US890945A - Adding-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. G. VINCENT.

ADDING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED JUNE 26, 1906. 5 SHEE S S 'EET l I J. G. VINCENT.

PATENTED-JU'NE is, 1908.

ADDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1906. Q

- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,945. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

J. G. VINGENT. ADDINQMAGHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 26. 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 890,945. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

, J. G. VINCENT.

ADDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1906.

5 SEBETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 J. G. VINCENT. ADDING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 2.6.1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFKQIZ.

JESSE G. VINCENT, OF DETROIT, i\lI(jIlIG.-\N, ASSlGNOR TO BURROl'LlI-lS ADDING MAK'LHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN. A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ADD ING-MACHINE Nest-0,945.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Application filed. June 26, 1906. Serial No. 323,i7.

' To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Jnssn G. VINCENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of the present invention 1s to so construct the keyboard or indexing mechanism of an adding and listing machine as to pro vide for high frequency in fingering. As machines of this character have generally been constructed heretofore, keys are depressed representing the amount to be added or listed or both and these keys main-' tain an adjustment or positioning of the socaller indexing, t. 0., amount determining devices within the machine, throughoutthe greaterportion of thelatters operation. The most common mode of effecting an operation of such a machine has been for the operator to draw forward a crank handleorlever against spring pressure and then to release the same and permit it to returnto normal. During the drawing forward of this crank handle or lever'the adding and listing mechanism of the machine assumes an adjustment according to the )revious indexing brought about through epression of the amount keys. In this manner type representing the amount to be listed are brought to'rninting position and the immediate actuators for the accumulator are positioned for adding said amounts upon the restoration of the crank handle to its normal position. It has been customary for the keys to remain depressed until this crank handle or lever is near the end of its return stroke. Hence the operator has been required to await practically-the complete return of the crank handle before setting up another amount on the keyboard. Many operators acquire such speed and dexterity as to be ready to set up another amount on the keyboard immediately upon releasing the crank handle at the end of its forward stroke. In hand operated machines there is thus a period of time when the speedy operator suffers an enforced idle ness and it will be obvious that were he per mitted to set up another amount 11I11116dlately upon releasing the crank handle no time would be lost and the amount of work he could perform upon the machine in a given time would be greatly increased. in the hand operated machine the operator fingers the keys with the same hand which he uses to operate the crank handle and. con sequently the limitations of frequency of fingering in this type of machine would be entirely removed by releasing the keys and permitting the setting up of a new amount as soon as the crank handle has been drawn to the limit of its forward movement. However, power has been successfully applied to adding and listing machines-to relieve the operator of the manual labor incident to the drawing forward of the crank handle against spring pressure and to quicken the operation of the machine. In the powerdriven machine the operator is no longer required to use his hand during the forward stroke or preparatory movement of'the internal mechanism of the machine, but after setting up the amount on the keyboard has merely to touch a starting button or key which requires but a moment. Thereupon the motor performs the work which was before done by the operator in'drawing forward the crank handle. While the application of the motor drive to the machine naturally increased the output by speeding the operation between the setting up of successive amounts upon the keyboard, stll-l the period of enforced idleness for the speedy operator was relatively increased because he would be ready immediately upon touching the starting button or key to set u a new amount upon the keyboard. but wou d be prevented from so doing by reason of the fact that the keys already depressed remained so during the entire operation of the motor upon the mech 'anism of the machine and, as in the case of the hand operated machine, until near the end of the return stroke or excursion of the driven member corresponding with the crank handle. Hence the requirements of the speediest of operators is not fully satisfied by providing for the setting up of a new amount upon the completion of the forward stroke or excursion of the driven member and to accommodate the machine to the highest speed attainable'by the most expert operator it is desirable to provide for the setting up of a inc new amount just as soon as such an operator can finger the amount keys after touching the starting button or key. 7

The present invention aims to satisfy ali requiremen s in this regard and, to state its objects mo specifically, it is proposed to no longer employ the amount keys as actuators indexing devices and havingperiormed that function may return to normal position. The operating mechanism of the machine itself is employed to cause the actuation of the indexing devices. Thus almost imme diately an operation of the machine is under vra accompanied by actuation of the unloo' ed indexing devices, the operated keys may he released and the keyboard made ready hirther fingering. The invention provides for such further fingering tehing eii'ect immediately to disable the loci 1s of the "indexing devices associated With the keys then operated, Whether they comprise any or all t those used. in the preceding fingering or others not so used. The key-releasing action being timed to take place at the outset oi on operation of the machine and having of course already occurred when the second iin ering is done, the keys depressed in the latter performance will remain depressed so the horizontal p .tes of which are repr asto lee-vs their associated indexing devices uniocired'until the first o eration of the machine is completed and t e second hegun.

