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US2710719A - Calculating machine - Google Patents

Calculating machine Download PDF

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US2710719A
US2710719A US2710719DA US2710719A US 2710719 A US2710719 A US 2710719A US 2710719D A US2710719D A US 2710719DA US 2710719 A US2710719 A US 2710719A
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actuators
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keys
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16KVALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K1/00Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
    • F16K1/12Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened

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  • This invention relates to improvements in calculating machines, more particularly machines such as used by publicutility companies in preparing bills to consumers of metered commodities such as gas, electricity and water.
  • metered commodities such as gas, electricity and water.
  • the present reading of the consumers meter, and the previous meter reading, obtained from entries in the meter readers book, are entered in the machine. From these items, the difference, which is the number of units of the conlmodity consumed during the period between the dates of the meter readings, can be calculated.
  • an yobject Aof the present invention to provi-de a calculating machine with relatively simplemechanism ywhich will permit the entry of a plurality of itemsY into a ⁇ totalizeror register in a single machine cycle and thereby reduce the number nof machiney cycles required inthe performance of work of the kind referred to above.
  • Amfurthe'r object of 4the invention is to provide such a machine with -means to prevent the operator, in attempting to enter the amount of consumption read from the meter readers book, from depressing keys which do not correspond to the difference between the meter readings which have been entered in the machine and thus call-the operators attention to the disagreement beforel the machine is operated to enter the amount of consumption into the totalizer of the machine.
  • Patented June i152-, 1955 certain elements associated adding and subtracting totalizer or crossfooter;
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective of portions of the crossfooter, tens-transfer means and differential mechanism
  • Fig. 6 shows a portion of a work form
  • Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic showings ot ⁇ the relative positions of certain elements of the crossfooter and differential mechanism at different times in operation of the machine;
  • Fig. l0 is a left side elevation showing certain of the elements of Fig. 2 in moved positions;
  • Fig. 11 is a partial right side elevation with certain of the elements of Fig. 2 removed or broken away to reveal other elements more clearly;
  • Fig. 12 is a right side elevation of certain other elements of Fig. 2.
  • One embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, as applied to a Burroughs High Keyboard machine which is in wide use in public utility billing applications.
  • the machine is driven by an electric motor 20 (Fig. l) through a clutch 2.
  • the clutch and the power supply of the motor are controlled by a plurality of motor bars and live keys, such as the motor bars 22 and 23 (Fig. l) and the total and subtotal keys 2d and 25 (Fig. 2), depression of any of which will cause the motor to drive ythe machine through a cycle of operation in which the shaft 26 is oscillated first in one direction (clockwise in Fig. 1 and counterciockwise in Figs. 2, 10, il and 12) in the forward stroke of the cycle and then in the reverse direction in the return stroke of the cycle.
  • a cam arm 27 (Fig.
  • the cross bar 30 extends transversely under the forward arms of a series of levers 32, the forward ends of which are urged downwardly by individual long tension springs 33.
  • the forward ends of the levers are connected to toothed differential actuator sectors by means of a stud 36 in the end of the forward arm of each lever 32 passing through an elongated slot in its actuator sector 35 and a spring 37 (Fig. 1G) connected at its upper end to said stud and at its lower end to the lower portion of the actuator to urge the latter to its upward limit relative to the stud 36.
  • Each actuator sector 35 is guided between a pair of guide plates 3S and 39 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and l0) supported on cross rods 4i) and 41 (Fig. lil) of the machine frame.
  • guide plates 38 and 39 one, 39 has-a its upper end a portion t2 extending rearwardly through the keyboard and serving as a keyboard partition plate.
  • the keyboard comprises a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending rows or bank of digit keys each including nine keys for the digits l to 9, respectively.
  • each key Upon depression, each key rocks a bell crank 46 (Fig. l0)
  • l0 is provided which cooperates with the bell cranks 46 for that bank in a well known manner to latch the bell crank 46 for any depressed key in rocked position and prevent the rocking of any other bell crank 46 and, consequently, the depression of any other key in the same bank until the previously rocked bell crank 46 has been released.
  • the rocking of any bell crank 46 by depression of its key moves the slide 50 rearwardly to a posi tion in which it is lntched by a latch pawl 5l (Fig. l) and from which it is released in a manner and by means which are well known and need not be described or i1lustrated herein.
  • each key latch slide 5@ cooperates in a well known manner with a zero stop pawl 52 (Fig. lil) which, while no key in its bank is depressed, is positioned to prevent movement of the actuator sector 35 for that bank below its normal position (Fig. lil).
  • the key latch slide 50 when moved by the bell crank lo for any key in its bank being depressed, rocks the Zero stop 52 for that bank to a position where it will not prevent downward movement of the actuator sector 35 for that bank.
  • Each actuator 35 is capable of moving ⁇ one step upwardly beyond its normal position but is normally prevented frorn doing so by a tens-transfer pawl S3 (Figs. 4 and 5) which normally engages a stud 54 on the side of the actuator when the latter is in its normal position.
  • each lever 32 On the rearward end of each lever 32 is a type carrier carrying a series of types 55 (Fig. l) for the ten digits, "0 to from which an amount set on the keys or a total drawn from the totalizer in each machine cycle may be printed on work papers, such as bill forms, supported around a platen 56 mounted on a traveling paper carriage 57 automatically movable to various columnar positions by the usual tabulating and return mechanisms.
  • the paper carriage carries a number of the usual columnwise CII lll
  • Y adjustably mounted stub shafts 58 each supporting one or more control rolls 59 of various diameters adapted, in various positions of the paper carriage, to act on various cam levers e@ extending in the direction of the upper right side of the machine from respective ones of a series of yoke members 6l pivotally mounted in nested relation on a stub shaft 62 securedl in and extending rearwardly from the back plate of the machine.
  • Such rollers 59, cam levers 6i) and yoke members 61 control certain functions of the machine in the usual manner.
  • Amounts set up on the keyboard may be entered into an adding and subtracting totalizer referred to .hereinafter as the crossfooter, and/ or into any register of a line of adding registers 64 (Fig. l).
  • the crossfooter has the usual upper line of adding pinions 65 and lower line of subtracting pinions 66, the pinions 65 and 66 meshing in pairs.
  • the lines of pinions 63 and 66 are supported in a tumbling frame which includes end plates 69 and is, in turn rockably supported in a crossfooter main frame comprising end plates 67 (Figs. l, 2, 4, l0 and ll) to place either the adding pinions 65 or the subtracting pinions 66 in active position.
  • the main frame end plates 67 are rockably mounted on studs 68 (Figs.
  • An arm 70 (Fig. ll) secured on the shaft 26 has',.in' its upper end, a stud pivotally supporting a pass-by pawl 71 urged into radial alignment with the arm 70 by a tension spring 72.
  • the pawl 71 cooperates in the usual way wtih studs 73 and 74 in the forward and rearward arms, respectively, of a three-armed lever 75 pivotally, mounted on a stud 76 secured in the machine frame.
  • the downward third arm of the lever 75 carries a stud on which the rearward end of a pitrnan 77 is pivotally mounted.
  • the forward portion of the pitman 77 has upper and lower branches with notched ends to cooperate with studs 7S and 79 secured in the left end plate 67 of the crossfooter main frame above and below the axis of the pivot studs 68.
  • a link 8G is pivotally mounted at its forward end on a short shaft, referred to hereinafter, supported in the crossfooter left end plate 67.
  • the rearward end .of the link has a hook shoulder which a light tension spring 83 normally holds in the path of a stud 84 (Fig. l1) secured in the arm '70.
  • the crossfooter As in the usual Burroughs High Keyboard machine, the crossfooter is in engaged position while the machine is at rest between cycles of operation. In both adding and subtracting amount entering machine cycles, the pitman 77 is supported in an upper position in the usual manner (not shown) by a link 64 (Fig.
  • the crossfooter While the crossfooter is out of engagement with the actuator sectors 35, its tumbling frame may be rocked by the usual means (not shown) controlled automatically by the paper carriage ⁇ or manuah ⁇ ly by the usual subtract lever 44, to place either the add pinions 65 or the subtract pinions 66 in position to mesh with the actuator sectors 35 when the crossfooter is returned into engagement with the sectors 3S.
  • the stud 84 Near the end of the forward stroke of the cycle, after the actuator sectors have completed their descent to amount dileraviaria ential positions determined by the depressed keys 45, the stud 84 picks up the hook shoulder on the rear end of the link 80 and pulls the latter rearwardly to rock the crossfooter again into engagement with the actuator sectors 35.
  • the crossfooter remains engaged with the actuator sectors 35 throughout the return stroke of the amount entering cycle so that the sectors 35, returning to their normal positions, rotate the crossfooter pinions to extents commensurate with the amount set on the keys 45.
  • a transfer tooth 8S (Fig. 5) secured on the hub of the pinion sets the associated transfer pawl 53 to permit the actuator sector 35 of the next higher order to return one step above its 0 position and thereby enter a tens-transfer on the pinions of the latter order.
  • the transfer pawls cooperate with the usual latch means and restoring means (not illustrated).
  • the link 64 and7 thereby, the forward portion of the pitrnan 77 are lowered and uncoupled from the stud 78 so that, as the pitman 77 is moved forwardly at the beginning of the forward stroke of a total-taking cycle, the crossfooter remains in engagement with the actuator sectors 35 and the notched end of the lower forward branch of the pitman 77 becomes coupled with the stud 79.
  • the racks descend and rotate the crossfooter pinions until they are arrested by engagement of their transfer projections against the transfer pawls 53.
  • the levers 32 and type sectors carried thereby are positioned in accordance with the total drawn from the crossfooter.
  • the crossfooter is disengaged from the actu ator sectors so that the crossfooter remains cleared while the actuator sectors return to 0.
  • the pawl 71 is prevented fiom acting on the stud 74 so that the crossfooter remains meshed with the actuator sectors as the latter return to 0 and re-enter the amount of the subtotal into the crossfooter.
  • ln non-add operations the forward end of the pitman 77 is in its upper position as in amount-entering operations but the pawl 7l is disabled from acting on the stud 74 so that the crossfooter remains out of engagement with the actuator sectors from a time before the latter commence their descent until after they have been returned to 0.
  • the crossfooter is returned into engagement with the actuator sectors by a link Se (Fig.
  • addition and subtraction may be performed on a single set of register pinions by effecting rotation of the pinions by the actuator ⁇ racks during the return stroke in the usual way for addition but effecting rotation of the pinions in the reverse direction by the actuator racks during the forward stroke as the racks move form their O positions to their differential positions for subtraction.
  • the present invention takes advantage of that possibility and of the circumstance that the two meter readings must be entered in opposite senses, one additively and the other subtractively, to enter both meter readings in a single machine cycle, upon the same pinions which then will contain the amount of consumption at the end of that single cycle.
  • one group of the regular key rows in the right-hand portion of the keyboard is allotted for the entry of present meter readings and another group of the regular key rows leftward of the rst group is allotted for the entry of previous meter readings as well as for the entry of the precaleulated consumption amounts.
  • the meter readings are entered, not upon the regular pinions of the crossfooter but upon a set of auxiliary consumption computing pinions which has been inserted in the crossfooter tumbling frame, and upon which the present meter reading is subtracted during the forward stroke of a machine cycle and the previous reading is added during the return stroke of the saine cycle.
  • Means are provided for crossshifting the crossfooter tumbling frame so as to align the consumption computing pinions during the forward stroke ot' the reading-entering cycle with the actuator sectors controlled by the present reading keys and, during the return stroke of the same cycle, with the actuator sectors controlled by the previous reading keys.
  • a group of the regular actuator sectors and the banks of reys directly above them are employed for entering the previous reading.
  • Present readings are entered on another group ot' the regular key rows which are located to one side of the group of previous reading key rows and have cross connections through the key rows to control auxiliary actuator sectors interspersed between the previous reading sectors.
  • the illustrated machine is also provided with proving means including key-lock means which become effective after the entry of the meter readings to control keys of those key rows (in this embodiment of the invention, the previous reading key rows) upon which the amount of consumption is to be entered for the machine cycle following the reading-entering cycle, to prevent depression of any keys representing an amount different from the amount of consumption contained in the meter reading pinions of the crossfooter.
  • machines embodying the present invention may be constructed with any required consumption computing capacity and that the present and previous reading key groups and the consumption computing pinions may be arranged in various ways.
  • l7-bank machine which is a machine having 17 rows of keys in addition to register selecting keys (if any), function contro keys and motor bars
  • the four key rows for the units of dollars to thousands of dollars (3rd to 7th orders), both inclusive may be allotted to present reading entries
  • the four key rows for the hundreds ot' thousands of dollars to the tens of millions of dollars (9th to 13th orders), both inclusive may be allotted to previous readings and pre-calculated consumption amounts.
  • Both groups of key rows will have the same number of key rows which need be no greater than that necessary to handle the largest indii vidual consumption amount expected to be encountered;
  • the four key rows at the extreme left side of the keyboard may be employed for dates and item designations, such as for gas, electricity, appliance purchase payments, arrears, tax, etc.
  • Each of four auxiliary differential amount actuators may be positioned immediately to the left of a respective one of the usual actuators for the previous reading .(9th to 13th) orders and controlled by means operable by the present reading keys 3rd to 7th orders).
  • the consumption computing pinons may be located in the crossfooter accordingly. It will be apparent that various other specic Varrangements may be employed.
  • the mode of operation ot the i trated machine embodying the invention may be outline. as follows:
  • the traveling paper carriage in the meter reading columnar position and the crossfooter in a normal position where the usual crossiooter pinions are meshed with the usual actuator sectors the present previous meter readings are set on the keys or ⁇ the appropriate groups oi key rows and a machine cycle is initiated.
  • the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors in the usual way. Then it is unediately cross-shifted to align the meter-reading pinions with tie auxiliary actuator sectors controlled by the present reading keys and the meter reading pinions are mashed with the auxiliary present reading actuator sectors before the actuator sectors descend from their normal "6 posiions.
  • the consumption computing pinions are rotated in one direction from their starting, clear positions to extents corresponding to the present meter reading.
  • the crossiooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors and further cross-shifted to align the consumption computing pinions with those of the usual actuator sectors which have descended to positions determined by the depressed previous reading keys.
  • both the present and the previous meter readings are printed by the usual type carriers associated with the usual actuator sectors controlled by the keys of the present reading and previous reading groups ot key rows.
  • the crossiooter engaging mechanism functions in the manner normal amount-entering cycles whereby the consumption computing pinions are meshed with the previous reading actuator sectors before the latter commence their return to normal.
  • the previous reading actuator sectors rotate the consumption computing pinion-.s in the reverse direction to extents corresponding to the previous meter reading so that. at the end of the cycle, these pinions contain the amount ot' consumption.v
  • the isual tens-transfer mechanism associated with the regular actuator sectors takes care of necessary tens-transfer so that no auxiliary tens-transfer mechanism is required.
  • the proving means is automatically rendered effective so that the operator, in entering the pre-calculated amount o consumption upon the keys of the previous reading key rows, attempts to depress any key which does not correspond to the amount remaining on the consumption computing pinions of the cross'iooter, that key will be found locked against depression and will inform the operator that an error has been made. that case, the machine may be restored to normal clear condition by appropriate measures and the work done over.
  • the amount of consumption which the operator reads from the meter-readers book and enters on the keys is the same as that renaiuing on the consumption computing pinions orn the crosstooten' another machine cycle may be initiated, in the course of which the regular crossfooter engaging mechanism will cause the consumption computing pinions to beunmeshed from the previous reading actuator sectors at the beginning of the forward stroke of the cycle and re-meshed with those sectors at the beginning of the return stroke.
