US1487999A - Calculating machine - Google Patents

Description

March 25 1924.

R. G. C. BOA

CALCULATING MACHINE fremd Allam 5M' @M5 ATTDRNEY March 25 1924.

R. G. C. BOA

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1922 I5 Sheets-Sheet WVVNEEEEE March 25 1924. 1,487,999

R. G. C. BOA

CALCULAT I NG MACHIN E Filed DeC. 23, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES nonna' PATENT OFFICE.

G. o. non, or nnnxmnn, NEW Yonx, saumon To REMINGTON ACCOUNT ING MACHINE CORPORATION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

CALCULATING MQHINE.

Application led December 23, 1922. Serial No. ,$08,681.

To all liv/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. C. BOA citizen of the United States, and resident of Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and .State of New York, have invented certain clearance provingmechanism.

An object of the invention 'is to provide \for,usc`in accounting machines of clearance proving mechanism* capable of Operating 4under conditions which do not allow other known forms of clearance proving mechanism to operate insuch mac ines.' Another Objcct'istoenable such machines to be pro-4 vided with clearance proving mechanism of especially simple construction.

The inventionV consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be fully set forth herein and pointed out in the claims.

information that will enable any person skilled in the artto construct a machine cmbodvingr theV invention is to be derived from Patent No. 1,270,471 granted June 25, 1918 to assignee ofJohn C. Wahl, and from the following description and accompanying drawings, although many parts of the machine are not shown in these drawings.

In the accompanying drawings of which there are three sheets:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of mechanism comprisedin a Remington accounting machine that embodies the invention, only fragments of some and vertical sections of some of the parts being shown;

Figure 2, a front elevation' of some of the same mechanism shown in o ration;

Figure 3, a right sideaniisectional elevation of a fragment ofthe machine;

Fi re 4, a rspectve of parts representegdualso in Figs. 1 and 2'; and

Figure 5, a plan of a fragment of the top plate and some of the mechanism within the cross totalizer which the ,machine includes Figures 3, 4 and 5 are Ona larger scale than Figures 1 and l2.

Similar reference numerals designate. like parts in different views.

particularly The drawings re resent the invention in a 4form in which it is embodied in combined typewriting and calculating machines, such as are known' as Remington-Wahl crossfooting or Remington accounting machines. The construction and operation of such machines, not including clearance proving mechanism, is explained in the above mentioned Patent No. 1,270,471, to which reference is made for a description of any .mechanism'which these drawings do not show and which Remington accounting machines include, or any mechanism which is particularly referred to and not fully illustrated herein. It will be understood that the in- Vvention claimed may be adapted and applied `to different forms of calculating'machines.

The machine includes a cross-totalizer and at least one column totalizer or dummy, but may include several column totalizers or dummies. The'colui'nn totalizer 1 is the vsame as the well knownWahl column totalizer or vertical'totalizer contained lin Remington accounting machines, except that it has on it a trip et such for instance as the cam plate 2 I( igs. I and 3) which is ri 'dly attached to the casin `or frame of t e totalizer at the top an' close to the right side of the frame. This cam plate is formed on the arm 3, which the top plate of the totalizer partly coveis Aand which is integral with the cross bar which extends acrossV the casing under an close to the top plate and lits tightly at its ends in dove-tailed recessesciit in the side plat/es of the casing. The cross bar proper is art of the frame or casing of the common ahl totalizer. A dumm consistsmeiely of the framework of a totalizer, no com uting mechanism being contained in it. f the trippet were attached to a dummy as it is to totalize'r 1 and the dummy were to be substituted for this totalizer, the invention herein set forth would not be aected. But the invention depends on a totalizer which may be a crosstotalizer and ispartly embodied in the cal culating mechanism of the totalizer.

The bar- 5 is part ofthe stationary 'framework of the Wahl mechanism, this har being a casting which is fast `on the frame of the typewriter'.v Theplates 6 and 7 and the block 8 (Figs. 1 and 32 are parts of the framework of the crocs- Qating mechanism.

Plate 6 is attached by screws at its upper end to the right end of bar 5, plate 7 is attached to late 6 and to part 9 ofthe framework, andl block 8 which is a casting lits between and is fastened to plates 6 and 7. The fastenings include screws 10 (F ig. 3)' passing through ears on block 8 and thence into plate I and include other screws passing through the late 6 and thence into ears on the block at its ri ht end.