With the ahove stated and incidental ohjects in view, the invention consists in certain nove features of construction and com; hinstions of ports, the essential elements Where-oi recited in the aopended. cleims and preferred forms of embodiment of ivluch are described in detail hereinafter and fully illustrated in the accom denying drawings forming part of this specification.

' Of said drawings, Figure 1 represents in.

sideelevation the interior mechanism of so much of familiar type of sddine machine as :necesssry in. order to iilustrate the appliestion of the present invention thereto, said figure of the drawings showing the inclosing casing of the machine in section end certain exterior thereto in elevetion; Fig. 2 t presents on an enlarged scale in longitudie l section teat part of the machine to which the present invention has most immediate apphcation, viz. the keyboard and ports directly under the some; Fig. '3 re resents a fragmentary to plan view of the .iey'bosrd, scnted hem as hrc'ken away to disclose parts bene a1.

and the key stems being shown in crest-sect on on varying norisontai planes; Fig. 4 1s a view corresponding with Fig. 2 but on s ierger scale and not iilustrsting so much of the keyboard mechanism, this view serving more especially to illustrate the changed relotion h pa when a key in one of the de nominations series has been depressed; 5 is s longitudinal sectional view of parts op peering at the upper right hand portion of scenes another key in said bank or series depressed before said operation of the machine is far advanced and Fig. 11 1s aview similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a modified construction of (keyboard.

The invention is shown in the present instance as embodied in an adding and listing machine of the familiar Burroughs type and reference may be had to Patents 504,763 and 505,078 of September 12, 1893, for a full and complete description of such a machine. It is not necessary to a thorough understanding of the present invention that all of the various details of this Well known Burroughs m achine be set forth, nor the mode of operation of all of the msnyparts which go to make up such a machine. It will sullice to refer to such of those )arts as may be more directly concerned in t e carrying out of the present invention. It may be stated furthermore that, hile the invention. is illustrated as applied to this familiar Burroughs type of machine, it is by no means limited in its application to such it mechinc,h11t mayas effectively be applied to other types of adding and. listing machines.

in the drawings, the reference numeral 300 designates a shaft which the crank handle is applied when the machine is hand-operated and. to which the motor geared when the machine is pmvendrivcn, said shaft in. either case h an oscillatory movement. Through suitable cormections not necessary to describe, the oscillations oi this shaft produce swinging of a frame 613, which normallysnpports in elevatcdposition a series of arms orlevers 611 mounted upon the same shaft 600 as supports said frame, these levers on the forward side of this shaft carrying segmental racks 610 end on the rear side of said shaft carrying segmental series of type 618". The latter cooperate with suita bie impression means not necessary to describe and the segmental racks 610 ccoperate with s, counter or accumulator 916 mounted in. e rocking frame 910. The iihirig of engagement between the counter or accumulstorend the segmental. racks 610 iii-variously regulated according to whether listing, total printing or subtotal printing to be accomplished. The instrumentalities em loyed in this connection are fully descri. ed said Patent No. 564,963. in a listing opersticn the extent to which the keys 291, which are arranged in longitudinal rows or banks on top of the machine.