  • Those sectors returning to O from the positions to which they descended in the forward stroke under control of the depressed keys, rotate the consumption computing pinions further in the above-mentioned reverse direction to extents corresponding to the amount of consumption entered on the keys and thus return those pinions to their starting clear position.
  • the amount of consumption is printed near the end of the forward stroke while those sectors are in the positions corresponding to the depressed keys.
  • the paper carriage tabulates to the next columnar position and automatically conditions means which, in the forward Stroke of a subsequent cycle of operation o the machine, cross-shifts the crossooter back to its normal position in which the usual crossfooter pinions are again aligned with the usual actuator sectors.
  • the bill may be completed as desired by further operation of the machine in an appropriate usual manner.
  • the disengagement at the beginning of the forward stroke is effected in the manner usual for amount entering cycles by the action or" the pawl il on the stud '73 (Fig. il).
  • the re-engagement at me beginning of the return stroke is effected also by the action of the pawl 7l on the Stud 74.
  • means additional to those previously described have been added to effect the re-engagernent beore the actuator sectors descend in the 'forward stroke and the disengagement before the return of the actuator sectors begins in the return stroke and to disable the link 3i) (Fig. l1) which would otherwise prevent the disengagement at the end of the forward stroke, all of said means being normally inetiective but automatically rendered eiective in meter reading entering machine cycles.
  • a leltwardly extending arm 194 on the forward side of 'the yoke member has a forked end embracing the end of a rearward arm of a bell crank 195 pivotally mounted on a stud loo secured in the left side trame member.
  • a tension spring 107 is connected between the rearward arm of the bell crank lilo' and a stud secured in the left side frame member and normally holds a downward projection of the rear arm of the bell crank M5 engaged against a limit stud lll secured in the frame member.
  • a downwardV arm of the bell crank lllS is pivote-.ily connected with the rearward end of a link il@ which is pivotally connected at its forward end to an upper arm of a two-armed lever ill pivotally mounted on a stud il?. secured in the outer side of the left side trame member.
  • a lower arm of the lever 111 extends rearwardly under a stud 113 secured in the rear end of an upper branch of the rearward portion of a link 114 which is pivotally mounted at its forward end on a stud 115 secured in the left side member 67 of the crossfooter main frame and extending leftward through an opening in the left side frame member.
  • a link 116 is pivotally mounted at its forward end on a stud 117 secured in the link 114 near the forward end of the latter.
  • the rearward end of the link 116 has a hook shoulder 118 .located rearward of the left end portion of a stud 81 secured in a drive plate 82 secured on the shaft 26.
  • the stud 81 has been lengthened to extend through an opening in the left side frame plate and beyond the left side of the latter.
  • a stud 120 secured in an upward projection of the link 114 extends under and normally supports the link 116 so that the hook shoulder 118 is above and clear of the path of the stud 81.
  • a link 121 is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the upper arm of the lever 111 and at its forward end to an arm 122 pivotally mounted at its lower for# ward end on a stud 123 secured in the left (outer) side of the left side frame member of the machine.
  • the arm 122 is bent through an opening in the frame member and then extends rearwardly over a stud 124 se-v cured in the link 80.
  • the arm 104 rocks the bell crank 105 to pull the link 110 rearwardly.
  • the latter rocks the lever 11,1 to lower the stud 113, thereby permitting the rearward portions of the links 114 and 116 to drop to place the hook shoulder 118 in the path of the stud 81.
  • the link 121 which is also pulled rearwardly, rocks the arm 122 to depress the stud 124 and lower the rear hooked end of the link 80 out of the path of the stud 84.
  • the stud 81 engages the hoolf ⁇ shoulder 11S and and pulls the links 116 and 114 rearwardly, thereby reengaging the crossfooter with the actuators and placing the notched end of a lower branch 125 of the rear portion of the link 114 in the path of a stud 126 in the lower portion of the drive plate 82.
  • a cam portion of the lower edge of the link 116 encounters a stud 119 secured in the ,y
  • the pinions are again cross-shifted as described hereinafter, and, the crossfooter is re-engaged with the actuator sectors by the action of the pawl 71 on the stud 74 at the beginning of the return stroke of the cycle and remains in engaged position throughout the remainder of the cycle.
  • the paper carriage is tabulated by the usual tabulating means to the consumption columnar position, the roll 101 is removed from the arm 102 and the links'114 and 11 are restored to their normal inactive positions and the link 80 returns to its normal active position.
  • an arm 130 (Figs. 5 and l0) is rockably mounted at its rearward end on the shaft 31 in the same manner as the levers 32.
  • the arms 130 are like the levers 32 except that they do not extend rearwardly of the shaft 31 to support type carriers as do the levers 32.
  • the forward ends of the arms 130 are urged downwardly against the bail 29 by springs 33 and are connected with auxiliary actuator sectors 131 (Figs. 5 and l0) in the same manner as the forward ends of the levers 32 are connected with the usual actuator sectors 3S.
  • the auxlary actuator sectors 131 are like the usual sectors 3S and are similarly guided between additional pairs of guide plates 133 and 134, one of which, like the guide plates 39, has a portion 135 like the portion 42 also ex tending rearwardly through the keyboard and serving as keyboard partition plates.
  • the guide plates 133 and 134 are formed with slots like those in the guide plates and to guide the rightwardly bent forward ends of sets of stop wires 136 which are like the stop wires 48. Leftward movement of the forward ends of the wires is prevented by fixed strips 280 and leftward movement of the forward ends of the wires 48 is prevented by the adjacent guide plate 133.
  • each set is pivotally connected with the downward arms of bell cranks 137 which are generally similar to the usual bell cranks 4G and are pivotally mounted on the same cross-rods 47 as are the usual bell cranks 46 but immediately rightwardly of the partition plate portion 135 of the guide plate 134 by which the respective set of stop wires 136 is guided.
  • Each set of bell cranks 137 includes a ninth bell crank 137 rearwardly of the eight connected with the stop wires 65 and pivotally mounted on the rearinost cross rod 47.
  • the latch slides 138 and zero stop pawls 139 cooperate in the same way and perform the same functions with respect to the bell cranks 137 and actuator sectors 131 as the usual latch slides 50 and zero stop pawls 52 perform with respect to the usual bell cranks 46 and actuator sectors 35.
  • each set and thus also the latch slide 138 and zero stop pawl 139 for that set, are operable by the keys of a respective one of that group of the usual key rows in the right-hand portion of the keyboard which is allotted for the entry of present meter readings, such operation being effected through the keyboard crossconnections next described.
  • Cross-connectiofzs in keyboard Leftward of and near the lower ends of the stems of the keys 45 of each key row of the present reading group of key rows is a supporting strip 141 (Fig. 3) mounted in xed position a little below the usual keyboard plate 90 (Fig. l0).
  • Nine bell-cranks 142 each having a rightward arm and a rearward arm, are pivotally mounted on the upper side of each strip 141 on headed studs 143 secured in the strip.
  • the rightward arms of t'ne bell cranks 142 have slots in which are engaged upwardly extending projections 144 which have been added to each of the bell cranks 46 of each of the present reading key rows.
  • a supporting strip 145 mounted in fixed position a little below the keyboard plate 90.
  • Nine bell cranks 146 are pivotally mounted on the upper side oi' each strip 145' on headed studs 147 secured in the strip.
  • the end of the leftward arrn of each bell crank 146 engages the rear edge of a short projection 148 extending upwardly from the upper edge of a respective one of the bell cranks 137.
  • each of the bell cranks 14e' is piv otally connected with the leftward end of a cross-conaviaria l l necting wire 149, the rightward end of which is pivot-ally connected with the rearward arm of the corresponding bell crank 142 of the corresponding row of bell cranks
  • the above described cross-connections are such that when keys for any of the digits l to "8 in the rows of present reading keys are depressed they not only pull rearwardly the usual stop wires 4S for those key rows to control the excursions of the usual actuator sectors 35 for those key rows but also pull rearwardly the corresponding stop wires 136 for corresponding ones of the auxiliary actuator sectors 131 to control the excursions of the latter in accordance with the amount set on the present reading keys.
  • Depression of any present reading key also not only shifts rearwardly the usual latch slide 50 and thus trips the usual zero stop pawl 52 for its key row but also shifts rearwardly a corresponding one of the latch slides 135 to trip the Zero stop pawl 159 for the corresponding one of the auxiliary actuator sectors 131.
  • Depression of a 9 key in any of the present reading key rows does not set any stop wire 48 or 136 but, because of its tripping of the zero stop pawl 52 for its key row and of the corresponding one of the Zero stop pawls 139, permits the usual actuator sector 35 for that key row and the corresponding auxiliary actuator sector 131 to move through their full strokes appropriate for the entry of Consumption computing pinions
  • the crossfooter is of the usual construction except for the alterations and additions next described.
  • the tumbling frame end plates 69 are secured to the ⁇ ends of a pair ci pinion supporting shafts 91 and 92 (Fig.
  • the right-hand end plate 9 carries the usual stud (not Shown) journalled in the usual bushing 93 carried by the right-hand main 'trarne end ple-.te 67.
  • the stud by which the tumbling frame left end plate 69 is usually' supported in the left main end plate 67 is replaced by a short shaft 155 which is extended both inwardly (rightwardly) through the tumbling frame left end plate 69 and outwardly (leftwardly) beyond the main end plate 67.
  • the usual crossfooter adding and subtracting pinions 65 and 66 instead of being mounted on the shafts 91 and 92 in positions xed longitudinally of said shafts, are rotatably mounted on anged bushings 156. All of the bushings 156 for the adding pinions 65 are mounted on a tube 157 slidable on the shaft 91 and all of the bushings 156 for the subtracting pinions 66 are mounted on a tube S slidable on the shaft 92.
  • the bushings 156 for the usual pinions 65 and 66 for the previous reading orders are of a length which is about half of the spacing from center to center between those pinions.
  • another short bushing 156 rotatably cartying a consumption computing pinion 169 or 161 is mounted on the tube 157 or 158, respectively.
  • the consumption computing pinions 161i and 161 mesh in pairs as do the usual adding and subtracting pinions 65 and 66 and are like the usual pinions in all respects.
  • the rightmost bushing 156 in each line is threaded on the right end of the respective tube 157 or 158 and a nut 162 is threaded on the left end of each of the tubes 157 and 158 against a spacing sleeve 163 on said tube to eliniirninate end play between the bushings 156 and position them accurately upon the tubes.
  • a plate secured on the rightward end of the short shaft 155 is apertured to receive the leftward end o the tubes 157 and 15S which are secured to the plate 165 by pairs of nuts 166 threaded on the tubes on opposite sides of the plate.
  • a helical spring 167 surrounding the shaft 155 and compressed between the plate 165 and the lefhand end plate 69 urges the plate 155 and the pinion-carrying tubes 157 and 153 toward their rightward limit where the right ends of the tubes bear against the tumbling frame right end plate 69 and the consumption computing pinions 164i and 161 are in the planes of the usual actuator sectors for the corresponding previous reading orders.
  • the plate 165, tubes 157 and 158 and the pinions are normally held, by means deg scribed hereinafter, in a leftward position where the usual crossfooter pinions and 66 are in the planes of the usual actuators 35 and, Vduring the forward stroke of a reading entering cycle, are held, by the same means, in an intermediate position in which the consumption cornputing pinions 1611 and 161 are located in the planes of the auxiliary present reading actuator sectors 131.
  • the transfer projections on the usual pinions 65 and 66 and those on the consumption computing pinions 16) and 161 are all located at the same distance leftward of their respective pinions so that the transfer projections 85 of whichever pinions are meshed with the usual actuator sectors 35 will be in position to cooperate with the transfer pawls 53 to effect transfers to the next higher orders.
  • the present meter reading is to be entered first on the consumption computing pinions by rotation of the latter in the direction reverse to the direction in which the usual crossfooter pinions are rotated in adding operations
  • the clear positions from which the consumption computing pinions are to start at the beginning of each meter-reading entering cycle and to which they should return at the end of each consumption proving and entering cycle are the positions in which the transfer projections 85 of the pinions 16d are (as shown in Fig. 2) immediately below the transfer projections 43 of the transfer pawls 53.
  • the usual detent pawls 94 (Fig. 4) are provided to cooperate with the usual subtraction pinions 66 and are operated in the normal manner by the usual bail to hold the usual pinions 65 and 66 against accidental rotation at all times while the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors.
  • Additional detent pawls 16S like the usual pawls 94 have been added and are also operated by the bail 95 to cooperate with the pinions 161 to prevent accidental rotation of the consumption coLl puting pinions while the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors.
  • the side arms of the bail 95 and all of the pawls 94 and 16S are mounted on a shaft 169 which differs from the usual solid shaft journalled in the tumbling frame end plates in that the shaft 169 is a hollow tube, the left end of which is supported by the plate 165 to which Vit is secured in the same manner as the tubes 1 7 and 158.
  • the right end of the tube 169 is supported ou a rod 171i secured in the rightcend plate 69 of the tumbling frame.
  • a blade 172 is ixedly secured in the tumbling frame end plates and formed with notches which pass the teeth of the pinions aligned with and rotated by the actuator sectors 35 or 131 while the teeth 173 left between the notches engage in tooth spaces of those pinions 66 or 161 which are not aligned with actuator sectors and prevent rotation of those pinions.
  • the purpose of adding the pinions 161 to the crossfooter is to utilize them principally Vto cooperate with the bail 172, 173 and the detent pawls 168 to prevent accidental rotations of the pinions 16S.
  • a small detent plate (Figs. 2 and 4) secured in and extending upwardly and somewhat forwardly from the left end of the shaft has a stepped rightward edge 4) providing two shoulders ll and 182 engageable against the left side of a forwardly and somewhat downwardly inclined arm o? an escapement bell crank 183 pivotally mounted on a screw stud 184 secured in a fixed plate 185 mounted on the left side frame member of the machine.
  • the end of the forward arm of the escapernent bell crank 133 carries a stud 136 normally engaged in a notch in the lower end portion of a latch member 157 also pivotally mounted at its upper end on a screw stud 1S?) secured in the plate S5
  • the latch member 187 is urged clockwise (Fig. ll) toward the stud 1% by a tension spring 189 connected between a Stud on the latch member and a stud on the plate 185.
  • the escapement bell crank 133 is normally urged clockwise (Fig. ll) to urge its forward arm downwardly against the shaft 155 by another tension spring 196 connected between the last-mentioned stud and a stud i915. secured in the end of the upper arm of the bell crank.
  • the stud 191 projects through a forwardly and rearwardly elongated slot in the forward end of a link 192 u and is normally held in the rearward end or' the slot by a tension spring 193 connected at its forward end to the stud 191 and at its rearward end to a stud secured in the link 192.
  • the arm of the previously described bell crank 1%5 carries a stud 109 extending through and normally located in the rearward end of a slot in the rear end of the link 192.
  • the previously described stud 113 in the lever 111 is normally engaged by and supports a projection extending forwardly from the lower end of a downward extension of a link 194 pivotally mounted at its forward end on a stud 195 secured in the right side of the link 192.
  • the link 19d extends rearwardly from the stud 195 along the right side of the link 192 to a point a little rearwardly of a stud 196 secured in and projecting rightwardly from the link 194. rl ⁇ hen the link is bent upwardly and over the link 192 and extends leftwardly through the left side frame member and then bends downwardly.