AA suitable num r of column totalizers or dummies or both, including the totalizer 1, are mountedon the .decimal carriage or truck 11 which is su ported at the middle of the machine by rol s 12 and 13, -the latter mounted on part 14 of bracket 15 fast on bar 5. The truck is'- connected with and partly `supported, at its ends by the type-- writer carriage, and travels with it towards the left and towards the right. The totalizer is secured on the truck by well known means which is described in said Wahl patent and which allows the totalizer to be set at dif-` ferent places on the truck. When this tdtalizer travels step b step over the main masterlwheel 16 of t e machine to eac-h deciinal position in order, Vgears of the tot-alizer successively e age with that wheel as explained' in the ahl patent,so that motion may be imparted 'to them by the master Wheel actuated from the numeral kevs. A dummy ut in lace ot this vertical totalizier woul trave step by step over the master wheel but would not touc it or revent it from being turned by the numeral e s. and mechanism actuated thereby.

e truck 17 is the cross-footin carriage which is mounted to ltravel along )lock 8 on the ball bearings 18, and to said truck is connected the long tension coil spring 19 that runs over a ulley and draws the truck towards the rig t when it is allowed to move' in that direction.

The totalizer 20 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) is the cross footin jumpin totalizer mounted on truck 17 'an arran to be operated. by the cross-footing actuator comprising the master wheel 21.

In the operation of the machine, the truck 17, which normally stands at the right end of its path of travel, is picked up at times by any vertical totalizer or dummy by means of the hook 22, ivoted at 23 on bracket 24 fast on the truc 17. This honk engages a lug 25 (Fi 3), such a lu being formed on the rig t side plate o each vertical totalizer and dummy. As a number is written and calculated, truck 17 is drawn toward the left until the last carrying wheel 26l is enga with master wheel 21, when the totahzer is in the units position, and at the next ste of the carriage hook 22 is disconnected from the lug, whereupon the cross-footin truck is drawn to the right by spring 19, t adjustablestop bar 27 on said truck striking lever 28 as the totalizer reaches' normal position and forcing the lever against frame plate 6. This lever is pivotedat 29 to an ear on plate 6, and sprin 30 tends to swing the lever to the left. Slideqink 31, through which lever 28 passes, is movable by this lever a short distance to the left or right in guides formedin the framework. When this link or slide is moved' it rocks bell crank 32, pivoted at 33 to the framework and supporting at its left end the blocking device 34 pivoted to the bell crank at 35 and han in close to the front end of fixed stud 36 iaving the longitudinal slot 37 in its under side. The construction is such that when lever 28 is in the osition shown in Fig. 1, to which position it is turned by spring 30, the lower end of blocking plate 34 is above slot 37, and when the ever is in contact with plate 6, the lower end of plate 34 is about even with the under side of stud 36.l The swinging or angular movement of plate 34 on its pivot 35 is controlled through `in 38 by link 39 pivotcd at 40 to the depending arm of swing lng frame 41, pivoted on rock shaft 42, which is mounted in the framework. The frame 41 has roller 43 on the arm which extends to the left from shaft 42, which roller is normally held in an upper position by means of the spring 44 but is adapted to be dcpressed, when a vertical totalizer or dummy is over the master wheel, by the track or rail 45 mounted in the casin of said totalizer or dummy (Figs. 1 an 3). The whole construction is such that when there is no vertical totalizer or dummy over the main lmaster wheel thenlplate 34 has been swung so far to the left as not to be able to cover slot 37 in post 36', but when a vertical totalizer or dumm f passes over the master wheel thensaid plate is swung to the 'right ar'enough to enable it to cover the slot 'when the plate is in its lowest position. This is well known locking mechanism used in the Remington accounting machine and described in said lVahl patent. It will be perceived that it is so con structed that plate 34fcannot close the end of slot 37, except (1) when a vertical totalizer or dummy is over the main master wheel, and (2) when lever 28 is in its righthand position, so that it requires a combination of two conditions to cause said plate to block u said slot.

Each o struck actuates or tends to actuate a device sometimes called a fan, which is adapted to engage the universal bar 46, consisting of a roller mounted in arms fast on theunivelsal rock shaft.47, on whichihe arm 48 also is fast. The universal bar when it is moved by the fan is swung towards the front of the machine so that shaft 47 is rocked and a backward angular movement the numeral keys when it is` ino vso

connection with my improved clearance provin mechanism, but it is to be understood t iat other means for locking an essential art Vof the machine might be substitute `for it. j i

In the column which'totalizer 1. locates.

