure upward by a compression spring 76 between the spring members 71 and 72.

From the construction described it will be seen that, whenever a numeral key .is depressed, the lever 11 thereof, pressing downward on the plunger 75 beneath it, presses downward on the corresponding lip 09 of the lever 62 and releases the corresponding clutch connecting the corresponding shaft 39 with its alined, constantly driven shaft. This results in operating the corresponding numeral key of the computing machine.

As soon as the finger pressure is removed from the typewriter key, the key lever returns to normal o'sition, while the clutch goes on and competes its rotation and comes to rest at the end of such rotation, as will be apparent from the previous description. On the completion of the rotation of the shaft 39. the rock arm 31 is raised by the link 37 from the numeral keys of the computer ready for the next action, the spring 32, acting on the rock arm 33, assisting in this operation.

To throw out the connection between the typewriter and computer whenever desired, I simply make the supporting bars 70 which carry the plunger frame movable. As shoavmihese bars are mounted on rock arms 80 and 81. This enabies the bars to be shoved rearwaidly, whenever desired, to carry the various plunger-s out of alinement with the various lips 69. Any suitable means may be provided to shift the device. I ha ve illustrated shifting means by a stem 82 connected with the bars and projecting through the frame of the mechanism and provided with a push button 84. Frictional, or other means. may hold these bars in the position in which they are set. As shown in Fig. 2. the mechanism is active in the position shown, but idle when the push button 82 is pushed in and the bars 70 thereby moved rcarward-ly until they abut the rear plate 86 of the computer frame.

It is necessary that the computer carriage escape to the right, followin each deprcs slon of one of the keys 22-. llS may be ureomplished by any suitable escapeinent connecting with the various shafts 39. The mechanism I have shown is simple and ellicient and will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 6, 90indicates a suitable esca'penient bar, connected with the computer carriage. 91 is a rock shaft on which is a. block or rock arm 92 carrying a stationary, rigid nose 93, and, alongside of it, a movable bar towardthe right (Fig. 0) and a spring 96tends to press it upwardly. At rest, a tenth of the escapement bar 90 rests ageinstthe movable member 94, and by re-(rson of the superior tension of the feeding spring (not shown) on the computer carriage, holds that bar at the limit of its movement, deflecting the spring 95, as shown in Fig. 6. Such a feeding spring as above mentioned, is shown in my rior Patent No. 949,979; it is indicated at 2 13, Fig. 12 of that patent. Now, when the rock shaft 91 is locked to bring the rigid projection 93 in front of the tooth of th escapement bar, the spring 95 moves the movable projection toward the right (Fig. 6) and then, when the rock shaft 91 rocks backwardly, so that the stationary projection clears the tooth. the movable -rojection swings onto the rear of that toot This frees the escapement bar and the same moves toward the left (Fig. (3) until the next tooth engages the movable spring 96.

Accordingly, the rocking of the rock shaft 91 first in one direction and then the other, actuates the escapement for the computer csrria e and allows it to move from one line of numeral keys to the next. To rock the rock shaft 91, I provide it with a rock arm 97, which carries a pin 98 engaging a lever 100-. This lever is pivoted intermediately and at its lower end is connected with a sliding link 101, Figs. 2 and 5. On the sides of this link are pins 10:2 projecting into the paths of cams 103 on the various shafts 39, the shafts passing through slots in the link. When any shaft 39 makes a rotation, the link 101 is thereby forced to the rear and then returns to position (by reason of a tension sprin' 105 connected to the arm 100 in the rock raft 91) and this rocks the lever 100 to rock the shaft 91 to actuate the oscapement.

Accordingly, the depression of each numeral key not only releases the corresponding clutch. givinga single rotation to the corresponding shaft 3-9 to rock the shaft 33) to depress the key of the computer, but such action is followed by an escapemen't of the computer carriage to bring the various arms 31 over the next row of keys thereon.

It ma be desirable to provide means to insure the complete depression of any numoral key when it has been depressed enough to release the clutch even though such depression might not be enough to properly impress the corresponding character on the typewriter. To effect this I may provide the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7. This illustration shows the plunger carriage 71, 72 provided with a set of depressible plungers 75, one for each key lever. Each of these plunger-s is adapted to rest on a lip of a lever 111, which carries an arm having a projection or pin 112 standing against a cam 113 on the corresponding shaft 39.

Now if the lever 11 be depressed sufficiently to release the clutch to rotate the corresponding shaft 39, the earn 113 thereon engaging the pin 112, swings the lever 111 and this, through the connecting link 114, draws down the key lever 11 to the end of its movement, resulting in properly printing the type character thereof. The cam 113 releases the lever 111 at the end of about a half-rotation so that the key lever has ample time to return to normal position. A slot 115 in this link the depression of the lever 11 to he independent of the safety mechanism.

The device just described may be independent of the clutch lever 62 or consolidated with it, the horizontal arm of the clutch lever being in that case the arm 111 in Fig. 7, and the cam 113 in that case being on the side of the clutch 56.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of a computing machine, a series of shafts corresponding to the different digits for actuating the computing machine, a typewriting machine, and a series of clutches adapted to connect said shafts with the numeral keys of the typewriting machine.