  • the stud 196 is positioned rearwardly of and normally above the upper end of the upper arm of a bell crank 19'/ which is pivoted on a stud 193 secured in the outer side of the left side frame member.
  • the bell crank 197 is urged clockwise (Fig. 1l) by a tension spring 199 which is connected between a stud on the upper arm of the bell crank and a stud (not shown) secured in the left side frame, the bell crank 197 being thereby normally held at its clockwise limit where a small downward projection of the bell crank is stopped by a limit stud 290 secured in the left side frame member.
  • the stud 113 holds the rearwarL portion of the link 194 in an elevated position with the stud 196 out of the reach of the upper arm of the bell crank 197 and the spring 193 holds the stud 191 in the rearward end of the slot in the forward end of the link 192.
  • the spring 190 normally maintains the link 192 at its forward limit where the forward arm of the es capement bell crank 183 bears against the shaft E55 and is engaged by the rightmost shoulder of the detent plate 18d to hold the usual crossfooter pinions 65 and 66 aligned with the usual actuator sectors 35 as indicated in Fig. 7.
  • This cross-shifting of the crossfooter pinions occurs at the end of the disengaging movement of the crossfooter.
  • the consumption computing pinions 16 are meshed with the present reading actuators 1.31 before the latter descend from their O positions, and they remain meshed throughout the descent of the sectors 131 to extents determined by the depressed present reading keys whereby the present reading is entered on the consumption cornputing pinions.
  • the spring 167 thereupon shifts the shaft 155, plate 165, the tubes 157 and 158 and the crossfooter pinions thereon further rightward to place the consumption computing pinions 16% and 161 in the planes of the usual actuator sectors 3S for the previous reading orders as indicated in Fig. 9.
  • the crossfooter is re-engaged with the actuator sectors at the beginning of the return stroke of the meter reading entering cycle as previously described, so that the consumption computing pinions 16) are then meshed with the usual actuator sectors 35 for the previous reading orders before the sectors commence their return to 0 from the positions at which, in the forward stroke of the cycle, they were arrested under control of the depressed previous reading keys.
  • the pinions 160 remain meshed with the previous reading sectors 35 while the latter return to their 0 positions whereby the previous reading is subtracted from the present reading on the consumption computing pinions so that, at the end of the meter reading cycle, the consumption cornputing pinions contain the amount of consumption represented by the difference between the present and previous meter readings.
  • the link 192 remains in its rearward position but, by reason of the forward elongation of the slot in its rearward end through which the stud 169 extends, does not interfere with the return to normal of the bell crank 105 and other parts controlled by the latter.
  • the paper carriage tabulates in the usual manner to the consumption columnar position.
  • the precalculated consumption amount be entered on the consumption computing pinions in such manner that, if it is the same, as
  • the illustrated machine has been provided with means to warn. the operator immediately when, in setting the precalculated consumption amount on the keys, an
  • a further line of pinions is added to the crossfooter, such line including one pinion 265 (Figs. 5 and 1G) for each consumption computing pinion loi? and meshing with the latter.
  • the pinions 295 are rotatable on bushings 266 which are of such length as to space the pinions 295 in alignment with the plnions lot? and are in turn carried on a tube 27 which is slidable on a rod 2% secured at its rightward end in the tumbling frame right end plate 69 in the same manner as the rods 91 and 92.
  • rl ⁇ he tube Zl is secured at its left end in the plate 1165 in the same manner as the tubes l57 and )153.
  • each cam 299 there is a sensing bell crank lever 2l@ (Fig. lil) pivotally mounted on the rod 43'.
  • Each bell crank 2l@ has a forward sensing arm located in the plane of the respective cam 269 when the pinions lot) and 265 are in the planes of the previous reading actuator sectors 35.
  • Tension springs 2li connected at their rear ends to the upward arms of the respective bell cranks 21u and anchored at their forward ends on studs secured in a bail 2l2 normally urge the bell cranks 2MP clockwise (Fig. l0) until the upper arms thereof engage against the bail.
  • the side arms of the bail are pivots-ily mounted on a rod 2l3 supported in the machine side frames.
  • a downward extension of the left side arm of the bail 2l2 is pivotally connected with the forward end of a link 2id which has, intermediate its ends, a projection 2id which is bent rightwardly over the upper edge of the link 192 upon which it normally rests, and then downwardly on the rightward side of the link @2.
  • the rearward end of the link 2M extends over the link E92 and then downward on the right side of the latter and in front of a stud 216 in the end of the upper arm of the bell crank 197.
  • the downwardly bent end of the projection 2l5 carries a stud 217 normally in front of the shouldered end of the forward arm of a latch bell crank 25.5 pivotally mounted on a stud 22'19 secured in the left side frane member.
  • a control roll 221i. inoron one of the stub shafts 5S on the carriage depresses a cam arm 222 secured to the rear end of a sleeve 223 rotatable on the shaft 62, thereby elevating the end of a leftward arm 224 secured on the forward end of the sleeve. rhe notched end of the arm 224 embraces the end of a rearward arm of a bell crank (Figs. 2 and i0) pivotally mounted on the stud lilo.
  • a tension spring 226 connected between a stud in the left side frame member and the rearward arm of the bell crank normally maintains a downward projection of said arm against the limit stud 10S.
  • A, downward arm of the bell crank 22S carries a stud 227 which extends through a forwardly and rearwardly ongated slot in the rear end of a link 22S ⁇
  • a tension ng 225i connected at its forward end to a stud in the 223 and at its rearward end to the stud 227 normally holds the latter stud in the forward end of the t in the link 22S.
  • the forward end of the link 223 is pr'otally connected to a stud secured in an intermediate portion of arm 239 pivotally mounted at its lower end on a stud 231 secured in the left side frame member.
  • the upper end of the arm 23@ extends iorwardly under a stud 232 secured in and extending leftwardly from the link 214 coaxia ly with the stud 2l7.
  • An intermediate portion of the arm 230 carries a stud 233 extending through an upwardly and downwardly elongated slot in the lowerend of a middle arm of a three-armed lever 235' pivotally mounted at its upper end on a stud 236 secured in the left side frame member.
  • a front arm of the lever 235 extends downwardly in front of a stud 237 secured in the upward arm of the latch bell crank 2l8.
  • the arm 22d rocks the bell crank 225 clockwise (Figs. 2 and l0) as the paper carriage enters the consumption proving and printing columnar position, the link 22S is pulled rearwardly, rocking the arm 23d counterclockwise and the lever M" clockwise.
  • the front A133 arm of the lever 235 rocks the latch hell crank 2l counterclockwise to remove its latch shoulder from the path of the stud 217 and the arm 23@ engages and raises the stud 232 to lift the rearward end of the link 2li@ upwardly clear of the stu-d Zli, whereupon the spring 221i. pulls the link rearwardly and the bail clockwise.
  • Tension springs 242 connected between the studs 239 and the comb sectors 38 or 39 normally maintain the slides 240 at their rearward limits where the notches of one series of notches 243 in the upper edges of the slides 240 are aligned with pins secured in and extending laterally from the bell cranks iti of the previous reading key rows so that, normally, all keys of the previous reading key rows are freely depressible while the machine is at rest between cycles.
  • the upper arms of the sensing bell cranks 21d are swung forwardly as the paper carriage enters the consumption columnar position, the slides 240 are pulled forwardly to varying extents depending upon the difference between the present and previous readings entered in the preceding machine cycle and move the notches 243 out of alignment with the pins 244.
  • Each of the slides 24d has a second series of notches 245 so located in its upper edge that when the slides 246 are positioned by the bell cranks 216 under control of the cams 2M, those keys or the previous reading key rows which correspond to the digits of the difference between the present and previous meter readings entered in the preceding cycle will be freely depressible vbut all other keys of those key rows will be locked against depression by the presence of unnotched upper edge portions of the slides being immediately under the studs 244 of the bell cranks for such other keys.
  • l shows, in active position, the parts for an order in which the consumption computing pinion lo@ is in its clear position when the paper carriage has entered the consumption column after a meter reading entering cycle in which the present and previous readings entered were such that the remainder contained a (l in thatv order and all of the keys for the digits l to 9 for that order are locked against depression.
  • the pre-calculated consumption amount is the same as the diiference between the present and previous meter readings entered in the preceding machine cycle and the operator has correctly entered it on the keys of the previous reading key rows, another cycle of operation of the machine may be initiated.
  • the consumption amount is printed from the type carried by the arms 32 associated with the previous reading actuator sectors 35 and the crossfooter engaging and disengaging means is in normal condition so that the pinions 160 are in mesh with and are rotated back to their starting clear positions by the actuators c of the previous reading orders during the return stroke of the cycle.
  • the sensing bell cranks 2li) are restored to normal in the forward stroke of the cycle.
  • a bell crank 25d pivotally mounted on a stud 251 secured in the inner (right) side of the 'left side frame member has an upper arm carrying a stud 252 located behind a rear arm of the lever 235.
  • a rearward arm of the bell crank 25o has a cam portion which is acted upon by the stud 81 in each machine cycle to rock the bell crank 25@ clockwise (Fig. 10) in the initial portion of the cycle and hold it in such rocked position until the nal portion of the cycle.
  • the stud 252 acts on the rear arm of the lever 235 to restore the latter to normal and permit the forward arm of the latch bell crank 218 to drop onto the stud 217.
  • the stud 252 also acts on the rear end portion of the link 214' and returns it forwardly to its normal position, thereby permitting the latch shoulder of the bell crank 215; to drop behind the stud 217 and returning the bail 212 and sensing bell cranks 21d to normal.
  • the stud 252 holds the link 214 in returned position until after the actuator sectors have returned to O so that rotation of the pinions and 205 and cams 209 by the previous reading actuators 35 is not hindered by the sensing bell cranks 210.
  • a control roll 255 (Fig. 2) depresses the upper rightward end of a cam arm 256 on the rear side of a yoke member 257 which. is rockably mounted on the shaft 62.
  • the forked end of a leftward arm 258 on the forward side of the yoke 257 embraces the end of a rearward arm of a bell crank 259 pivotally mounted on the stud 106.
  • a tension spring 260 (Fig. l2) connected between a stud in the left side frame member and the rearward arm of the bell crank 259 urges the latter counterclockwise (Figs. 2 and 12) and normally maintains a downward projection of the rearward arm of the bell crank against the limit stud 108.
  • a downward arm of the bell crank 259 is pivotally connected to the rear end of a link 261 (Fig. l2) the forward end is pivotally connected to a stud in an intermediate portion of an arm 262.
  • the arm 262 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a shouldered screw stud 263 whose threaded shank passes through the left side frame member and into the left hand stud 68 to secure the latter to the frame member.
  • the upper end portion of the arm 262 extends rearwardly under and normally supports a stud 264 secured in the forward part of a two part longitudinally extensible link 265 normally held in contracted condition by a spring 266 connected at its ends to the two parts of the link.
  • the rearward end of the link has a hook shoulder 267 which is above the path of the stud 81 when, as normally, the link 26S is supported in its upper position by the arm 262.
  • the forward end of the link 265 is pivotally mounted on a stud 26S in the rearward end of a link 269 which is horizontally swingably secured on the left end of a leftward arm of a bell crank 270 horizontally rockably mounted on a stud secured in a horizontally turned lug 271 on the upper portion of a bracket 272 secured, in part by the shouldered screw stud 263, to the outer side of the left side frame member.
  • the bell crank 270 has a second arm extending forwardly on the right side of a roller 273 mounted on 'a screw stud secured to the lower portion of the detent plate 1 80.
  • the stud 8l pulls the link 265 rearwardly and rocks the bell crank 27d so that the forward arm of the latter acts on the roller 273 to move the plate l, shaft t55 and the crossiooter pinions leftwardly suiiciently for the forward arm of the detent bell crank 183 to drop down on the rightward side of the lowermost shoulder itil oi the plate itil? to again latch the crossfooter pinions in their normal lettward positions where the usual add and subtract pinions 65 and 66 are in the planes of the usual actuator sectors 35.
  • a cam projection 275 on the lower edge of the link 265 cooperates with the stud lll-9 i to cam the link upwardly to disengage its hook shoulder 267 from the stud 81.
  • one or more subsequent machine cycles may be utilized to .I
  • a plurality of utility services such as gas, electricity and Water may be billed in successive lines on a single bill, the meter readings and consumption amount in each line being handled in the manner above described.