on a work sheet'is to be written the result of a calculation L which has been performed in the cross totalizer, which then may show, for instance, the balance of. an account, such as is commonly lrecorded on .a sheet of4 a loose-leaf ledger. The machine can be set especially to adapt it toA perform over and ver againsome regular program of writingV and calculation. Aninstance of such a program with which users of Remington accounting machines are familiar, is that, of making daily entries on'ledger sheets which consist of leaves of a loose-leaf account book. According to this programftheitems written in one day are .contained in four columns called .Debtorf Cl-editor, Balance, and Old balance or Pick-up bal-` ance, said ,columns occurring onl the paper in the order named. In thisprogram totalizer 1 would correspond to the third or balance column, a totalizer or dummy 49 (indicated by dotted lines) on the right of 1, to the old balance column, a totalizer or dunnny 50 (indicated by dotted lines) on the left of` 1, to the creditor column and another vtotalizer or dummy on the left of 50 to the first or debtor column. 1n using the machine when a ledger sheet is put into it around the platen, the first operation is to write the old `or ick-up balance in the fourth column. sually this is written on the same line as the balance which had been written in the third column (located by totalizer 1) at the next preceding operation on that particular ledger sheet. The operator, therefore, when the paper is put.into tle machine, turns the platen to bring` the last written line to,` the writing line and in the fourth column copies the balance seen just to the left of it in the thirdcolumn. The paper is then line spaced and the carriage drawn backj to begin a new line of writing. The debtor item is then written Yin the first column, and the creditor item in the second column, and the resulting balance isthen written in the third column located bv totalizer 1 and this is the end of the program. If there is morethan one debtor or creditor item to be entered, the

paper is line spaced and the second item written under the first, but in every case the writing of the new balance in the third column is the last operation on that particular sheet at that articular time. This sheet is then remore -from the machine, another sheet is inserted and the program is repeated. ln Fig. 1 the parts are shownA ready for the writing of the digit of lowest order in the third column, and the next keystroke, to write said digit will end the program. This last key-stroke `will cause thc carriage to step one space to theleft, and the crosstotalizcr as it steps from units position to be freed and allowed to snap back to its extreme right-hand position', or at least as far as dummy or totalizer 49 Vwill allow itfto go. When the next ledgersheet is put into the machine the carriage is already in position to allow` the operator to copy in the pick-u balance for that sheet.

ln tie program described the calculation of the new balance is eli'ected on the crosstotalizer 20, and this is accomplished by causing the pick-u .balance written in the fourth column to added into the crosstotalizer, and the debtor item or items written in the first column to be also added `in the cross-totalizer, and the creditor item or items written in the second column to be subtracted in: the cross-totalier. time theV cross-totalizer will show the new balance, and if the cross-totalizer is set for subtractionwhen the new balance is beinfr copied inthe third -column the copying oli said new balance, if correctly done, will bring said cross-totalizer to zero. In this program, therefore, the cross-totalizer should always stand at zero when it is freed for its jump to the right by the next keystroke made when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l.

In order to cause the numbers to be automatically added and subtracted as described, subtraction cam plates such as are used Lin Remington accounting machines, and described in said Tabl patent, are )laced on totalizer l and totalizer or dummy 0, but 'such a cam plate is not put on totalizer or dummy 49 or on the totalizer or dummy that locates 'the first or debtor column. It will be observed that as far as carrying-out this program is concerned dummies could be used to locate all of the columns if preferred, but it is sometimes useful to preserve the grand total of all debtor items and of all creditor items and the first two columns are, therefore, frequently defined 4by totalizers rather than by dummies. In some instances totalizers are used to locate the` third and fourth columns, as the totals indicated at the end of the day can sometimes be used in checking up the work.

I have provided clearance proving mechdat this anism with means for brin ing itinto operation automatically by the ast key Stro te 1n the program, this being the pomt 1n the program at which the cross-totalizer should always be clear. In the present Instance said clearance proving mechanism 1s brought into operation b v the next .step ot the carriage from the position indicated 1n Fig. 1, this )osition being units osition and this step eing the 1ast`in the c caring operation. At-this same step the hook22will be released from the.totalizer 1 and the crosstotalizer will jump back to the right impelled by its spring 19.

Av bracket preferably made in one piece from sheet metal and comprising the flat base 51, upright part 52, top 53 and front 54,` is securedon the top' of casting 5 by screws that pass through the base 51 and into the casting. The screw 55l is one of these and the other (not shown) iS on the left of bracket 1.3. Bracketv51-54 has in -the base and upright pa'rtsan opening 56 through which bracket 15 passes, so that base lexteuds behind and on both sides of bracket '15 and upright 52 extends over and on both sides of it. The pin` 57, supported at its ends by upright 52 and ',ront 54 of the bracket just described serves as a pivot for an angular lever having a frontleftward extending arm 58 and a rear arm 59 that extends downward and backward and through opening G0 in the upri bt part 52 of the bracket. the sheet metal o whlch this angular lever is made being bent as shown and the lever bearing on pivot pin 57 at.4