Heretofore in machines of this type the depression of such keysoperated through suitable connections to draw back stop-rods 270 whereby to present stops in the path of shoulders 610 of the racks 610, the latter being released by the displacement of latches 115 ,-also effected by the depression of the keys. Neither of thesefunctions is performed by the keys with the present invention embodied in the machine. Of course the stoprods must be drawn back. to set stops and thelatches must be displaced to release the racks, but the present invention provides for these things being done as accom animents to the forward oscillation 0 the drive-shaft 300. The rods 270 engage loosely at their rear ends in eyes of rock arms 217 hung upon cross shafts-or rods 200 below the keys, there being a longitudinal row or series of these rock arms for each row mounted upon a cross shaft 207. spring 219 tends to draw the said frame or bank of keys, corresponding in number of rock arms to a row. The rock arms of each series extend downwardly through slots in a sliding strip or plate 214, which is normally held in a forward position through the abutment against its rear end of a cross rod 202 of a rocking frame comprising side bars 219 A spiral rearwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 but is normally prevented from so doing by the interposition of a lever 622* in front of a roller 219" mounted upon a depending arm, of one of the side bars 219; Said lever 622" is journaled upon the cross shaft 600 and has a depending arm 622 acted upon by thcsector 311 which oscillates with the shaft 300. The rearwardly extendingportion of the lever 622 is connected by a spiral spring 687 with a fixed part of the machine so that as soon as the sector 311 starts forward said lever 622 will lower and when permit the rod 202 to retreat toward the The rear end upon the roller-219 and restore the rocking frame to its normal position when the sector 311 returns to its normal position. Asthe sliding strips or plates 214 erform the function of holding the stop ro s 270 in position for limiting the drop of the racks 610, it is desirable to lock these strips or plates 214 in the rearward position to which they move erformlng said function. It is likewise esirable to lock the strips or plates under unoper-ated banks of keys during an operation of the machine. Consequently each strip or late is formed near its rear end with a lateral extension (Fig. 9) having two locking notches 214 and 214 Ona rock shaft 202} extending across the machine below the strips or plates '214. there is secured a plate 220 formed with a series of forwardly projecting arms 220 one for each strip 214, said arms having upstanding fingers 220 at their forward ends for engagement with the notches 214 and 214 The shaft 202 (Fig. 1) carries adepending arm 220 at one end, to which is jointed a link 220 having a slotted forward end engaging a pin 220" upon an upward extension of one of the side bars of the frame 613. A spring 220 tends to draw the link 220 forward and thereby press the finge1's'220 upwardly against the strips 214, but in the normal position of parts the pin or stud 220 prevents the spring 220 from performing this function. However, upon the lowering of the frame 613 the stud or pin 220f is advancedand .the spring 220 then" acts to engage said fingers 220 withthe strips 214, said spring being connected at one end to the link and at the other to a collet 220 surrounding the pin 220 In bankswhere no key'has been de pressed said fingers will engage the rearmost notches214 whereas in banks where keys have been depressed said fingers will engage the foremost notches 214 there being a rearward movement of the strip 214 below any bank of keys in which one is depressed, and such movement being to the extent of the distance between the notches 214 and 214 maintained until near the close of an operation, when the stud or pin 220 acting against the rearward end of the slot in the link 22 0", .vvill cause the shaft 202 to be rocked in a direction to disengage the fingers 220 from the strips or plates 214. The for ward upturned ends 214 of the latter engage with the latches 415 in a well known manner to bring about the displacement of the said latches and release of the racks 610 Whenever the strips 214 move rearwardly as the result of depression of amountskeys.

The rock arms 217 are formed with forwardly projecting shoulders 217 and the widened part of each rock arm occasioned by. this formation is longitudinally co-extensivc with the slot 2 14*, through which a portion of this rock arm extends. The rock arms normally back up against the rear ends of the slots 214 and the shoulders 217 are spaced to a slight extent from the plane of the upper surface of the strip obviating undue friction thereon. The rock arms are locked at the limit of their forward movements by a series of latches, eight Ofwhich 217 are journaled upon shafts 200 and the ninth of which 217 is journaled upon a cross shaft 201* at the front part of the machine.

arm notched to engage a pin 217 projecting from one side of that rock arm which the latch locks. The rock armsare swung rearwardly and the latch arms upwardly by The locking of the strips is Each of these latches consists of a rearwardly extending means of spiral springs, eight of which 28 1 serve both of these functions, each being connected at one end to a pin 217 and at the for the spring of the rearmost rock arm to connect with and consequently that sprin 284 is simply connected to a fixed part or of the full movement of the keys.

devices now to be described.

the frame work. Gorrespondingly, there is no rock arm for the spring of the foremost latch to connect with, and that spring 28st is connected with a pin 284: on said latch, which spring its other end is connected with the forward part of the latch just in front.

T he above describml latches are designed to be displaced by the amount keys 291, but the latter do not act directly upon latches as it is not necessary taat the latterpartake The stems of the latter rest upon lateral lips or flanges of tappet arms 217 journaled upon the shafts 200 and 201". These tappet arms have laterally projecting pins 217, which engage curved slots 217, in rearward extensions of the well knowndivision plates 210. Spiral springs 284 connect the pins 217 with tangs 217 of said division plates and hold up the tappet arms, consequently elevating the amount keys; The lateral lip of the tappet arm is normally spaced from the upper edge of the latch so that there is a certain amount of lost motion between these two parts. This arrangement is employed because only slight dowward movementof the latch is necessary to disengage it from the rock arm pin 217, whereas a greater extent ot movement of the key itself is desirable for securing its cooperation with detent Each key stem is formed with zfn aperture ,having a cam edge 221? and a iding strip 214 is arranged alongside of each series of keys, said strip having laterally projecting lugs 214 occupying the apertures of the key stems. The cam edge 221 is of such a charactor as to move said detent strip rearwardly upon depression of upon the lug 214 1 side of a rock sht a key through its action. Continued depression of the key causes the high partof the cam edge to pass the lug, whereupon thedatter may move forwardly over the cam point and prevent return'of the key (Fig. 4). A spiral spring 289 draws the detent strip"21-1 tor-' ward, said spring being secured at one end to said strip and at the other end to a cross rod or shaft 201. The latter has eurnaled upon it a series of hell. crank levers 216, each comprising a dovwnwardlyextending .fishaped '07s engaging a stud 216* upon one of the detentstrips 21 t and a forwardly extending arm occupyin slot 260 in under;