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by' said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount diierential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, two groups of manipulative amount keys, means for each of vsaid groups of amount keys and conditionable by the keys of the respective group to limit the extents of movement of the actuators of a respective one of said actuator groups from normal, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, and means to control said moving means in a selected machine cycle to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group throughout movement of the actuators in said one direction in said cycle for rotation of Vsaid'pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding to the extents of movements of the latter as determined by said limiting means
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row ofV settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer having a setrof pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, and means to control said moving means in a selected machine cycle to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group throughout movement of the actuators in said one direction i said cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling the actuators of said one group, and to be engaged with
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive'means, recording means having portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means, in a machine cycle, in one direction from a normal'position to amount diierential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators ot either group and to disengage'said pinions from said actuators, and control means conditioned by one of said recording means portions in a predetermined columnar relative position of said portions to condition said moving means to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group for the duration of movement of the actuators in said one direction in a machine cycle
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of differential amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from normal positions to amount difierential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to said normal positions, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extents of movements Vof said actuators from said normal positions in accordance with the values of set keys in the respective key rows, a set of totalizer pinions movable relatively to said actuators for engagement with and disengagement from the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move the pinions to engage them with and to disengage them from the actuators of the selected group, means to control said engaging and disengaging means to effect, in one machine cycle, a iirst actuatorengaging movement of said pinions prior to movement of the actuators from their normal positions, a disengaging movement of the pinions after completion of their movements to diierential amount positions, and a second actuator-engaging movement
  • A. calculating machine having cyciically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount diierential positions and subsequently in sai-d cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frame and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said frame to align them with the actuators of either group, means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, said frame-moving means being normally conditioned to effect such movements of said frame at such times in a machine cycle as to place the frame in engaging position while said actuators are moved in a single one of said directions in said cycle, means to condition said frame moving means
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frame and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said trame to align them with the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, control means conditioned by said one of said portions of said recording means in accordance with the columnar relative positions of said portions, means conditioned by said control means to operate said frame moving means to
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and subsequently in said cycle, the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frame and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said frame to align them with the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators and normally operated by said driving means to move said frame to disengaging position at the beginning of each machine cycle prior to movement of said actuators from their normal positions and to return said frame to ⁇ engaging
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount diderential positions and subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frarne and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said frame to align them with the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, control means conditioned by one of said recording means portions in accordance with the columnar relative positions of said portions, means conditioned by said control means when said recording means portions are
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, a totalizer including a set of pinions, amount entering means including, for each of said pinions, a row of settable amount keys and differential actuator means operable by said driving means in a machine cycle and controlled by a set key of said key row to enter on said pinion an amount determined by the set key, key locking means for eachv of said key rows normally in a nonlocking condition in which it does not prevent setting of any of said keys but operable to each of a plurality of conditions including, for each of the keys of the row, a locking condition in which it does not prevent the setting of said key but locks all of the other keys of said row, control elements conditioned by said pinions in accordance with amounts present on the latter, normally ineiective operating means cooperating with the several key locking means and controllable by respective ones of said control elements in accordance with amounts present on the respective pinions, to operate said key locking means to the locking conditions in which only the keys for an amount related in a predetermined manner to the amount present
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, two key row groups each comprising a row of settable amount keys for each of the actuators of a respective one of said actuator groups, means controlled by the keys of each key row to limit the extent of movement of a respective one of the actuators of the respective group from its normal position in accordance with the values of the set keys in the the respective key rows, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, means to control said moving means in a selected machine cycle to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group throughout movement of said actuators in said one direction in said cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extent
  • a calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by saiddriving means in a machine cycle in one directionfrom a normal position ⁇ to amount differential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, two key row groups each comprising a row of settable amount keys for each of the actuators of a respective one of said actuator groups, means controlled by the keys of each key row to limit the extent of'movement of a respective one of the actuators of the respective group from its normal position in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, means conditioned by one of said recording means portions in a predetermined columnar relative position of said portions to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuator
  • a calculating machine comprising a line of spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators, a keyboard having parallel key rows including a key row for each of said actuators, control means cooperable with respective ones of said ac ,tutors for control of the movements of the latter and with the keys of corresponding ones of said key rows for operation by the keys thereof and extending substantially directly from said keys to said actuators, a line of printing type carriers each having direct connection with a respective one of said actuators for movement therewith, said actuators constituting rst and second spatially separate groups of actuators and the rows of keys operating said control means controlling the actuators of the respective groups likewise constituting Yfirst and second spatially separate groups of key rows, a third group of correspondingly spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators in line and interspersed with the actuators the iirst group, control means cooperable with the respective actuators of said third group for control of the movements of the latter, and extending between the control means for the adjacent actuators of the i
  • a calculating machine comprising a line of spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators, a keyboard having parallel key rows including a key row for each of said actuators, control means cooperable with respective ones on said actuators for control of the movements of the latter and with the keys of corresponding ones of said key rows for operation by the keys thereof and extending substantially directly from said keys to said actuators, a line of printing type carriers each having direct connection with a respective one of said actuators for movement therewith, said actuators constituting first and second spatially separate groups of actuators and the rows of keys operating said control means controlling the actuators of the respective groups likewise constituting first and second spatially separate groups of key rows, a third group of correspondingly spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators in line and interspersed with the actuators of the iirst group, control means cooperable with the respective actuators of said third group for control of the movements of the latter, and extending between the control means for the adjacent actuators of the first group to the keyboard between respective key rows of the first group of
  • a calculating machine comprising a line of spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators, a keyboard having parallel key rows including a key row for each of said actuators, control means cooperable with respective ones of said actuators for control of the movements of the latter and with keys of respective ones of said key rows for operation by the keys thereof and extending substantially directly from said keys to said actuators, a line of printin'7 type carriers each having direct connection with a respective one of said actuators for movement therewith, said actuators constituting iirst and second spatially separate groups of actuators and the rows of keys operating said control means controlling the actuators of the respective groups likewise constituting first and second spatially separate groups of key rows, a third group of correspondingly spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators in line and interspersed with the actuators of the irst group, control means cooperable with respective actuators of said third group for control of the movements of the latter, and extending between the control means for the adjacent actuators of the first group, to the keyboard between respective key rows

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Description

June 14, 1955 A. J. FETTIG cALcuLATING MACHINE:
7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 6, 1952 June 14, 1955 A. J. FETTIG CALCULATING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1.952
/N VEN TOR d. 7277/6 HRT/fw? mi A TTORNE YS S BY @au June 14, 1955 A. J. FET-nc; 2,710,719
' CALCULATING MACHINE "r sheets-sheet :s
Filed June 6, 1952 INVENTOR jeff/0R d. Fm/e ATroRNEYs June 14, 1955 Filed June 6, 1952 A. J. FETTIG CALCULATING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 6.
. comm 1. coLUuN 2.
PREVIOUS READING pnxsasr READING cousuuP'rIoH se a5 29 INVENTOR HRT/fw? J ferr/c: BY GM ATTORNEYS June 14, 1955 Filed June 6, 1952 A. J. FETTG CALCULATING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 14, 1955 .AxA J. FETTIG CALCULATING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 6, 1952 June 14, 1955 A. .L FETTIG CALCULATING MACHINE 5 R Y mw W, n M V NF n /IUl W w m United States Patent O v CALCULATING MACHINE Arthur J. Fettig, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Applieatmn June 6, 1952, seria1N0.29z,os5 14 claims. (ci. zas-60.48)
,'This inventionrelates to improvements in calculating machines, more particularly machines such as used by publicutility companies in preparing bills to consumers of metered commodities such as gas, electricity and water. In preparing such a bill, the present reading of the consumers meter, and the previous meter reading, obtained from entries in the meter readers book, are entered in the machine. From these items, the difference, which is the number of units of the conlmodity consumed during the period between the dates of the meter readings, can be calculated.
It is desirable to provide a check or proof of the accuracy of the machine operator in reading the entries from the meter readers book and in entering them into the machine. For that purpose, the consumption is lcalculated and also entered in the meter .i
readers book before the latter is given to the machine operator. The operator also enters in the machine the consumption figures contained in the book. if the consumption as entered in the book is the same as that calculated by the machine, then, for all practical pursive cyclesof operation thereof, and a fourth cycle ofl operation could be performed to determine if the three figures were, as they should be, such as to leave the register or totalizer clear, that is, with a 00 total. lt is, however, very desirable to perform the Work as rapidly as possible and, consequently, with the fewest possible operations of the machine, andat the same time, withma machine having the most simple and inexpensive mechanism adequate for the purpose.
Accordingly, it is an yobject Aof the present invention to provi-de a calculating machine with relatively simplemechanism ywhich will permit the entry of a plurality of itemsY into a `totalizeror register in a single machine cycle and thereby reduce the number nof machiney cycles required inthe performance of work of the kind referred to above. Amfurthe'r object of 4the invention is to provide such a machine with -means to prevent the operator, in attempting to enter the amount of consumption read from the meter readers book, from depressing keys which do not correspond to the difference between the meter readings which have been entered in the machine and thus call-the operators attention to the disagreement beforel the machine is operated to enter the amount of consumption into the totalizer of the machine. i
The foreging and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings in which:
Patented June i152-, 1955 certain elements associated adding and subtracting totalizer or crossfooter;
Fig. 5 is a perspective of portions of the crossfooter, tens-transfer means and differential mechanism;
Fig. 6 shows a portion of a work form;
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic showings ot` the relative positions of certain elements of the crossfooter and differential mechanism at different times in operation of the machine;
Fig. l0 is a left side elevation showing certain of the elements of Fig. 2 in moved positions;
Fig. 11 is a partial right side elevation with certain of the elements of Fig. 2 removed or broken away to reveal other elements more clearly; and
Fig. 12 is a right side elevation of certain other elements of Fig. 2.
For clarity and convenience, the invention is hereinafter described as applied to the billing of metered utilities such as gas, water and electricity, by way of example, although it will be readily apparent that the invention may be utilized for other accounting and computing operations requiring determinations of differences between pairs of amounts which need not necessarily be meter readings. References herein to .meter readings and consumption computing are to be understood as references to a convenient example and not implying limitations on the scope of use of the invention.
One embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, as applied to a Burroughs High Keyboard machine which is in wide use in public utility billing applications.
General construction and operation of illustrated machine The general construction, and operation of that machine are well known and need not be described herein except in a very general way to facilitate an easy understanding of the present invention. Of various prior patents disclosing various portions of the machine in detail, Patents No. 1,778,506 and No. 1,911,768 to Walter I. Pasinski are most helpful. In the following description usual parts and elements of the Burroughs High Keyboard machine are designated by reference numerals below 100, whereas parts and elements which are added or altered in accordance with the invention are designated by higher reference numbers. Unless otherwise specified, positions of elements and the directions of their movements are described as viewed from the front of the machine.
The machine is driven by an electric motor 20 (Fig. l) through a clutch 2. The clutch and the power supply of the motor are controlled by a plurality of motor bars and live keys, such as the motor bars 22 and 23 (Fig. l) and the total and subtotal keys 2d and 25 (Fig. 2), depression of any of which will cause the motor to drive ythe machine through a cycle of operation in which the shaft 26 is oscillated first in one direction (clockwise in Fig. 1 and counterciockwise in Figs. 2, 10, il and 12) in the forward stroke of the cycle and then in the reverse direction in the return stroke of the cycle. Secured on the shaft 26 is a cam arm 27 (Fig. l) which acts on a roller 2S journalled on a rod supported by the two side arms 29 of a bail having a cross bar 30 (Figs. l and 10) and pivoted on a shaft 31 supported in the side frames of the machine. The cross bar is swung downwardly in the forward stroke and upwardly in the return stroke of each machine cycle.
The cross bar 30 extends transversely under the forward arms of a series of levers 32, the forward ends of which are urged downwardly by individual long tension springs 33. The forward ends of the levers are connected to toothed differential actuator sectors by means of a stud 36 in the end of the forward arm of each lever 32 passing through an elongated slot in its actuator sector 35 and a spring 37 (Fig. 1G) connected at its upper end to said stud and at its lower end to the lower portion of the actuator to urge the latter to its upward limit relative to the stud 36. Each actuator sector 35 is guided between a pair of guide plates 3S and 39 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and l0) supported on cross rods 4i) and 41 (Fig. lil) of the machine frame. Of each pair of guide plates 38 and 39, one, 39 has-a its upper end a portion t2 extending rearwardly through the keyboard and serving as a keyboard partition plate.
The keyboard comprises a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending rows or bank of digit keys each including nine keys for the digits l to 9, respectively. Upon depression, each key rocks a bell crank 46 (Fig. l0)
pivoted adiaeent the member 42 for the respective bank of keys on one of nine cross--rods 47 of the keyboard. The rocking of the bell crank 46 for a key for any of the digits i to S pulls rearwardly a respective stop wire d, each having a rightwardly bent forward end portion,
which is guided in a respective pair of a series of spaced pairs of slots in the guide plates 38 and 39 for the actuator sector 35 for the respective key bank. When a stop wire 4S is thus pulled rearwardly, its laterally bent forward end portion is placed in the path of a shoulder 49 projecting forwardly from the upper end of actuator sector 3S of the corresponding order. No stop wires 43 are provided for the bell cranks 46 for the 9 keys as the rod 4i serves to limit the actuators 35 appropriately for the entry of 9s For each bank of keys 45, a key latching slide 5G (Fig. l0) is provided which cooperates with the bell cranks 46 for that bank in a well known manner to latch the bell crank 46 for any depressed key in rocked position and prevent the rocking of any other bell crank 46 and, consequently, the depression of any other key in the same bank until the previously rocked bell crank 46 has been released. The rocking of any bell crank 46 by depression of its key moves the slide 50 rearwardly to a posi tion in which it is lntched by a latch pawl 5l (Fig. l) and from which it is released in a manner and by means which are well known and need not be described or i1lustrated herein.
The forward end of each key latch slide 5@ cooperates in a well known manner with a zero stop pawl 52 (Fig. lil) which, while no key in its bank is depressed, is positioned to prevent movement of the actuator sector 35 for that bank below its normal position (Fig. lil). The key latch slide 50, when moved by the bell crank lo for any key in its bank being depressed, rocks the Zero stop 52 for that bank to a position where it will not prevent downward movement of the actuator sector 35 for that bank. Each actuator 35 is capable of moving` one step upwardly beyond its normal position but is normally prevented frorn doing so by a tens-transfer pawl S3 (Figs. 4 and 5) which normally engages a stud 54 on the side of the actuator when the latter is in its normal position.
On the rearward end of each lever 32 is a type carrier carrying a series of types 55 (Fig. l) for the ten digits, "0 to from which an amount set on the keys or a total drawn from the totalizer in each machine cycle may be printed on work papers, such as bill forms, supported around a platen 56 mounted on a traveling paper carriage 57 automatically movable to various columnar positions by the usual tabulating and return mechanisms. The paper carriage carries a number of the usual columnwise CII lll
' Y adjustably mounted stub shafts 58 each supporting one or more control rolls 59 of various diameters adapted, in various positions of the paper carriage, to act on various cam levers e@ extending in the direction of the upper right side of the machine from respective ones of a series of yoke members 6l pivotally mounted in nested relation on a stub shaft 62 securedl in and extending rearwardly from the back plate of the machine. Such rollers 59, cam levers 6i) and yoke members 61 control certain functions of the machine in the usual manner.
Amounts set up on the keyboard may be entered into an adding and subtracting totalizer referred to .hereinafter as the crossfooter, and/ or into any register of a line of adding registers 64 (Fig. l).
The crossfooter has the usual upper line of adding pinions 65 and lower line of subtracting pinions 66, the pinions 65 and 66 meshing in pairs. The lines of pinions 63 and 66 are supported in a tumbling frame which includes end plates 69 and is, in turn rockably supported in a crossfooter main frame comprising end plates 67 (Figs. l, 2, 4, l0 and ll) to place either the adding pinions 65 or the subtracting pinions 66 in active position. The main frame end plates 67 are rockably mounted on studs 68 (Figs. l, l0 and ll) supported in the side frame members of the machine to engage the actively positioned crossfooter pinions 65 or 66 with and disengage them from the actuator sectors 35 at such times in machine cycles as required for performing addition, subtraction, total-taking and subtotal-taking by the usual crossfo'oter engaging and uisengagmg means.
An arm 70 (Fig. ll) secured on the shaft 26 has',.in' its upper end, a stud pivotally supporting a pass-by pawl 71 urged into radial alignment with the arm 70 by a tension spring 72. The pawl 71 cooperates in the usual way wtih studs 73 and 74 in the forward and rearward arms, respectively, of a three-armed lever 75 pivotally, mounted on a stud 76 secured in the machine frame. The downward third arm of the lever 75 carries a stud on which the rearward end of a pitrnan 77 is pivotally mounted. The forward portion of the pitman 77 has upper and lower branches with notched ends to cooperate with studs 7S and 79 secured in the left end plate 67 of the crossfooter main frame above and below the axis of the pivot studs 68. A link 8G is pivotally mounted at its forward end on a short shaft, referred to hereinafter, supported in the crossfooter left end plate 67. The rearward end .of the link has a hook shoulder which a light tension spring 83 normally holds in the path of a stud 84 (Fig. l1) secured in the arm '70.
As in the usual Burroughs High Keyboard machine, the crossfooter is in engaged position while the machine is at rest between cycles of operation. In both adding and subtracting amount entering machine cycles, the pitman 77 is supported in an upper position in the usual manner (not shown) by a link 64 (Fig. 2) whereby the upper Vforward branch of the pitman 77 is coupled to the stud 78 so that, when the pitman 77 is moved forwardly by the action of the pawl 71 on the stud 73 at the begin ning of the forward stroke of the cycle, the crossfooter is rocked forwardly out of engagement with the actuator sectors 35 after which the actuator sectors 35 in those orders or banks in which a digit key is in depressed position move downward, the levers 32 being caused .by the springs 33 to follow the cross bartl'untilV the shoulders di? are arrested by the stop wires 48 for the depressed keys orrby the rod 39. While the crossfooter is out of engagement with the actuator sectors 35, its tumbling frame may be rocked by the usual means (not shown) controlled automatically by the paper carriage `or manuah` ly by the usual subtract lever 44, to place either the add pinions 65 or the subtract pinions 66 in position to mesh with the actuator sectors 35 when the crossfooter is returned into engagement with the sectors 3S. Near the end of the forward stroke of the cycle, after the actuator sectors have completed their descent to amount dileraviaria ential positions determined by the depressed keys 45, the stud 84 picks up the hook shoulder on the rear end of the link 80 and pulls the latter rearwardly to rock the crossfooter again into engagement with the actuator sectors 35. The crossfooter remains engaged with the actuator sectors 35 throughout the return stroke of the amount entering cycle so that the sectors 35, returning to their normal positions, rotate the crossfooter pinions to extents commensurate with the amount set on the keys 45.