points spaced Widely apart. Pin 57 is shown provided with a head and shoulder held in contact respectively with the backs otupright 52 and front 54 of the bracketI b v a .nut 61, this angular lever being contini-d .between upright 52 and spacing sleeve 62 on pin 57 next tothe `front 54 of the bracket. Roller 63 on' and at the left end of arm 58 of the angular lever is normally in the path of travel of the trippet or cam plate 2, the. construction and arrangement of parts being such that when totalz'er 1 is in the position shown in' Figs. 1 and 3 roller 63 rests on the flat top or dwell of the cam plate, the main master wheel then engaging the units carrying wheel of the lotalizer; and when not on the cam 2, said roller occupies a lower position.

"o arm 59 of the angular lever is connected the link 64 which extends therefrom nearly to the right side of the machine and is guided near its right end in an opening in an ear 65 of a sheet metal bracket 66, which is bent as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and has in it two holes 67. That part of this bracket which contains these holes lies flatI againstV frame plate 6 and the screws (i8 that attach plate 6 to bar 5 pass through these holes and secure the bracket alsoin place. ,Link G4 is connected atits right end to the upper end of the opstanding arm of a latch G9 which is plvoted to bracket 66 on stud 7l. When cam plate 2 passes under roller 63 it raises the roller and link 64 is drawn to the left and turns latch 69 on its pivotal axis from its normal position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Figs. l and 2. As the cam plate moves from under the roller 63, latch 69, link G4, and the angular lever comprising arms 58 and 59, are restored to their normal positions by a spring 72 attached to arm 70 of the latch and to a stud 73 fixed in bracket 66.

When latch 69 is in its normal position (shown in Fig. 4) it acts on a lever 74 pivotally ymounted on a stud 75 fast on a lug 76 of bracket 66, the -upper arm 77 of this lever extending nearly to the top of the bracket and the lower arm 78 being bent as shown (see Fig. 4) andrextending below and in front of the upper end of lever 28. A stud 79, alixed to and extending backward from arm 80 of "latch 69, makes contact with edge 81 of projection 82 formed on arm 77 and keeps nose 83 of arm 77 in contact with the right end of bracket 66. As edge 81 then slopes a little to the left from its upper to its lower end spring 72 tends to force stud 79 down and said stud exerts a camming or wedging action to force projection v 82 and the upper end of lever 74 towards the right so that arm 77 is held ti ht between the stud 79 and the end of the bracket 66. Spring 84, connected to arm 77 at its upper end and to stud 85 fixed in bracket 66, is stretched when lever 74 is held in its normal position shown -in Fig. 4. This lever .at its lower end has a lugr 86 which extends across the lett edge of lever 28. Then lever 74 is free to be operated by its s ring 84, thelug 86 forces the lever 28 to t le position shown in Fig. 1 where said lever 28 operates the key lock as hereinbefore exlained. A finger piece 87 formed on lever 4 at its lower end and overlapping the right face of frame plate 6 can be used to restore the lever 74 from its locking position shown in Fig. 1 to itsnormal position shown in Fig. 4'.

The actiouof lever 74 is also affected by another latch now `to be described. This latch or lever, hereinafter called a lati-blever, is pivotally mounted on the stud 88 affixed to ea'r 89 of bracket 66 and has arms' the extension. and arm 91 is fast on blocks 92 and 93 at their front ends. block'92 forming a bearing which fits on stud 88. Obvibe more or less modified. The rearwardly bent lug on arm at its right end passes lill -ously the construction of the latchlever could e under projection 82 of lever 74 and when both that lever and-,the latchlever are in their normal positions lug 95 is in the reentrant angle formed by edges 96 and 97 of the projection and in contact with edge 96, where it is ,held by a spring 98 attached to arm of the latchlever and to a. stud 99 fast on bracket 66. In this normal position of the latchlever, the lug acting on edge 9T is adapted to prevent the lever 74 from moving to its locking position, even if said lever 74 is freed from latch 69. The normal position of the latchlever is such that the downwardly' extending' nose 100 at the left end of arm 91, which is bent forward at the left of bracket 93, is over and but a little above the highest portion 201 of the to plate of cross totalizer y20 when that tota izer is over master wheel 21, that being the portion ofsaid plate on which the cale showing letter space distances is usualut. Ilh the cross totalizer 20 (Figs. 3 and 5) each carrying wheel 26 meshes with an idler pinion 101 which meshes with a pinion 102 on the right side of the corresponding dial 103. Each of the pinions 102 has one short tooth 104 which, when the dial 103 stands at zero, occupies the position shown in Fig. 3. An arbor or rocking device 105 cxtends through the totalizerand at its ends has trunnions 106 which are pivoted in the side plates of the totalizer. This rocking device is in the form of a comb. also called a feeler, comprising a series of feeler fin ers 107. I have not fully illustrated this eel-- er comb because it is a Well known construction, an instance of it being shown for example in `Patent No. 1,311,710 dated July 29, 1919. The construction is such that if all of the wheels of the totalizer stand at zero then the fingers 107 can occupy the forward ositious shown in Fig. 3, but if any one o? said wheels does not stand at zero then said wheel will have a full length tooth thereon in front of a finger 107 and said rocking device will be forced to occupy a position in the rear of that. shown in the drawing.