course one of the ward movement of the forwardly extending arms of these bellcranlrs will result in a rearward thrust of their downwardly extending portions against the detent strips, whereby the latter will be caused to release any depressed keys; The slots 200 terminate in straight line top portions engagin the forward y extending arms of the belcran'ks 216 so that rocking of the shaft 200 will cause depression of said arms of the bell cranks. At one end this rock shaft has an arm 200 against which abuts the forward end of a bar 221 which curvesdownwardly and then extends rearwardly terminating in a'vertically slotted portion swung from an arm 220 which is journaled upon one of the cross shafts 200. Said arm 220 carries a pin "or bolt 221 which engages the slot 221 of said bar 221 and. the latter is formed with a depending portion 221 providlng a vertical shoulder winch ispresented to a similar shoulder 613 of one of the side bars )f the passes by the downward extension 221 of said bar and when the frame 613 rises the slot 221 provides for the upward extension of said frame passing by the downward extension of the bar and re-assuming its nor mal position back of the shoulder of said downward extension.

It will now be seen that the amount keys perform only the function of unlocking the indexing devices comprising the rocking arms 217 and the stop rods 270. No movement of the latter devices is caused by the depression oi the amount keys, for although these devices are thereby freed from therestraint of the latches, their springs remain inactive so long as the sliding strips or plates 214 are held to their-torward positions. They are firmly so held in the manner hercinbefore described, so that no movement whatever of the said indexing devices can take place prior to the machines being set in operation. inasmuch as the keys are no longer relied upon to produce movement of the indexing devices or to hold the same in set position, it will be obvious thatthe keys need remain depressed only until in the operation of the machine the pins 211 of the rock arms have es eaped past the notches ofthe latches. It willfurthermore be seen that thernoment this stage in the operation is reached the in dexing devices are entirely be end the control of the keys and donot rely in the least upon the same to mail position with reference-t0 the adding an are released at an early stage in an operation of the machine and other keys thereupon depressed unlatch their rock arms which remain unlatched, so that upon a second operation of the machine the second set of indexing devices unlatched will move to set position. The operation in this regard is illus trated in Fig. 10, where the parts are showp positioned as they would be when the operation of the machine was under way, the secondkey in the bank having previously been depressed and the third key having there-.

after been depressed. As heretofore stated, the contour of the rock arms is such that in normal position their shoulders 217 are spaced away from the plane of the upper surface of the slidingstrip 214. As the parts are shown in Fig. 1.0, this sliding strip has moved rearwardly so that with the exception of the first unlatehed rock arm this strip has passed below the several shoulders 217 of the rock arms but the latter will still be spaced as before from the upper surface of the strip. Therefore upon depression of an amount key other than the one first depressed, immediately following the release of the latter, the rock arm associated with the key-last depressed will be unlatched and will immediately move forward to the slight extent permitted by the space between its shoulder 217 and the upper surface of .the strip 214. As the parts are illustrated'in F 10, the left hand rockarin has been so unlatched, and will be seen to have retreated slightly until its shoulder has come against the surface of the strip. This slight movement of the rock ainrha's no necessary function in connection with its unlatching or its being maintained unlatched. It simply occurs because, as before stated, the rocking arms are moved forward by. the strip 214 far enough to relieve the latter of any friction which might otherwise result from the shoulders 217 being normally in contact with the upper side of the strip. Of coiirse this last depressed key-is held down by reason of the engagement of the lug 214 on the detent strip 21 1 with the upper part of the cam aperture in the key stein so that the latch remains in its displaced position throughout the continuing operation of the machine.

Hence the restoration of the strip 214 to its forward position at the conclusionof the maehines operation,."'although it has the effect of restoring the rock arm to its'jnormal position, does not havethe effect of re-latching it for the latch is stillheld depressed. In the ensuingoperation of the machine this rock arm will of course be swung rearwardly as the strip or-plate 214( is permitted to retreat and consequently the in 217 d will again escape the notch of the atch before the latter is released by the rearward thrust of the detent strip 214*.