When any pinion is rotated through the interval between its 9 and 0 positions, a transfer tooth 8S (Fig. 5) secured on the hub of the pinion sets the associated transfer pawl 53 to permit the actuator sector 35 of the next higher order to return one step above its 0 position and thereby enter a tens-transfer on the pinions of the latter order. The transfer pawls cooperate with the usual latch means and restoring means (not illustrated).
When the machine is conditioned for total-taking, the link 64 and7 thereby, the forward portion of the pitrnan 77 are lowered and uncoupled from the stud 78 so that, as the pitman 77 is moved forwardly at the beginning of the forward stroke of a total-taking cycle, the crossfooter remains in engagement with the actuator sectors 35 and the notched end of the lower forward branch of the pitman 77 becomes coupled with the stud 79. During the forward stroke of the cycle the racks descend and rotate the crossfooter pinions until they are arrested by engagement of their transfer projections against the transfer pawls 53. Thus the levers 32 and type sectors carried thereby are positioned in accordance with the total drawn from the crossfooter. As the pitman 77 is pulled rearwardly at the beginning of the return stroke of a totaltaking cycle, the crossfooter is disengaged from the actu ator sectors so that the crossfooter remains cleared while the actuator sectors return to 0.
ln a subtotal-taking operation, the pawl 71 is prevented fiom acting on the stud 74 so that the crossfooter remains meshed with the actuator sectors as the latter return to 0 and re-enter the amount of the subtotal into the crossfooter. ln non-add operations, the forward end of the pitman 77 is in its upper position as in amount-entering operations but the pawl 7l is disabled from acting on the stud 74 so that the crossfooter remains out of engagement with the actuator sectors from a time before the latter commence their descent until after they have been returned to 0. At the end of the return stroke of either a non-add or a total-taking cycle, the crossfooter is returned into engagement with the actuator sectors by a link Se (Fig. l2) which is pivotally mounted on its forward end on a stud 557 secured to the left side member 67 of the crossfooter main frame and has a shoulder engaged, in the final potrion of the return stroke of a machine cycle, by a stud S4 secured in the arm 7G.
in performing addition and subtraction in the abovementioned manner, the entry of an item into the crossfooter always takes place in the return stroke of a machine cycle as the actuator sectors 35 are returning to 0, regardless of whether the entry is additive with the adding pinions 65 meshed with the actuator racks 35 .or subtractive with the subtracting pinions 65 meshed with the actuator racks. However, addition and subtraction may be performed on a single set of register pinions by effecting rotation of the pinions by the actuator` racks during the return stroke in the usual way for addition but effecting rotation of the pinions in the reverse direction by the actuator racks during the forward stroke as the racks move form their O positions to their differential positions for subtraction. The present invention takes advantage of that possibility and of the circumstance that the two meter readings must be entered in opposite senses, one additively and the other subtractively, to enter both meter readings in a single machine cycle, upon the same pinions which then will contain the amount of consumption at the end of that single cycle. For that purpose, there are provided two sets of amount actuators with G which a single set of pinions are engageable inthe forward and return strokes, respectively, of a single machine cycle, the excursions of the actuators of the two sets being controlled by respective groups of keys upon which the two meter readings may be entered.
in the illustrated machine, one group of the regular key rows in the right-hand portion of the keyboard is allotted for the entry of present meter readings and another group of the regular key rows leftward of the rst group is allotted for the entry of previous meter readings as well as for the entry of the precaleulated consumption amounts. Also in the illustrated embodiment, the meter readings are entered, not upon the regular pinions of the crossfooter but upon a set of auxiliary consumption computing pinions which has been inserted in the crossfooter tumbling frame, and upon which the present meter reading is subtracted during the forward stroke of a machine cycle and the previous reading is added during the return stroke of the saine cycle. Means are provided for crossshifting the crossfooter tumbling frame so as to align the consumption computing pinions during the forward stroke ot' the reading-entering cycle with the actuator sectors controlled by the present reading keys and, during the return stroke of the same cycle, with the actuator sectors controlled by the previous reading keys. This requires only a short cross-shift movement as the present reading actuator sectors are interspersed with previous reading actuator sectors. In the illustrated embodiment, a group of the regular actuator sectors and the banks of reys directly above them are employed for entering the previous reading. Present readings are entered on another group ot' the regular key rows which are located to one side of the group of previous reading key rows and have cross connections through the key rows to control auxiliary actuator sectors interspersed between the previous reading sectors.
The illustrated machine is also provided with proving means including key-lock means which become effective after the entry of the meter readings to control keys of those key rows (in this embodiment of the invention, the previous reading key rows) upon which the amount of consumption is to be entered for the machine cycle following the reading-entering cycle, to prevent depression of any keys representing an amount different from the amount of consumption contained in the meter reading pinions of the crossfooter.
It. will be apparent that machines embodying the present invention may be constructed with any required consumption computing capacity and that the present and previous reading key groups and the consumption computing pinions may be arranged in various ways. For example, in a so-called l7-bank machine, which is a machine having 17 rows of keys in addition to register selecting keys (if any), function contro keys and motor bars, the four key rows for the units of dollars to thousands of dollars (3rd to 7th orders), both inclusive, may be allotted to present reading entries, and the four key rows for the hundreds ot' thousands of dollars to the tens of millions of dollars (9th to 13th orders), both inclusive, may be allotted to previous readings and pre-calculated consumption amounts. Both groups of key rows will have the same number of key rows which need be no greater than that necessary to handle the largest indii vidual consumption amount expected to be encountered;
The four key rows at the extreme left side of the keyboard (14th to 7th orders inclusive) may be employed for dates and item designations, such as for gas, electricity, appliance purchase payments, arrears, tax, etc. Each of four auxiliary differential amount actuators may be positioned immediately to the left of a respective one of the usual actuators for the previous reading .(9th to 13th) orders and controlled by means operable by the present reading keys 3rd to 7th orders). The consumption computing pinons may be located in the crossfooter accordingly. It will be apparent that various other specic Varrangements may be employed.
In the accompanying drawings, only two present reading orders and two previous reading orders of keyboard mechanism (Fig. 3) and two orders of consumption computing pinions (Figs. 4 and 5) of the crossfooter are shown but it will be understood that parts identical with those illustrated will be included in as many additional. orders as required to provide the desired capacity.
In a general way, the mode of operation ot the i trated machine embodying the invention may be outline. as follows:
With the traveling paper carriage in the meter reading columnar position and the crossfooter in a normal position where the usual crossiooter pinions are meshed with the usual actuator sectors, the present previous meter readings are set on the keys or` the appropriate groups oi key rows and a machine cycle is initiated. At the very start or" the cycle, the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors in the usual way. Then it is unediately cross-shifted to align the meter-reading pinions with tie auxiliary actuator sectors controlled by the present reading keys and the meter reading pinions are mashed with the auxiliary present reading actuator sectors before the actuator sectors descend from their normal "6 posiions. As the actuator sectors descend during the continuing forward stroke of the cycle, the consumption computing pinions are rotated in one direction from their starting, clear positions to extents corresponding to the present meter reading. Near the end ot the forward stroke of the cycle, after the descent of the actuator sectors has ended, the crossiooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors and further cross-shifted to align the consumption computing pinions with those of the usual actuator sectors which have descended to positions determined by the depressed previous reading keys.
While the actuator see ors are in their lowered positions, both the present and the previous meter readings are printed by the usual type carriers associated with the usual actuator sectors controlled by the keys of the present reading and previous reading groups ot key rows.
At the beginning of the return stroke of the cycle, the crossiooter engaging mechanism functions in the manner normal amount-entering cycles whereby the consumption computing pinions are meshed with the previous reading actuator sectors before the latter commence their return to normal. During the continuing return stroke, the previous reading actuator sectors rotate the consumption computing pinion-.s in the reverse direction to extents corresponding to the previous meter reading so that. at the end of the cycle, these pinions contain the amount ot' consumption.v The isual tens-transfer mechanism associated with the regular actuator sectors takes care of necessary tens-transfer so that no auxiliary tens-transfer mechanism is required. As the paper carriage tabulates to the next columnar position, the consumption columnar position, the proving means is automatically rendered effective so that the operator, in entering the pre-calculated amount o consumption upon the keys of the previous reading key rows, attempts to depress any key which does not correspond to the amount remaining on the consumption computing pinions of the cross'iooter, that key will be found locked against depression and will inform the operator that an error has been made. that case, the machine may be restored to normal clear condition by appropriate measures and the work done over.
lf the amount of consumption which the operator reads from the meter-readers book and enters on the keys is the same as that renaiuing on the consumption computing pinions orn the crosstooten' another machine cycle may be initiated, in the course of which the regular crossfooter engaging mechanism will cause the consumption computing pinions to beunmeshed from the previous reading actuator sectors at the beginning of the forward stroke of the cycle and re-meshed with those sectors at the beginning of the return stroke. Those sectors, returning to O from the positions to which they descended in the forward stroke under control of the depressed keys, rotate the consumption computing pinions further in the above-mentioned reverse direction to extents corresponding to the amount of consumption entered on the keys and thus return those pinions to their starting clear position. Frorn the usual type carriers associated with the last-mentioned actuator sectors, the amount of consumption is printed near the end of the forward stroke while those sectors are in the positions corresponding to the depressed keys.
The paper carriage tabulates to the next columnar position and automatically conditions means which, in the forward Stroke of a subsequent cycle of operation o the machine, cross-shifts the crossooter back to its normal position in which the usual crossfooter pinions are again aligned with the usual actuator sectors. The bill may be completed as desired by further operation of the machine in an appropriate usual manner.
t is believed that the foregoing general explanation will permit an easier understanding of the following detailed description of the new features, of the illustrated machine and will also make it easily apparent to those skilled in this art that the structures and arrangements of the mechanisms involved may be variously modified within the scope of the invention.
Added crossfooter engaging and disengaging means lt will have been noted from the foregoing general outline of the mode of operation of the illustrated machine that, at the beginning of the forward stroke of the meter reading entering machine cycle, the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors, immediately cross-shifted and then quickly re-engaged with the actuator sectors before the latter descend. it will also have been noted that near the end of the forward stroke ot' the same machine cycle, the crossooter is again disengaged from the actuator sectors after the descent of the latter is completed, is again immediately cross-shifted and, at the beginning of the return stroke oi the cycle, is re-engaged with the actuator sectors beorV the latter begin to return to their normal positions. The disengagement at the beginning of the forward stroke is effected in the manner usual for amount entering cycles by the action or" the pawl il on the stud '73 (Fig. il). The re-engagement at me beginning of the return stroke is effected also by the action of the pawl 7l on the Stud 74. However, means additional to those previously described have been added to effect the re-engagernent beore the actuator sectors descend in the 'forward stroke and the disengagement before the return of the actuator sectors begins in the return stroke and to disable the link 3i) (Fig. l1) which would otherwise prevent the disengagement at the end of the forward stroke, all of said means being normally inetiective but automatically rendered eiective in meter reading entering machine cycles.
As the paper carriage moves to the ieter reading columnar position, an added control roll lill (Figs, 2
' and ll) depresses the cani arm lili on the rear side of a yoke member lr03 pivotally mounted on the shaft 62. A leltwardly extending arm 194 on the forward side of 'the yoke member has a forked end embracing the end of a rearward arm of a bell crank 195 pivotally mounted on a stud loo secured in the left side trame member. A tension spring 107 is connected between the rearward arm of the bell crank lilo' and a stud secured in the left side frame member and normally holds a downward projection of the rear arm of the bell crank M5 engaged against a limit stud lll secured in the frame member. A downwardV arm of the bell crank lllS is pivote-.ily connected with the rearward end of a link il@ which is pivotally connected at its forward end to an upper arm of a two-armed lever ill pivotally mounted on a stud il?. secured in the outer side of the left side trame member. A lower arm of the lever 111 extends rearwardly under a stud 113 secured in the rear end of an upper branch of the rearward portion of a link 114 which is pivotally mounted at its forward end on a stud 115 secured in the left side member 67 of the crossfooter main frame and extending leftward through an opening in the left side frame member.
A link 116 is pivotally mounted at its forward end on a stud 117 secured in the link 114 near the forward end of the latter. The rearward end of the link 116 has a hook shoulder 118 .located rearward of the left end portion of a stud 81 secured in a drive plate 82 secured on the shaft 26. The stud 81 has been lengthened to extend through an opening in the left side frame plate and beyond the left side of the latter. A stud 120 secured in an upward projection of the link 114 extends under and normally supports the link 116 so that the hook shoulder 118 is above and clear of the path of the stud 81.
A link 121 is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the upper arm of the lever 111 and at its forward end to an arm 122 pivotally mounted at its lower for# ward end on a stud 123 secured in the left (outer) side of the left side frame member of the machine. The arm 122 is bent through an opening in the frame member and then extends rearwardly over a stud 124 se-v cured in the link 80.
As the control roll 101 depresses the arm 102 upon entry of the paper carriage into the meter reading columnar position, the arm 104 rocks the bell crank 105 to pull the link 110 rearwardly. The latter rocks the lever 11,1 to lower the stud 113, thereby permitting the rearward portions of the links 114 and 116 to drop to place the hook shoulder 118 in the path of the stud 81. The link 121 which is also pulled rearwardly, rocks the arm 122 to depress the stud 124 and lower the rear hooked end of the link 80 out of the path of the stud 84.
ln the forward stroke of the meter reading entering machine cycle, after the pawl 71 has acted on the stud '73 to disengage the crossfooter from the actuators and the pinions have been cross-shifted as described hereinafter, but before the descent of the actuators has commenced, the stud 81 engages the hoolf` shoulder 11S and and pulls the links 116 and 114 rearwardly, thereby reengaging the crossfooter with the actuators and placing the notched end of a lower branch 125 of the rear portion of the link 114 in the path of a stud 126 in the lower portion of the drive plate 82. As the crossfooter engages the actuator sectors, a cam portion of the lower edge of the link 116 encounters a stud 119 secured in the ,y
outer side of theleft side frame member and, as the rearward movement of the link 116 brings the crossfooter vinto full engagement with the actuator sectors, the link is cammed upwardly so that its hook shoulder is disengaged from the stud S1. The crossfooter remains engaged with the actuators until, near the end of the forward stroke, and after the descent of the actuators has ended, the stud 126 engages in the notch in the branch 125 and pushes the link 114 forwardly and rocks the crossfooter to disengaged position without interference from the link 80.
As the crossfooter is thus disengaged, the pinions are again cross-shifted as described hereinafter, and, the crossfooter is re-engaged with the actuator sectors by the action of the pawl 71 on the stud 74 at the beginning of the return stroke of the cycle and remains in engaged position throughout the remainder of the cycle. As the paper carriage is tabulated by the usual tabulating means to the consumption columnar position, the roll 101 is removed from the arm 102 and the links'114 and 11 are restored to their normal inactive positions and the link 80 returns to its normal active position.