The lever 108, pivotally mounted on stud 109 within the totalizer casing and close to the right side plate 11() to which the stud is atiixed, extends on the right of and is connected to the feeler finger which is nearest to that side plate1 the lever having in it the slot 111 and the linger having affixed to it the pin 112 which [its loosely in this slot. This lever is normally kept by the light spring 113 in contact with a stop, for instance the shaft 116 of latch 11T, and then the feeler fingers are held just out of reach of the long teeth of pinions 102. The rear arm of the lever passes through slot. 118 in part 210 of the top plate of the totalizer, and when the lever is in its normal position the top 119 of that arm is in alignment with nose of the above described latchlever', as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

If an operator, following the above explained rogram correctly copies the new balance 1n the third column of a ledger sheet, and simultaneously clears the crosstotalizer, the clearance proving mechanism does not require any attention from him. Whenever totalizer 1 approaches'units position, in which it is shown in Fig. 1, trippet or cam plate 2 acts on and raises roller 63, rocking latch 69 to its inoperative position' and as totali'zer 1 steps to units position end 119 of lever 108 is brought close to or into contact with nose 100 of latchlever 90-91. While the vertical totalizer stands in that position, as the units figure of the number 'is about. to be written, latch 69 is` so held that pin 79 is above the upper end of ed e 81 of projection 82 on lever 74 so that if this lever were not kept in its normal position by other means besides this latch the lever would be moved by spring 84 to the locking position shown in Fig. 2. But lug 95 of the latchlever, in contact with edge 97 of the projection, prevents spring 84 from so moving lever 74. On the next step of totalizer 1 and the cross totalizer, instantly following the writing of the units figure, end 119 ot lever 108 is drawn against nose 100, and if thenumber has been correctly written so that the cross totalizer registers zero on every dial, lever 108 is forced by nose 100 to the position shown in Fig. 3 while the latchlever remains inits normal position and continues to prevent movement of lever 74 by sprinv 84, so that the locking mechanism is not tius affected. The cro totalizer, released as totalizer l approaches the sub-units position and drawn to the right by spring 19, carries lever 108 from nose 100 whereupon lever 108 is restored to its normal position by spring 113. Instantly thereafter the operator may replace the finished ledger sheet with another and continue his work. As soon as latch 69 is released by the withdrawal of cam plate 2 from underneath roller 63, spring 7 2 turns the latch until pin 79 is forcedV against edge 81 of projection 82 as before explained and as shown by Fig. 4.

It will behoted that the feeler comb will be normally held away from the pinions 102, by the light s ring 113, so that said comb does not touc said pinions when the latter are turning; and that said comb is pressed a ainst said inions as shown in Fig. 4, a ter all of tie wheels have been turned to zero, this being done by the power of the much stiller spring 98. If some dial is not at zero, the comb cannot rock forward, and spring 98 is stretched, and actuating lever 74 is released to operate the lock. The feeler-comb is pressed toward the pinion only momentarily at the time when a clearance test is rl uired. The comb is so pressed against the w eels every time the cross totalizer moves from units towardssub-unitsA If the operator does not correct y copy the new balance, so that not every dial of the cross totalizer registers zero, lever 108 cannot be turned to the position shown in Fig. 3 for atleast 011e of the feeler fingers acts on a long tooth of the pinion in front of it as soon as lever 108 starts to turn, and then y end 119 ofthe lever cannot be .depressed as it canV be when the cross totahzer is clear.