2. The combination of a computing machine, a typewriting machine, a connection between the numeral keys of the typewriting machine and the computing machine, including a series of clutches each adapted to impart a single complete rotation, mechanism for throwing them, and a series of shafts connected with said clutches.

3. The combination of computing mechanism, a typewriter, a series of shafts, one for each digit Connected with the computing mechanism, a series of single rotation clutches, one for each shaft, and mechanism connected with the numeral keys of the typewriter for throwing said clutches.

4. The combination of computing mechanism having a series of operating members corresponding to the different digits, and a series of shafts, mechanism connecting the same with said operating members, whereby a rotation of the shaft operates the operating member, a series of clutches, one for enables the first portion of each shaft, a driving mechanism, a typewriter, and means under the control of the numeral keys thereof for connecting said driving mechanism with said shafts.

5. The combination, with a typewriter, of a computing machine having a series of depressible keys, mechanism including a series of rotatable shafts for depressing said keys individually, a series of constantly driven shafts alined with said rotatable shafts, normally idle clutches between them, and a connection between said clutches and the corresponding numeral keys of the typewriter.

6. The combination of a typewriter, computing mechanism, connecting mechanism between the two adapted to stand beneath the typewriter, said connecting mechanism including a series of operating shafts for the computing mechanism, a series of alined driving shafts, and a series of interposed clutches between the ends of alined shafts, a series of levers for throwing said clutches, and connections between said levers and key levers of the numeral keys of the typewriter.

7. The combination, with a typewriter having a series of operating members, means for actuating them, a carriage for moving said means from one series to another, a series of operating shafts for said means respectively, an escapement for the computer carriage connected with each operating shaft, and means actuated by the numeral keys of the typewriter for connecting the corresponding shafts with a driving device.

8. The combination, with a typewriter, of a computer having a plurality of series of operating members, means for actuating them, a carriage for moving said means from one series to another, a series of operating shafts for said means respectively, an escapement for the computer carriage connected with each operating shaft, a series of driving shafts alined with the shafts mentioned, a series of clutches between such alined shafts, and mechanism actuated by the numeral keys of the typewriter for throwing said clutches.

9. The combination of a computing machine, a ty ewriting machine, connecting mechanism between the two including a series of operating shafts and a series of clutches therefor controlled by the numeral keys of the typewriting machine, and mechanism operated by the rotation of one of said shafts for insuring the completion of the depression of a partially depressed numeral key.

10. The combination, with computing mechanism, of a typewriting machine, connecting mechanism between the two includ ing rotatable shafts and clutches for operating them, of cams on said shafts, and connections between the same and the numeral keys, whereby when the shaft is thrown into rotation the depression of the ntnneral key is insured.

11. The combination of a typewriting machine, a computing machine, connecting mechanism for actuating the computing machine. and extending beneath the typewriting machine, power mechanism, a series of clutches for connecting the power mechanism with the connecting mechanism, a carriage having a series of plunger-s adapted to throw the respective clutches, said plungers being adapted to be actuated by the depression of the mnneral keys of the typewriting machine. and means for n'ioving said plunger carriage to idle position.

12. The combination in a computing ma chine. of a series of actuators, mechanism including a series of rotatable shafts for operating said actuators, a series of constantly driven shafts, a series of clutches between the corresponding shafts of the two series, and means for throwing said clutches.

13. The combination in a computing machine, of a series of actuators, mechanism including a series of rotatable shafts for operating said actuators individually, a series of constantly driven shafts alined with said rotatable shafts, clutches between said shafts, keys, and a connection between said clutches and said keys.

14. In a. computing machine, the combination of a series of depressible keys, mechanism including a series of rotatable shafts for depressing said keys individually, a series of constantly driven shafts, normally idle clutches between each of the first mentioned shafts and the second named shafts,

a series of actuating keys, and a connection between said clutches and the corresponding actuating keys.

15. In a computing machine, the combination of a series of depressible keys, mechanism including a series of rotatable shafts for depressing said keys individually, a series of constantly driven shafts alined with said rotatable shafts, normally idle clutches between each of the first mentioned shafts and the second named shafts, and means for operating said clutches.

16. T he combination of a computing mechanism, a series of shafts for operating the computing mechanism, a series of driving shafts. a series of interposed clutches between the driving shafts and the operating shafts mentioned, a set of numeral keys, and means operated by said numeral keys for throwing said clutches.

17. The combination of a typewriter, computing mechanism, connecting mechanism between the typewriter and computing mechanism, including a series of shafts for operating the computing mechanism, a series of driving shafts, a series of interposed clutches between the driving shafts and the operating shafts mentioned, and individual means operated by the key levers of the numeral keys of the typewriter for throwing said clutches.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPHUS S. DENNIS. lVi tnesses ALBERT H. BATES, BRENNAN B. Wns'r.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Wellington, D. 0."

Images