Auxiliary actuator racks Leftward of each of the levers 32 for the previous reading orders, an arm 130 (Figs. 5 and l0) is rockably mounted at its rearward end on the shaft 31 in the same manner as the levers 32. The arms 130 are like the levers 32 except that they do not extend rearwardly of the shaft 31 to support type carriers as do the levers 32. The forward ends of the arms 130 are urged downwardly against the bail 29 by springs 33 and are connected with auxiliary actuator sectors 131 (Figs. 5 and l0) in the same manner as the forward ends of the levers 32 are connected with the usual actuator sectors 3S. The auxlary actuator sectors 131 are like the usual sectors 3S and are similarly guided between additional pairs of guide plates 133 and 134, one of which, like the guide plates 39, has a portion 135 like the portion 42 also ex tending rearwardly through the keyboard and serving as keyboard partition plates. The guide plates 133 and 134 are formed with slots like those in the guide plates and to guide the rightwardly bent forward ends of sets of stop wires 136 which are like the stop wires 48. Leftward movement of the forward ends of the wires is prevented by fixed strips 280 and leftward movement of the forward ends of the wires 48 is prevented by the adjacent guide plate 133.
The eight wires 136 of each set are pivotally connected with the downward arms of bell cranks 137 which are generally similar to the usual bell cranks 4G and are pivotally mounted on the same cross-rods 47 as are the usual bell cranks 46 but immediately rightwardly of the partition plate portion 135 of the guide plate 134 by which the respective set of stop wires 136 is guided. Each set of bell cranks 137 includes a ninth bell crank 137 rearwardly of the eight connected with the stop wires 65 and pivotally mounted on the rearinost cross rod 47. For each set of bell cranks 137 there is a latch slide 13S similar to the usual key latch slides 50 and cooperating with a zero stop pawl 139 which is like the usual zero stop pawls 52 and is similarly mounted. The latch slides 138 and zero stop pawls 139 cooperate in the same way and perform the same functions with respect to the bell cranks 137 and actuator sectors 131 as the usual latch slides 50 and zero stop pawls 52 perform with respect to the usual bell cranks 46 and actuator sectors 35.
The bell cranks 137 of each set, and thus also the latch slide 138 and zero stop pawl 139 for that set, are operable by the keys of a respective one of that group of the usual key rows in the right-hand portion of the keyboard which is allotted for the entry of present meter readings, such operation being effected through the keyboard crossconnections next described.
Cross-connectiofzs in keyboard Leftward of and near the lower ends of the stems of the keys 45 of each key row of the present reading group of key rows is a supporting strip 141 (Fig. 3) mounted in xed position a little below the usual keyboard plate 90 (Fig. l0). Nine bell-cranks 142, each having a rightward arm and a rearward arm, are pivotally mounted on the upper side of each strip 141 on headed studs 143 secured in the strip. The rightward arms of t'ne bell cranks 142 have slots in which are engaged upwardly extending projections 144 which have been added to each of the bell cranks 46 of each of the present reading key rows.
Rightwardly of and near the lower ends of the stems of the keys of each of the previous reading key rows is a supporting strip 145 mounted in fixed position a little below the keyboard plate 90. Nine bell cranks 146, each having a forward arm and a leftward arm, are pivotally mounted on the upper side oi' each strip 145' on headed studs 147 secured in the strip. The end of the leftward arrn of each bell crank 146 engages the rear edge of a short projection 148 extending upwardly from the upper edge of a respective one of the bell cranks 137. The forward arm of each of the bell cranks 14e' is piv otally connected with the leftward end of a cross-conaviaria l l necting wire 149, the rightward end of which is pivot-ally connected with the rearward arm of the corresponding bell crank 142 of the corresponding row of bell cranks The above described cross-connections are such that when keys for any of the digits l to "8 in the rows of present reading keys are depressed they not only pull rearwardly the usual stop wires 4S for those key rows to control the excursions of the usual actuator sectors 35 for those key rows but also pull rearwardly the corresponding stop wires 136 for corresponding ones of the auxiliary actuator sectors 131 to control the excursions of the latter in accordance with the amount set on the present reading keys. Depression of any present reading key also not only shifts rearwardly the usual latch slide 50 and thus trips the usual zero stop pawl 52 for its key row but also shifts rearwardly a corresponding one of the latch slides 135 to trip the Zero stop pawl 159 for the corresponding one of the auxiliary actuator sectors 131. Depression of a 9 key in any of the present reading key rows does not set any stop wire 48 or 136 but, because of its tripping of the zero stop pawl 52 for its key row and of the corresponding one of the Zero stop pawls 139, permits the usual actuator sector 35 for that key row and the corresponding auxiliary actuator sector 131 to move through their full strokes appropriate for the entry of Consumption computing pinions The crossfooter is of the usual construction except for the alterations and additions next described. The tumbling frame end plates 69 are secured to the `ends of a pair ci pinion supporting shafts 91 and 92 (Fig. 4) and are supported between the main frame end plates 67 to rock about an axis which is equidistant from the axes of the shafts 91 and 92 and is a little rearward of the plane containing the last-mentioned aes, The right-hand end plate 9 carries the usual stud (not Shown) journalled in the usual bushing 93 carried by the right-hand main 'trarne end ple-.te 67. The stud by which the tumbling frame left end plate 69 is usually' supported in the left main end plate 67 is replaced by a short shaft 155 which is extended both inwardly (rightwardly) through the tumbling frame left end plate 69 and outwardly (leftwardly) beyond the main end plate 67.
The usual crossfooter adding and subtracting pinions 65 and 66, instead of being mounted on the shafts 91 and 92 in positions xed longitudinally of said shafts, are rotatably mounted on anged bushings 156. All of the bushings 156 for the adding pinions 65 are mounted on a tube 157 slidable on the shaft 91 and all of the bushings 156 for the subtracting pinions 66 are mounted on a tube S slidable on the shaft 92. The bushings 156 for the usual pinions 65 and 66 for the previous reading orders are of a length which is about half of the spacing from center to center between those pinions. To the left of each of them, another short bushing 156 rotatably cartying a consumption computing pinion 169 or 161 is mounted on the tube 157 or 158, respectively. The consumption computing pinions 161i and 161 mesh in pairs as do the usual adding and subtracting pinions 65 and 66 and are like the usual pinions in all respects. The rightmost bushing 156 in each line is threaded on the right end of the respective tube 157 or 158 and a nut 162 is threaded on the left end of each of the tubes 157 and 158 against a spacing sleeve 163 on said tube to eliniirninate end play between the bushings 156 and position them accurately upon the tubes.
A plate secured on the rightward end of the short shaft 155 is apertured to receive the leftward end o the tubes 157 and 15S which are secured to the plate 165 by pairs of nuts 166 threaded on the tubes on opposite sides of the plate. A helical spring 167 surrounding the shaft 155 and compressed between the plate 165 and the lefhand end plate 69 urges the plate 155 and the pinion-carrying tubes 157 and 153 toward their rightward limit where the right ends of the tubes bear against the tumbling frame right end plate 69 and the consumption computing pinions 164i and 161 are in the planes of the usual actuator sectors for the corresponding previous reading orders. However, the plate 165, tubes 157 and 158 and the pinions are normally held, by means deg scribed hereinafter, in a leftward position where the usual crossfooter pinions and 66 are in the planes of the usual actuators 35 and, Vduring the forward stroke of a reading entering cycle, are held, by the same means, in an intermediate position in which the consumption cornputing pinions 1611 and 161 are located in the planes of the auxiliary present reading actuator sectors 131.
The transfer projections on the usual pinions 65 and 66 and those on the consumption computing pinions 16) and 161 are all located at the same distance leftward of their respective pinions so that the transfer projections 85 of whichever pinions are meshed with the usual actuator sectors 35 will be in position to cooperate with the transfer pawls 53 to effect transfers to the next higher orders. It should be noted here, that as the larger item, the present meter reading is to be entered first on the consumption computing pinions by rotation of the latter in the direction reverse to the direction in which the usual crossfooter pinions are rotated in adding operations, the clear positions from which the consumption computing pinions are to start at the beginning of each meter-reading entering cycle and to which they should return at the end of each consumption proving and entering cycle, are the positions in which the transfer projections 85 of the pinions 16d are (as shown in Fig. 2) immediately below the transfer projections 43 of the transfer pawls 53. Tens transfers, if required during the entry of the previous reading, will then be effected correctly and no fugitive l problem will be encountered.
The usual detent pawls 94 (Fig. 4) are provided to cooperate with the usual subtraction pinions 66 and are operated in the normal manner by the usual bail to hold the usual pinions 65 and 66 against accidental rotation at all times while the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors. Additional detent pawls 16S like the usual pawls 94 have been added and are also operated by the bail 95 to cooperate with the pinions 161 to prevent accidental rotation of the consumption coLl puting pinions while the crossfooter is disengaged from the actuator sectors. The side arms of the bail 95 and all of the pawls 94 and 16S are mounted on a shaft 169 which differs from the usual solid shaft journalled in the tumbling frame end plates in that the shaft 169 is a hollow tube, the left end of which is supported by the plate 165 to which Vit is secured in the same manner as the tubes 1 7 and 158. The right end of the tube 169 is supported ou a rod 171i secured in the rightcend plate 69 of the tumbling frame.
To prevent rotation of the consumption computing pinions while the usual pinions 65 or 66 are meshed with the actuator sectors and ot the usual pinions while the consumption computing pinions 16d or 161 are meshed with the actuator sectors, a blade 172 is ixedly secured in the tumbling frame end plates and formed with notches which pass the teeth of the pinions aligned with and rotated by the actuator sectors 35 or 131 while the teeth 173 left between the notches engage in tooth spaces of those pinions 66 or 161 which are not aligned with actuator sectors and prevent rotation of those pinions.
The purpose of adding the pinions 161 to the crossfooter is to utilize them principally Vto cooperate with the bail 172, 173 and the detent pawls 168 to prevent accidental rotations of the pinions 16S.
Means to cross-shift the crossfooter A small detent plate (Figs. 2 and 4) secured in and extending upwardly and somewhat forwardly from the left end of the shaft has a stepped rightward edge 4) providing two shoulders ll and 182 engageable against the left side of a forwardly and somewhat downwardly inclined arm o? an escapement bell crank 183 pivotally mounted on a screw stud 184 secured in a fixed plate 185 mounted on the left side frame member of the machine. The end of the forward arm of the escapernent bell crank 133 carries a stud 136 normally engaged in a notch in the lower end portion of a latch member 157 also pivotally mounted at its upper end on a screw stud 1S?) secured in the plate S5 The latch member 187 is urged clockwise (Fig. ll) toward the stud 1% by a tension spring 189 connected between a Stud on the latch member and a stud on the plate 185.
The escapement bell crank 133 is normally urged clockwise (Fig. ll) to urge its forward arm downwardly against the shaft 155 by another tension spring 196 connected between the last-mentioned stud and a stud i915. secured in the end of the upper arm of the bell crank. The stud 191 projects through a forwardly and rearwardly elongated slot in the forward end of a link 192 u and is normally held in the rearward end or' the slot by a tension spring 193 connected at its forward end to the stud 191 and at its rearward end to a stud secured in the link 192. The arm of the previously described bell crank 1%5 carries a stud 109 extending through and normally located in the rearward end of a slot in the rear end of the link 192.
The previously described stud 113 in the lever 111 is normally engaged by and supports a projection extending forwardly from the lower end of a downward extension of a link 194 pivotally mounted at its forward end on a stud 195 secured in the right side of the link 192. The link 19d extends rearwardly from the stud 195 along the right side of the link 192 to a point a little rearwardly of a stud 196 secured in and projecting rightwardly from the link 194. rl`hen the link is bent upwardly and over the link 192 and extends leftwardly through the left side frame member and then bends downwardly. The stud 196 is positioned rearwardly of and normally above the upper end of the upper arm of a bell crank 19'/ which is pivoted on a stud 193 secured in the outer side of the left side frame member. The bell crank 197 is urged clockwise (Fig. 1l) by a tension spring 199 which is connected between a stud on the upper arm of the bell crank and a stud (not shown) secured in the left side frame, the bell crank 197 being thereby normally held at its clockwise limit where a small downward projection of the bell crank is stopped by a limit stud 290 secured in the left side frame member.
Normally, the stud 113 holds the rearwarL portion of the link 194 in an elevated position with the stud 196 out of the reach of the upper arm of the bell crank 197 and the spring 193 holds the stud 191 in the rearward end of the slot in the forward end of the link 192. The spring 190 normally maintains the link 192 at its forward limit where the forward arm of the es capement bell crank 183 bears against the shaft E55 and is engaged by the rightmost shoulder of the detent plate 18d to hold the usual crossfooter pinions 65 and 66 aligned with the usual actuator sectors 35 as indicated in Fig. 7.
As the bell crank 105 and lever 111 are rocked and the stud 113 is lowered as previously described by the action of the control roll 191 as the paper carriage enters the meter reading columnar position, the rearward portion of the link 194 is permitted to fall and position the stud 196 behind the upper end of the upper arm of the bell crank 197. The link 192 is also pulled rearwardly a short distance, the spring 193 yielding while the escapement bell crank 183 is held in its normal position by engagement of its stud 186 in the notch in the latch member 187.
As the crossfooter main frame is rocked forwardly to disengaged position at the beginning of the meter-reading entering cycle while the control roll 101 holds the confr. on
trol arm 162 down, the shaft 155 moving forwardly engages a rearward projection of the lower end of the latch member 187 and rocks the latter to release the stud 1%, whereupon the spring 193, being considerably stronger than the spring 19d, pulls the stud 191 to the rear end of the slot in the forward end of the link 192, thereby rocking the escapement bell crank far enough that its forward arm will clear the lower rightward shoulder 181 of the detent plate 13%. The spring 167 thereupon shifts the shaft 155, plate i65 and the pinion carrying tubes i'7 and 158 rightwardly until the pinions 169 and 161 are in the planes of the present reading actuator sectors 131 as indicated in Fig. 8, and the higher leftward shoulder iSZ of the plate 136 engages against the forward arm of the detent bell crank 183.
This cross-shifting of the crossfooter pinions occurs at the end of the disengaging movement of the crossfooter. When, immediately thereafter, the crossfooter is returned, as previously described, to engaging position, the consumption computing pinions 16) are meshed with the present reading actuators 1.31 before the latter descend from their O positions, and they remain meshed throughout the descent of the sectors 131 to extents determined by the depressed present reading keys whereby the present reading is entered on the consumption cornputing pinions.
When, near the end of the forward stroke of the meter reading entering cycle, the crossfooter main frame is again rocked forwardly to disenvaged position as previously described, the stud S1 engages and depresses a rearward arm of the bell crank 197 so that the upward arm of the latter moves the stud 196, link 194 and link 192 further rearwardly, whereby the escapement bell crank 133 is rocked further counterclockwise (Fig. ll) and its forward arm is lifted clear of the deteut plate 189. The spring 167 thereupon shifts the shaft 155, plate 165, the tubes 157 and 158 and the crossfooter pinions thereon further rightward to place the consumption computing pinions 16% and 161 in the planes of the usual actuator sectors 3S for the previous reading orders as indicated in Fig. 9.
The crossfooter is re-engaged with the actuator sectors at the beginning of the return stroke of the meter reading entering cycle as previously described, so that the consumption computing pinions 16) are then meshed with the usual actuator sectors 35 for the previous reading orders before the sectors commence their return to 0 from the positions at which, in the forward stroke of the cycle, they were arrested under control of the depressed previous reading keys. The pinions 160 remain meshed with the previous reading sectors 35 while the latter return to their 0 positions whereby the previous reading is subtracted from the present reading on the consumption computing pinions so that, at the end of the meter reading cycle, the consumption cornputing pinions contain the amount of consumption represented by the difference between the present and previous meter readings. As the paper carriage tabulates from the meter reading columnar position to the consumption columnar position and the roll 101 leaves the cam arm 102, the link 192 remains in its rearward position but, by reason of the forward elongation of the slot in its rearward end through which the stud 169 extends, does not interfere with the return to normal of the bell crank 105 and other parts controlled by the latter.