tlO

But with the denominational step in move- Jment of the cross totalizer towar s su -units ',fosition, from units position, end 119 of ever 108 acting against nose 100 of the latchlever turns the latchlever so that lug 95 is swung downward and away from edge 97 of projection 82 (Fig. 2), whereupon lever 74 1s turned by s ring 84 to the position 'shown in Fig. 2. imultaneously the up er end of lever 28 is forced against frame p ate 6 by the action on this lever of lug 86 at the lower end of arm 78 of lever 74. Lever 28 is held by lever-74 in contact with late 6 until the latter'lever is moved by han from the position shown in Fi 2. iVhile lever 28 is so held, plate 34 of t ie above described locking mechanism is in its lowest position,

and the operator could not work any of the computing mechanism of the machine for should he attempt to do so any vertical totalizer or dummy standing over the main master Wheel would keep the lowervend of plate 34 in front of slot 37 in stud 36 so that arm 48 could not swing backward into the slot and universal bar 4G could not be actuated and a numeral ke could not be depressed. Hence, he woud be notified that e had made an error. He can unlock the machine instantly to enable the error to be corrected by ushing finger piece 87 towards frame plate 6 until lever 74 reaches its normal position. As he does this spring 98 restores the latchlever 90, 91 to its normal position so that lug 95 a ain crosses edge 97 of projection 82 and w11 hold lever 74 as shown in Fi 1, where it does not atl'ect thev ordinary action of lever 28 for the purposes explained in said Wahl atent. After the operator has unlocked tie machine he is able` to correct the error in a well known manner and then continue his work.

As cross totalizer 20 is drawn towards sub-units position, from units position, by a vertical totalizer or dummy not having a trippet 2, lever 28 is not forced against frame plate 6 by lever 74, although if the cross totalizer is not clear the latchlever is rocked bythe action of its nose 100 on the top 119 of lever 108. Latch 69 acting on lever 74 then prevents that lever from actuating lever 28. The latchlever is restored to its working position by sprin 98 as soon as the to 119 of Vlever 108 1s carried away from t e'nose of the latchlever by the cross totalizer in jum ing to the right. Although latch 69 is roc ed whenever totalizer 1 is drawn from the left `to the right side of the main master wheel, yet latchlever 90, 91 then prevents lever 74 from actuating lever 28.

If, as is sometimes the case, the dials of the cross totalizer are not exactly aligned when the totalizer is cleared, they are brought to true alignment by force transmitted to them from spring 98 through the latchlever 90, 91, the lever 108 and the feeler lingers 107 and inions 102. `When lever 108 is actuated at t e end of aclearing operation, each feeler finger is pushed against the long teeth adjacent to the short tooth of the pinion and thus exerts an aligning action, as will be understood., When a clearing operation is performed, the feeling device or fceler is rocked to the position shown in Fig. 4 if the operation islsuccessful, or the locking mechanism is actuated if the operation is not successful and it will 'be noted that this operation of the clearance proving mechanism takes place while the cross totalizer steps from units osition towards sub-units position, instea of during the jump of the cross totalizer to the right. In other words, this clearance proving mechanism completes its work before the cross totalizer starts to jump. Consequently if the very uarrowest vertical totalizer or dummy ever used is set close to and on the right side of totalizer 1, it does not prevent the action of this clear ance proving mechanism, although thc cross totalizer may not jump more than three or four letter s ace distances on its release from totalizer 1, efore hook 22 is arrested by the lug 25 on the right side plate of the narrow totalizer or dummy. In short, it makes no diierence in the use of my clearance provin mechanism whether the totalizer employed be broad or narrow.

It is believed torbe apparent from the foregoing description that lever 74 is a normally restrained actuating device by which lever 28, included in the locking mechanism, is forced to its working position when the lever 74 or actuating device is released, that this actuating device is held inactive in all operations of the machine except clearance proving operations, and that it is so held in eve clearance proving operation when the tota izer stands in and starts to step from units position, by arm 90 of the latchlever and by nothing else, as then latch 69 is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the above described program is but. one of many which might have been taken to illustrate the utility of this invention and that much work such as is commonly done when various other programs are followed can be facilitated by its use.

What I claim as new and by Letters Patent2 is f-f 1. In a calculatln machine, the combination with re -ster w eels arran ed in a denominationa series, mechanism t at' includes a. stepping carriage and that as the carria e steps connects those wheels successive y with a common actuator, and a feeler that is required to act on the wheels and that is normally held clear of them, of feeler actuating means including a device mounted on the carriage and a device mounted on the framework and held .in the path of travel of the other device at and only at a place which the latter .reaches in a stepping movement of the carriage after the common actuator has engaged the register wheels above the units wheel.

2. In a calculating machine, the combination with a step ing totalizer that as it steps carries the whee s of a denominational series contained in 'it successively across and into and from en a ment with a common actuator, and a ee er contained in the totalizer and required to act on the wheels and nor mally held clear of them, of feeler actuating means includin a device mounted on the totalizer and a evice mounted onv the framework and held in the path of travel of the other device at and only at a place which the latter reaches in a stepping movement of the to'talizer after the common actuator has engaged the wheels of said series that are above the units wheel.

3. In a calculating machine, the combination with re ister wheels arranged in a denominationa series, mechanism that includes a stepping carriage steps connects those wheels successively with a common actuator, and a feeler that is required to act on the wheels and that is normally held clear of them, of feeler actuating means including a device mounted on the carriage and a device mounted on the framework and held in the path of travel of the other device at and only at a place which the latter reaches in a stepping movement of the carriage after the common actuator has engaged the re ister wheels above the units wheel, one o these devices being movable from its normal position by the other when the wheels are not clear and being immovable by the action on it of the other when the wheels are clear.

4. In a calculating machine, the combination with a step ing totalizer that as it steps carries the whee s of a denominational series contained in it successively across and into desire to secure and that as the carriage and from enfgagementwith a common actuatorand a ee er contained inV the totalizer and required to act on the wheels and normally held clear of them, of feeler actuating means includin 'a device mounted on the totalizer anda evice mounted on the frame work and held in the path of travel of the other device at and only at a place which the latter reaches in a stepping movement of the totalizer after the common actuator has engaged the wheels of said series that are above `the units wheel, the device on the framework being movable from its normal position by the other when the totalizer is not clear and` being immovable by the action on it ofthe other-When the totallzer is clear.

5. In a calculating machine, the combination with a step ing totalizer that as it steps carries the whee s of a denominational series contained in it successively -across and into and from en ent with a common actuator, and a ee er contained in the totalizer and reuired to act on the wheels and normally ield clear of them, of feeler-actuating means including a level' mounted in the totalizer and connected to the feeler and extending through the top of the totalizer casin ,above which its upper end is normally he d at the limit of its upward movement, a s ring acting on the connected lever and fee er and tendlng to keep them both in their normal ositions, a movable device mounted on the ramework and held in the path of travel of the upper end of the lever at and only at a place which that end of the lever 100 reaches 1n astepping movement of the totalizer after the common actuator has engaged the wheels of said series that are above the units wheel, and a retaining and restoring spring connected to said device, this spring being strong enough to prevent movement of said device b v said lever when the totalizer is clear but not strong enough to prevent such movement when the totalizer is not clear.

6. In a calculating machine, the combination with a stepping and jumping totalizer that as it steps carries the wheels of a denominational series contained in it successively across a commonactuator and that thereafter ends its stepping travel and juin s back, and a feeler contained in the tota izer and required to act on the Wheels and normally held clear of them, f feeler actuating means including a device mounted on the totalizer and a device mounted on the framework and projecting into the path of travel of the other device only at a place which the traveling device reaches when the totalizer is near the end of its stepping movement and from which the traveling device recedes instantly after the totalizer starts to jump back.

7. In a calculating machine, the combination with a stepping totalizer that as it steps carries the wheels of a denomination totalizer contained in it successively across and into and from engagement with a common actuator, a feeler-contained in the totalizer, and locking mechanism, of a device mounted in and projecting from the totalizer and connected to the feelcr, a latchlever that is mounted on the framework and that is tripped by said device as the totalizer steps from units position when the totalizer is not clear, and an actuating device that is held inactive by the latchlever at the start of the step and that imparts motion to a portion of the locking mechanism xwhen the latchlever is tripped 1n that step.

8. In a .calculating mathine, the combination of a stepping totalizcr that as it steps carries the wheels of a denominational series contained in it successively across and into and from engagement with a common actuator, a feeler contained in the totalizer and required to act on the wheels and normally held clear of them, and lookin mechanism, of a lever mounted in the totalizer and connected to the feeler 4and extending through the top of the totalizer casing above which its upper end is normally held at the limit of its upward movement, a spring` acting on the connected level' and feeler and tending to keep them both in their normal positions, a latchlever that is mounted on the framework and that is tripped bythe upper end of the traveling lever as thetotalizer steps from units position when the totalizer is not clear, and that depresses the up )er end of the, traveling lever as the tota izer steps from that position when it is clear, and an actuating device that is mounted on the framework and heldinactive by the. latchleverl when the totalizer is in units position and that imparts motion to a port-ion of the locking mechanism if the latchlever is tripped and continues to be held inactive by thc latchlevcr if the latter is not tripped.