Proving means After the present and previous meter readings have been printed in the meter reading entering cycle of operation of the machine, the paper carriage tabulates in the usual manner to the consumption columnar position. In the consumption proving and printing machine cycle, it is only necessary that the precalculated consumption amount be entered on the consumption computing pinions in such manner that, if it is the same, as
the amount standing on those phiions, the latter will be returned to their starting, clear positions. At the end of the meter reading entering cycle, the consumption proving pinions lo!) remain in mesh with the previous reading actuator sectors 35. lt is therefore, only required that a usual adding cycle be performed after the correct amount of consumption is entered on the previous reading keys, if the meter readings were correctly entered in the previous cycle. At the end of such cycle, the consumption computing pinions should be again in their starting, clear positions.
Entry of an incorrect consumption amount on the keys, or even a correct amount when a meter reading has been incorrectly entered in the preceding cycle, would involve a useless expenditure of time and effort. The illustrated machine has been provided with means to warn. the operator immediately when, in setting the precalculated consumption amount on the keys, an
f attempt is made to depress a key for a value different from that standing on the consumption computing pinions.
A further line of pinions is added to the crossfooter, such line including one pinion 265 (Figs. 5 and 1G) for each consumption computing pinion loi? and meshing with the latter. The pinions 295 are rotatable on bushings 266 which are of such length as to space the pinions 295 in alignment with the plnions lot? and are in turn carried on a tube 27 which is slidable on a rod 2% secured at its rightward end in the tumbling frame right end plate 69 in the same manner as the rods 91 and 92. rl`he tube Zl is secured at its left end in the plate 1165 in the same manner as the tubes l57 and )153. Thus the pinions 265 are continuously kept meshed with the pinions loll in all of the cross-shifted positions of the latter and are rotated to the same extent as the latter though in the opposite direction. On the hub of each pinion a spiral cam 2ll9 is secured. It will be noted that the pinions 295, bushings 266, tube 2d?, rod 20S and cams 269 have been omitted from Fig. 4.
For each cam 299, there is a sensing bell crank lever 2l@ (Fig. lil) pivotally mounted on the rod 43'. Each bell crank 2l@ has a forward sensing arm located in the plane of the respective cam 269 when the pinions lot) and 265 are in the planes of the previous reading actuator sectors 35. Tension springs 2li connected at their rear ends to the upward arms of the respective bell cranks 21u and anchored at their forward ends on studs secured in a bail 2l2 normally urge the bell cranks 2MP clockwise (Fig. l0) until the upper arms thereof engage against the bail. The side arms of the bail are pivots-ily mounted on a rod 2l3 supported in the machine side frames. A downward extension of the left side arm of the bail 2l2 is pivotally connected with the forward end of a link 2id which has, intermediate its ends, a projection 2id which is bent rightwardly over the upper edge of the link 192 upon which it normally rests, and then downwardly on the rightward side of the link @2. The rearward end of the link 2M extends over the link E92 and then downward on the right side of the latter and in front of a stud 216 in the end of the upper arm of the bell crank 197.
The downwardly bent end of the projection 2l5 carries a stud 217 normally in front of the shouldered end of the forward arm of a latch bell crank 25.5 pivotally mounted on a stud 22'19 secured in the left side frane member. A tension spring 22@ connected between a stud secured in the link 23.4 and a stud 231 mentioned hereinafter urges the 2id downward and rearward. While the machine is at rest between cycles, the stud 8l holds the hell crank i9? at its clockwise (Fig. l0) limit and the stud 2id holds the link 2id so far forward that a slight cleara.` ce is present between the stud 2117 and the latch shoulder of the bell crank Tlf-t3. When the machine is cycled with the paper carriage in any columnar position other than the consumption columnar position, the spring 22@ moves the stud 2l7 slightly rearwardly into engagement against the latch shoulder of the bell crank 2id. ln either case, the link 2id is normally held so far forward and the bail 21l2, and thus also the bell cranks 2li), are normally held so far counterclock 'ise (Fig. l0) that the forward sensing arms of the bell cranks 2li? are positioned upwardly from and clear of the cams 269.
As the paper carriage enters the consumption proving and printing columnar position, a control roll 221i. (Fig. 2) inoron one of the stub shafts 5S on the carriage depresses a cam arm 222 secured to the rear end of a sleeve 223 rotatable on the shaft 62, thereby elevating the end of a leftward arm 224 secured on the forward end of the sleeve. rhe notched end of the arm 224 embraces the end of a rearward arm of a bell crank (Figs. 2 and i0) pivotally mounted on the stud lilo. A tension spring 226 connected between a stud in the left side frame member and the rearward arm of the bell crank normally maintains a downward proiection of said arm against the limit stud 10S.
A, downward arm of the bell crank 22S carries a stud 227 which extends through a forwardly and rearwardly ongated slot in the rear end of a link 22S` A tension ng 225i connected at its forward end to a stud in the 223 and at its rearward end to the stud 227 normally holds the latter stud in the forward end of the t in the link 22S. The forward end of the link 223 is pr'otally connected to a stud secured in an intermediate portion of arm 239 pivotally mounted at its lower end on a stud 231 secured in the left side frame member. The upper end of the arm 23@ extends iorwardly under a stud 232 secured in and extending leftwardly from the link 214 coaxia ly with the stud 2l7. An intermediate portion of the arm 230 carries a stud 233 extending through an upwardly and downwardly elongated slot in the lowerend of a middle arm of a three-armed lever 235' pivotally mounted at its upper end on a stud 236 secured in the left side frame member. A front arm of the lever 235 extends downwardly in front of a stud 237 secured in the upward arm of the latch bell crank 2l8.
llll/hen the arm 22d rocks the bell crank 225 clockwise (Figs. 2 and l0) as the paper carriage enters the consumption proving and printing columnar position, the link 22S is pulled rearwardly, rocking the arm 23d counterclockwise and the lever M" clockwise. The front A133 arm of the lever 235 rocks the latch hell crank 2l counterclockwise to remove its latch shoulder from the path of the stud 217 and the arm 23@ engages and raises the stud 232 to lift the rearward end of the link 2li@ upwardly clear of the stu-d Zli, whereupon the spring 221i. pulls the link rearwardly and the bail clockwise. The upward arms of the bell cranks ill-ti follow the nr-.il 2li until the forward sensing arms of the hell cranks "fe the cams 299. As the latter are secured to the hues of the pinions 2&5 which are constantly rneshed with the consumption computing pinions lo@ and the latter have been, as previously explained, positioned in accordance with the difference between the present and previous meter readings which were entered into the machine, the positions t which the bell cranks 2li) are moved are also determined in accordance with that remainder. The cams 2129 are so shaped and fixed in such angular relation to the pinions Zil' and the latter are so meshed if. the pinir lo@ that the low points of the cams 2s@ are engaged by the sensing hell cranks 2id when the pinions are positioned in accordance with Gs in the remainder and high points of the cams are engaged when the pinions are positioned in accordance with 9s in the remainder.
'Tie upper ends of the upper arms of the bell cranks engage .inst the rear sides of studs 2li? in respective slides 26h? which extend rearwardly through the keyboard and are slidingly supported beside the rows of hell cranks 17 46 for the respective previous reading key rows in slots in the upper edges of transverse comb guide strips 241 supported in partition members 42. Tension springs 242 connected between the studs 239 and the comb sectors 38 or 39 normally maintain the slides 240 at their rearward limits where the notches of one series of notches 243 in the upper edges of the slides 240 are aligned with pins secured in and extending laterally from the bell cranks iti of the previous reading key rows so that, normally, all keys of the previous reading key rows are freely depressible while the machine is at rest between cycles. When the upper arms of the sensing bell cranks 21d are swung forwardly as the paper carriage enters the consumption columnar position, the slides 240 are pulled forwardly to varying extents depending upon the difference between the present and previous readings entered in the preceding machine cycle and move the notches 243 out of alignment with the pins 244.
Each of the slides 24d has a second series of notches 245 so located in its upper edge that when the slides 246 are positioned by the bell cranks 216 under control of the cams 2M, those keys or the previous reading key rows which correspond to the digits of the difference between the present and previous meter readings entered in the preceding cycle will be freely depressible vbut all other keys of those key rows will be locked against depression by the presence of unnotched upper edge portions of the slides being immediately under the studs 244 of the bell cranks for such other keys. Fig. l shows, in active position, the parts for an order in which the consumption computing pinion lo@ is in its clear position when the paper carriage has entered the consumption column after a meter reading entering cycle in which the present and previous readings entered were such that the remainder contained a (l in thatv order and all of the keys for the digits l to 9 for that order are locked against depression.
At this point in the operation of the illustrated machine, the operator is required to enter the pre-calculated consumption amount. f any key in the previous reading key rows which the operator attempts to depress is found locked against depression, the operator is warned by the locked condition of that key that an error has'occurred and that the necessary steps should be taken to nd and correct it. rEhe risk that the operator may fail at this point to depress a key in one of the previous reading key rows in which a key should be depressed is`comparatively insignilicant as the occurrence of incorrect ciphers in the pre-calculated consumption amounts and the erroneous reading of ciphers for othe'rdigits arevery infrequent. l
lf the pre-calculated consumption amount is the same as the diiference between the present and previous meter readings entered in the preceding machine cycle and the operator has correctly entered it on the keys of the previous reading key rows, another cycle of operation of the machine may be initiated. With the paper carriage in the consumption columnar position the consumption amount is printed from the type carried by the arms 32 associated with the previous reading actuator sectors 35 and the crossfooter engaging and disengaging means is in normal condition so that the pinions 160 are in mesh with and are rotated back to their starting clear positions by the actuators c of the previous reading orders during the return stroke of the cycle. The sensing bell cranks 2li) are restored to normal in the forward stroke of the cycle.
A bell crank 25d pivotally mounted on a stud 251 secured in the inner (right) side of the 'left side frame member has an upper arm carrying a stud 252 located behind a rear arm of the lever 235. A rearward arm of the bell crank 25o has a cam portion which is acted upon by the stud 81 in each machine cycle to rock the bell crank 25@ clockwise (Fig. 10) in the initial portion of the cycle and hold it in such rocked position until the nal portion of the cycle. As the bell crank 250 is so operated in the consumption proving and entering cycle, the stud 252 acts on the rear arm of the lever 235 to restore the latter to normal and permit the forward arm of the latch bell crank 218 to drop onto the stud 217. The stud 252 also acts on the rear end portion of the link 214' and returns it forwardly to its normal position, thereby permitting the latch shoulder of the bell crank 215; to drop behind the stud 217 and returning the bail 212 and sensing bell cranks 21d to normal. The stud 252 holds the link 214 in returned position until after the actuator sectors have returned to O so that rotation of the pinions and 205 and cams 209 by the previous reading actuators 35 is not hindered by the sensing bell cranks 210.
As the stud 252 returns the lever 235 to normal, the latter returns the arm 230 and link 228 to normal, the spring 229 yielding while the bell crank 225 is held in rocked position by the control roll 221.. As the arm 230 is thus returned to normal, the spring 226 lowers the link 214 to normal while the latch bell crank 218 rocks slightly clockwise (Fig. l0) while keeping its hold on the stud 217. The rear end of the link 2.14 is then again in the path of the stud 216. As the paper carriage tabulates out of the consumption columnar position, the roll 221 leaves the arm 222 and the springs 226 and 229 return the bell crank 225 to normal.
Means to return crossfooter laterally to normal As the paper carriage tabulates from the consumption columnar position and enters the next columnar position, a control roll 255 (Fig. 2) depresses the upper rightward end of a cam arm 256 on the rear side of a yoke member 257 which. is rockably mounted on the shaft 62. The forked end of a leftward arm 258 on the forward side of the yoke 257 embraces the end of a rearward arm of a bell crank 259 pivotally mounted on the stud 106. A tension spring 260 (Fig. l2) connected between a stud in the left side frame member and the rearward arm of the bell crank 259 urges the latter counterclockwise (Figs. 2 and 12) and normally maintains a downward projection of the rearward arm of the bell crank against the limit stud 108.
A downward arm of the bell crank 259 is pivotally connected to the rear end of a link 261 (Fig. l2) the forward end is pivotally connected to a stud in an intermediate portion of an arm 262. The arm 262 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a shouldered screw stud 263 whose threaded shank passes through the left side frame member and into the left hand stud 68 to secure the latter to the frame member. .The upper end portion of the arm 262 extends rearwardly under and normally supports a stud 264 secured in the forward part of a two part longitudinally extensible link 265 normally held in contracted condition by a spring 266 connected at its ends to the two parts of the link. The rearward end of the link has a hook shoulder 267 which is above the path of the stud 81 when, as normally, the link 26S is supported in its upper position by the arm 262. The forward end of the link 265 is pivotally mounted on a stud 26S in the rearward end of a link 269 which is horizontally swingably secured on the left end of a leftward arm of a bell crank 270 horizontally rockably mounted on a stud secured in a horizontally turned lug 271 on the upper portion of a bracket 272 secured, in part by the shouldered screw stud 263, to the outer side of the left side frame member. The bell crank 270 has a second arm extending forwardly on the right side of a roller 273 mounted on 'a screw stud secured to the lower portion of the detent plate 1 80.
The rocking of the bell crank 259 as the paper carriage Ienters the columnar position following the consumption columnar position pulls the link 261 and arm 262 rearwardly to allow the hook shoulder 267 on the rear end of the link 265 to drop behind the stud 81. Then, after the crossfooter has been disengaged from the actuator sectors by the action of the pawl 71 at the beginning of the following cycle of operation of the machine, the stud 8l pulls the link 265 rearwardly and rocks the bell crank 27d so that the forward arm of the latter acts on the roller 273 to move the plate l, shaft t55 and the crossiooter pinions leftwardly suiiciently for the forward arm of the detent bell crank 183 to drop down on the rightward side of the lowermost shoulder itil oi the plate itil? to again latch the crossfooter pinions in their normal lettward positions where the usual add and subtract pinions 65 and 66 are in the planes of the usual actuator sectors 35. As the shaft 15S and the crossfooter pinions reach their normal lateral positions, a cam projection 275 on the lower edge of the link 265 cooperates with the stud lll-9 i to cam the link upwardly to disengage its hook shoulder 267 from the stud 81.
rl`he last-mentioned machine cycle, which follows next after the consumption proving and entering cycle, and
one or more subsequent machine cycles may be utilized to .I
complete the line of entries on the bill in any desired manner. A plurality of utility services, such as gas, electricity and Water may be billed in successive lines on a single bill, the meter readings and consumption amount in each line being handled in the manner above described.
lt is believed that the meter-reading entering and the consumption proving and entering machine operations have been suiciently described above, iirst generally and later in detail, as not to require recapituation.
I claim:
l. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by' said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount diierential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, two groups of manipulative amount keys, means for each of vsaid groups of amount keys and conditionable by the keys of the respective group to limit the extents of movement of the actuators of a respective one of said actuator groups from normal, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, and means to control said moving means in a selected machine cycle to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group throughout movement of the actuators in said one direction in said cycle for rotation of Vsaid'pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding to the extents of movements of the latter as determined by said limiting means conditioned by the keys of one of said key groups, and to be engaged with the actuators of the other of said groups throughout movement of the actuators in said reverse direction in the same cycle for rotation of said pinions reversely by 2. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row ofV settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer having a setrof pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, and means to control said moving means in a selected machine cycle to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group throughout movement of the actuators in said one direction i said cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling the actuators of said one group, and to be engaged with the actuators of the other of said groups throughout movement of the actuators in said reverse direction in the same cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said other group reversely to extents corresponding to the values of set keys iu the rows or" keys controlling the last-mentioned actuators.
3. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive'means, recording means having portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means, in a machine cycle, in one direction from a normal'position to amount diierential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators ot either group and to disengage'said pinions from said actuators, and control means conditioned by one of said recording means portions in a predetermined columnar relative position of said portions to condition said moving means to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group for the duration of movement of the actuators in said one direction in a machine cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling those actuators, and to be engaged with the actuators of the other of said groups for the duration of movement of the actuators in said reverse direction in the same machine cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said other group reversely to extents corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling the last-mentioned actuators.
4. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of differential amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from normal positions to amount difierential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to said normal positions, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extents of movements Vof said actuators from said normal positions in accordance with the values of set keys in the respective key rows, a set of totalizer pinions movable relatively to said actuators for engagement with and disengagement from the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move the pinions to engage them with and to disengage them from the actuators of the selected group, means to control said engaging and disengaging means to effect, in one machine cycle, a iirst actuatorengaging movement of said pinions prior to movement of the actuators from their normal positions, a disengaging movement of the pinions after completion of their movements to diierential amount positions, and a second actuator-engaging movement of said pinions before movementof said actuators in said re erse direction, and means to select the group of actuators to be engaged with said pinions by engaging movement oi the latter, said selecting means selecting one of said groups oi actuators for engagement with said pinions by said tirst engaging movement and controlled by said control means to eiiect selection of the other of said groups of actuators for engagement with said pinions by said second engaging movement ofsaid pinions in said one machine cycle.
5. A. calculating machine having cyciically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount diierential positions and subsequently in sai-d cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frame and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said frame to align them with the actuators of either group, means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, said frame-moving means being normally conditioned to effect such movements of said frame at such times in a machine cycle as to place the frame in engaging position while said actuators are moved in a single one of said directions in said cycle, means to condition said frame moving means to place said frame in engaging position while said pinions are aligned with the actuators of a predetermined one of said groups prior to movement of the actuators from normal position in a machine cycle, out of engaging position after movement of the actuators to diierental amount positions is completed, and again in engaging position prior to movement of the actuators in the reverse direction to their normal positions, and to condition said pinion-moving means to move said pinions into alignment with the actuators of the other of said groups while said frame is out of engaging position between said movements of said actuators, and means to render said conditioning means effective for a selected cycle of operation of the machine.
6. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frame and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said trame to align them with the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, control means conditioned by said one of said portions of said recording means in accordance with the columnar relative positions of said portions, means conditioned by said control means to operate said frame moving means to place said frame in engaging position while said pinions are aligned with the actuators of a predetermined one of said groups prior to movement of said actuators from normal position in a machine cycle, out of engaging position after movement of the actuators to dilerential position prior to movement of the actuators in the reverse direction to their normal positions, and means conditioned by said control means for operation by said driving means to cause said pinion-moving means to move said `60 amount positions is completed, and again in engaging pinions into alignment with the actuators of the other of said groups while said frame is out of engaging position between said movements of said actuators.
7. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and subsequently in said cycle, the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frame and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said frame to align them with the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators and normally operated by said driving means to move said frame to disengaging position at the beginning of each machine cycle prior to movement of said actuators from their normal positions and to return said frame to `engaging position after completion of the movement of the actuators to amount differential positions and prior to reverse movement thereof, control means conditioned by one of said portions of said recording means in accordance with the columnar relative positions of said portions, means conditioned by said control means to operate said frame moving means to return said frame to engaging position after said movement of the latter to disengaging position but prior to movement of the actuators from their normal positions in a machine cycle initiated while said recording means portions are in a predetermined columnar relative position, and means conditioned by said control means and operated by said frame upon movement thereof to disengaging position to render said pinion moving means operative to align said pinions with the actuators of a predetermined one of said groups.
8. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount diderential positions and subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, a row of settable amount keys for each of said actuators, means controlled by said keys to limit the extent of movement of said actuators from normal in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer comprising a movably mounted frarne and a set of pinions mounted in said frame for movement relative to the latter, means to move said pinions relative to said frame to align them with the actuators of either group, means operable by said driving means to move said frame to engage the pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, control means conditioned by one of said recording means portions in accordance with the columnar relative positions of said portions, means conditioned by said control means when said recording means portions are in a predetermined columnar relative position to cause said frame moving means to move said frame to engaging position prior to movement of the actuators from their normal positions, to move said frame again to disengaging position and again to engaging position after completion of the movements of the actuators to amount dilerential positions and prior to reverse movement of the actuators, and means controlled by said control means and said driving means to move said pinions into alignment with the actuators of one of said groups while said frame is in disengaging position prior to movement of the actuators from normal position and to again move said pinions to align them with the actuators of the other of said groups when said frame is in disengaged position while the actuators are in amount diterential positions.
9. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, a totalizer including a set of pinions, amount entering means including, for each of said pinions, a row of settable amount keys and differential actuator means operable by said driving means in a machine cycle and controlled by a set key of said key row to enter on said pinion an amount determined by the set key, key locking means for eachv of said key rows normally in a nonlocking condition in which it does not prevent setting of any of said keys but operable to each of a plurality of conditions including, for each of the keys of the row, a locking condition in which it does not prevent the setting of said key but locks all of the other keys of said row, control elements conditioned by said pinions in accordance with amounts present on the latter, normally ineiective operating means cooperating with the several key locking means and controllable by respective ones of said control elements in accordance with amounts present on the respective pinions, to operate said key locking means to the locking conditions in which only the keys for an amount related in a predetermined manner to the amount present on said pinions are not locked, means to render said operating means effective to operate said key locking means to such locking conditions at the end of a predetermined machine cycle, and means actuated by said driving means to restore said operating means to ineffective condition in a succeeding machine cycle.
10. A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, two groups of amount actuators movable by said driving means in a machine cycle in one direction from a normal position to amount differential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, two key row groups each comprising a row of settable amount keys for each of the actuators of a respective one of said actuator groups, means controlled by the keys of each key row to limit the extent of movement of a respective one of the actuators of the respective group from its normal position in accordance with the values of the set keys in the the respective key rows, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, means to control said moving means in a selected machine cycle to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators of one group throughout movement of said actuators in said one direction in said cycle for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows Vof keys controlling those actuators', and to be engaged with the actuators of the other f said groups throughout movement of the actuators in said reverse direction in the same machine cycle for rotation said ions by actuators of said other group reversely to extentsv corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling the last-mentioned actuators, key locking means for each of the key rows of one of said key row groups normally in a nonlocking condition in which it does not prevent setting of any of the keys of the respective row but operable to cach of a plurality of conditions including, for each of the keys of the row, a locking condition in which it does not prevent the setting of said keys out locks all of the other keys of said row, control elements conditioned by said v)inions in accordance with amounts present on the latter, normally ineiective operating means cooperating with the several key locking means and controllable by respective ones of said control elements in accordance with amounts present on the respective pinions, to operate said key locking means to the locking conditions in which only the keys for an amount related in a predetermined manner to the amount present on said pinionsl are not locked, means operated automaticallyV in said selected machine cycle to render said operating means effective to operate said key locking means to such locking conditions at the end or' said cycle, and means actuated by said driving means to restore said operating means to ineffective condition in the next machine cycle.
l1, A calculating machine having cyclically operable drive means, columnar recording means including portions relatively movable to a plurality of columnar relative positions, two groups of amount actuators movable by saiddriving means in a machine cycle in one directionfrom a normal position` to amount differential positions and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to normal position again, two key row groups each comprising a row of settable amount keys for each of the actuators of a respective one of said actuator groups, means controlled by the keys of each key row to limit the extent of'movement of a respective one of the actuators of the respective group from its normal position in accordance with the values of the set keys in the respective key rows, a totalizer having a set of pinions, means to move said pinions and actuators relatively to each other to engage said pinions with the actuators of either group and to disengage said pinions from said actuators, means conditioned by one of said recording means portions in a predetermined columnar relative position of said portions to cause said pinions to be engaged with the actuators or one group throughout movement of the actuators in said one direction in a cycle of operation of the machine for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said one group in one direction to extents corresponding ot the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling those actuators, and to be engaged with the actuators of the other of said groups throughout movement of the actuators in said reverse direction in the same cycle of operation or the machine for rotation of said pinions by the actuators of said other rgroup reversely to extents corresponding to the values of set keys in the rows of keys controlling the last-mentioned actuators, key locking means for each of the key rows of one of said key row groups normally in a non-locking condition in which it does not prevent setting of any of the keys of the respective row but operable to each of a plurality of conditions including, for each of the keys of the row, a locking condition in which it does not prevent the setting of said key but locks all of the other keys of said row, control elements conditioned by said pinions in accordance with amounts present on the latter, normally ineffective operating means cooperating with the several key locking means and controllable by respective ones of said control elements in accordance with amounts present on the respective pinions, to operate said key locking means to the locking conditions in which only the keys for an amount related in a predetermined manner to the amount present on said pinions are not locked, means conditioned by said recording means portion in said predetermined columnar relative position to render said operating means eiective to operate said key locking means to such locking conditions at the end of said cycle, and means actuated by said driving means to restore said operating means to ineective condition in the next machine cycle.
l2. A calculating machine comprising a line of spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators, a keyboard having parallel key rows including a key row for each of said actuators, control means cooperable with respective ones of said ac ,tutors for control of the movements of the latter and with the keys of corresponding ones of said key rows for operation by the keys thereof and extending substantially directly from said keys to said actuators, a line of printing type carriers each having direct connection with a respective one of said actuators for movement therewith, said actuators constituting rst and second spatially separate groups of actuators and the rows of keys operating said control means controlling the actuators of the respective groups likewise constituting Yfirst and second spatially separate groups of key rows, a third group of correspondingly spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators in line and interspersed with the actuators the iirst group, control means cooperable with the respective actuators of said third group for control of the movements of the latter, and extending between the control means for the adjacent actuators of the iirst group to the keyboard between respective key rows of the first group ofkey rows and, thence, transversely to said key rows to keys of the corresponding key rows of the second key row group for operation by the keys of the latter key rows, and a totalizer including a line of pinions movable transversely of said actuators into alignment with the actuators of either the first or third actuator groups and toward and from the actuators to engage said pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators.
13. A calculating machine comprising a line of spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators, a keyboard having parallel key rows including a key row for each of said actuators, control means cooperable with respective ones on said actuators for control of the movements of the latter and with the keys of corresponding ones of said key rows for operation by the keys thereof and extending substantially directly from said keys to said actuators, a line of printing type carriers each having direct connection with a respective one of said actuators for movement therewith, said actuators constituting first and second spatially separate groups of actuators and the rows of keys operating said control means controlling the actuators of the respective groups likewise constituting first and second spatially separate groups of key rows, a third group of correspondingly spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators in line and interspersed with the actuators of the iirst group, control means cooperable with the respective actuators of said third group for control of the movements of the latter, and extending between the control means for the adjacent actuators of the first group to the keyboard between respective key rows of the first group of key rows and, thence, transversely to said key rows to keys in the corresponding key rows of the second key row group for operation by the keys of the latter key rows, a totalizer including a line of pinions movable transversely of said actuators into alignment with the actuators of either the first or third actuator groups and toward and from the actuators to engage said pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, means to drive the machine through cycles of operation, means actuated by said driving means to move said actuators in a machine cycle from a normal position to differential amount positions determined by the control means operated by the keys, and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to said normal positions again, means actuated by said driving means in the machine cycle to move the pinions to engage them with the aligned actuators of one of said first and third groups, prior to movemnet of said actuators from their normal positions and to move said pinions to disengage them from said engaged actuators when the actuators have completed their movements to amount differential positions.,
means rendered operative by said driving means in said cycle to move said pinions to align them with the actuators of the other of said first and third groups while the actuators are in their amount differential positions, and means actuated by said driving means to again move said pinions to engage them with the aligned actuators prior to their reverse movement to their normal positions.
14. A calculating machine comprising a line of spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators, a keyboard having parallel key rows including a key row for each of said actuators, control means cooperable with respective ones of said actuators for control of the movements of the latter and with keys of respective ones of said key rows for operation by the keys thereof and extending substantially directly from said keys to said actuators, a line of printin'7 type carriers each having direct connection with a respective one of said actuators for movement therewith, said actuators constituting iirst and second spatially separate groups of actuators and the rows of keys operating said control means controlling the actuators of the respective groups likewise constituting first and second spatially separate groups of key rows, a third group of correspondingly spaced, parallel, movable, amount actuators in line and interspersed with the actuators of the irst group, control means cooperable with respective actuators of said third group for control of the movements of the latter, and extending between the control means for the adjacent actuators of the first group, to the keyboard between respective key rows of the rst group of key rows and, thence, transversely to said key rows to keys in the corresponding key rows of the second key row group for operation by the keys of the latter key rows, a totalizer including a line of pinions movable transversely of said actuators into alignment with the actuators of either the first or third actuator groups and toward and from the actuators to engage said pinions with and disengage them from the aligned actuators, means to drive the machine through cycles of operation, means actuated by said driving means to move said actuators in a machine cycle from a normal position to differential amount positions determined by the control means operated by the keys, and, subsequently in said cycle, in the reverse direction to said normal positions again, means actuated by said driving means in the machine cycle to move the pinions to engage them with the aligned actuators of one of said first and third groups, prior to movement of said actuators from their normal positions and to move said pinions to disengage them from said engaged actuators when the actuators have completed their movements to amount differential positions, means rendered operative by said driving means in said cycle to move said pinions to align them with the actuators of the other of said first and third groups while the actuators are in their amount differential positions, means actuated by said driving means to again move said pinions to engage them with the aligned actuators prior to their reverse movement to their normal positions, and means, including portions operated by said driving means in said cycle and while the actuators are in their amount differential positions, to cooperate with said type carriers to record in laterally spaced relation, two amounts represented by set keys of said first and second groups of key rows and entered on said pinions by said first and third groups ot actuators in said machine cycle.
References Cited in the lc of this patent UNTED STATES BATENTS 1,221,927 White et al. Apr. 10, 1917 1,387,711 Hart Aug. 16, 1921 1,864,273 Muller June 2l, 1932 1,914,272 McFall June 13, 1933 2,450,165 Ramdall et al. Sept. 28, 1948 2,477,722 Coe et al. Aug. 2, 1949 2,520,070 Sundstrand Aug. 22, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 666,599 Germany Oct, 24, 1938
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1387711A (en) * 1921-08-16 Combined typewriting and computing machine
US2450165A (en) * 1948-09-28 Cash register
US1221927A (en) * 1909-09-24 1917-04-10 Burroughs Adding Machine Co Calculator.
US1864273A (en) * 1928-08-10 1932-06-21 Burroughs Adding Machine Co Accounting machine
US1914272A (en) * 1929-04-23 1933-06-13 Tabulating Machine Co Totalizing mechanism
DE666599C (en) * 1937-04-11 1938-10-24 Dirk Veenman Calculating or accounting machine driven by a motor
US2520070A (en) * 1941-06-24 1950-08-22 Underwood Corp Accounting machine
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