9. In a calculating machine, the combination with a main actuator, a main decimal truck that steps to cach denominational position, a totalizcr casing mounted thereon, a cross truck that is picked up hy said casing as it steps and approaches Vthe main actuator and that is released from the casing and jumps back as the carriage steps from units position, a cross totalizer attached to the cross truck, a feeler contained in the cross totalizer, and locking mechanism, of. a device mounted on and projecting from the cross totalizer and connected to the feeler, a latchlever that is mounted on the framework and that is tripped by said deviceas the cross totalizer steps from units position when it is not clear, an actuating device that is mounted on the framework and normally held inactive by the latchlever and that imparts motion to a portion of the locking mechanism when the latchlever is so tripped, a latch mounted on the framework and normally acting on said actuating device, releasing mechanism which is mounted on the framework and connected .o the latch and by which the latch is movable to an inactive position, and a trippet attached to the said casing and arranged to act on said releasing mechanism when th cari-ia e stands in units position.

1t). n a calculating machine, the combination with a stepping totalizer that as it s teps carries the wheels of the denominational series contained in it successively across a common actuator, a feeler contained in the totalizer, and locking mechanism, of a normally restrained actuating device by which a portion of the locking mechanism is forced to its working position when this actuating device is released, a restraining latch that acts on said actuating device in clearance proving operations when the'totahzer is 1n units position, and latch trippingv means that includes thefeeler and that is forced by the totalizer in its next step to trip the latch in case the totalizer is not clear.

11. In a calculating machine, the combination with a stepping totalizer that as it Steps carries the wheels of a denominational series contained in it successively across a J common actuator, a feeler contained in the totalzer, and locking mechanism, of an actuatin device which is pivoted on the framewor and normall held inactive and by which a portion o the locking mechanism is forced to its working position when this actuating device is released, and releasing means that includes the feeler and other devices that. are forced by the totalizer to coact in the last step of a clearance proving operation when the totalize'r is not clear, this releasing means including part of the means that holds the actuating device normally inactive,

l2. In a calculating machine, the combination with a stepping totalizer that as it steps carries the wheels of a denomination series contained in it. successively across a common actuator. a fecler contained in the totalizer, and locking mechanism including a lever, of an actuating device that is pivoted on the framework and normally held inactive and that is effective when it is released to force said lever of the locking mechanism to its working position, a latchlever that is mounted on the framework and act-s at one end on said actuating device in clearance proving operations when the totalizer is in units position and that has a nose at its other end, one arm of this latchlever being part of the means by which the actuating device is normally held inactive, and a device that is mounted in the totalizer and connected to the feeler and has an arm proiccting from the casing, the nose of Atlie latchlever being normali in the path operations of the machine exce t clearance proving o rations and by whic a rtion of the loc mechanism is fo to its working position when this actuatdevice is released,vand releasing means at includes the feeler and other devices that are forced by the totalizer to coact in the last step of a'clearance proving operation when the totalizer is not c ear.

14. In a calculating machine, the combination with a ste ping totalizer that as it ste s carries the w reels of a denominational `series contained in it successively across a common actuator a fe'eler contained in the totalizer, and loclring' mechanism, of an actuat' device which is held inactive in all operations of the machine exce t clearance proving o rations and by whic a rtion of the loc 'ng mechanism is force to its working position when this actuating device is released, two holding devices'that some times act to ther and each of which some,- times acts a one on the actuating device, releasing means that disables one of the holding devices before the totalizer steps to and from units position, and releasing means that includes the feeler and that disables the other holding device yas the totalizer steps from that position, if it is not clear.

15. In a calculating machine, the combination with a'main decimal truck that steps to each denominational position, a totalizer c mounted thereon, a cross truck that ispi edupbysaidcasingasitstepsand device which is held inactive in all approaches the main actuator and that is released from the casing and jumps back as the carriage steps from units position, a crosstotallzer attached to the cross truck, a feeler contained in the cross totalizer, and lookin mechanism, of an actuating device which 1s held inactive in all operations of the machine except clearance proving o rations and by which a portion of the loc ing mechanism is forced to its working position when the actuating device is released, two holding devices that sometimes act together and each of which sometimes acts alone on the actuating device, releasi means in which a tri et attached to said casin is included and b which one of the holng devices is disablsed, and releasing means that -includes the feeler and that disables. the

other-holding device as the cross totalizer steps from units position when it is not clear.

16. In a calculating machine, the combination' with a stepping totalizer that as it steps carries the w eels of a denominational serieslcontained in it successively across .a common actuator, a feeler contained in the totalizer, and'lockng mechanism, of an actuating device ivotally mountedonv the framework,hold1n means b which the actuati Vdevice is he d norma y inactive and in which is included a latchlever that is pivotally mounted on the framework, and releasing means that includes the feeler and a device that is mounted in the totalizer and acts on the latchlever, a portion of the locking mechanism bein close to the actuating device and mova le to its working position by that device.

Signed at Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, this 19th day of December,'A. D. 1922.

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