The operation will be more or less apparent from what has already been set forth, but may perhaps be recapitulated to advantage. The normal condition of the machine is that represented in Figs. 1 and 2,.the amount keys being all elevated, the rock arms and their stop rods in advanced position, the latches engaged with the studs or pins on said rock arms and the slide strips 214 held in advanced position by the cross rod 202 of the ronking frame at the rear of the machine. The lock plate 200 occupies its lower position disengaged from said strips and the thrust from the pin or stud 217 of, the rock arm 217. No movement of the rock arm ensues because of the back stop afforded by the rear end of the slot in the strip 21 1 through which said rock arm extends. The depression of the key caused its internal cam edge 221 to thrust the detent strip 214; rearwardly against the stress of its spring 289 until the high part of said cam edge passed by the pin or lug of saiddetent strip. The spring 289 then of course drew the detent strip forward again carrying its lug 214 over the cam point and thus latched the key in its depressed position. The dotted line illus tration in Fig. 4 represents the change in position of the indexing devices which takes place when the machine is set in operation. As soon as the sector 311 starts forward,

vwhich is immediately the shaft 300 is set in portion into theslot of the strip so that said slot is practically filled by the rock arm and consequently there can be no return of the rock arm independently of the strip. At the 7 same time the latter locks all the other rock from. rearward. movement except to the slight extent'heretofore explained, which is: of course insufficient to-draw the stop rod 27 to set position and indeed has'no effect upon the latterowing to theloose connection between it and the lower end of the rock arm, Now it will be seen that as soon as the rock engagement between its stud or P111 2'17 and arm-has advanced farenough to prevent re a inscliine latch follows very closely upon the s "art res-r Word of the strip 21%. As soon e the me.- cliine is started the thrust her 223. is set in escribed motion in the manner hereinbeioi'e d and the resultant rocking of tr e shaft 2% quickly displaces the detent strip 21 (Fig. 5) thereby releasing the depressed hey. The frame shoulder 613 thereupon wipes post the shoulder of said thrust her so thct the latter may be retracted and the detent strip 2141f" restored to normal position. as soon as the key has risen. The operation. of the oroceeds end the indexing stop is set with the lrey released and this stop acts just as in. previous Burroughs machines to limit the drop of the accumulator rock 610 which unlstched in the course of the rose Word movement of the sliding strip 214. VThen the letter has reached 1ts reermost position one of the fingers 220 of the lock piste 200 enters the notch 214 of-seid strip. ils'heretofore explained, this look plate is thrown upward agsinst the strips 214 through its spring counectiou With the frame 613 end the fingers 226 enter the notches 214 of all the detest strips 214; which cooperate With benlrs in Which keys hove been.

depressed. .he detest strips 214': which cooperate with books in which no keys have been depressed do not, of course, move reor- Werdly. Fingers of the loci: plots, however, enter the iiotches 214 of such deterit strips so thst all the strips are positively locked while the operation of the machine is being controlled by the indexing devices.

- The dotted line position of rock arm shown in Fig. i is illustrated in full linesdn Fig. 10, where the key which unlotched this rock arm is shown as having been released. It will be seen thst the stud or pin 217 of the rear- Wsrdly rocked erm 217 still beers upon the straight edge of the latch erm so that the letter is prevented from rising and upon restoration of the rock mm to normal position will reengege the some.

.' The ke hsving been released end restored to norms. positioiiss illustrated in Fig. 10,

said key or on other key may be immedietely depresso Without Waiting for the, operation of the mechme to conclude. The deression of another he results in its to st end letch arms do ressed and the ire being latched down es in the first instance,

end as illustrated in Fig. 10. The e oration of the machine not bovin proceeds beyond the stage ct which the detest strio 214: is in its resrwsrd position, it ortiou oi thst strip is interposed beneath it e shoulder 21"! of normal position by the operotioii oi the ZOGli.

heme rod 2% and so bother? the uoletched rockarms Wfll be restored to their normal positions. it will. be noted, however, that the key of the first unlatched rock one has been released and consequently its hitch stands ready to i'engege this'roch arm. the moment the letter resches normal position. However, the key of the other unlstchcd rocltsrrrl has not been released end so when this rock orrn reaches normal position it our iic'it be reengsged by its latch. Upon. now immediately sushi operating the machine this second unlotchod rock arm will move reorwerdly carrying the detent strip with it and swinging into the slot of the letter the some as did the flSb unletched rock arm and the operation will proceed as before. In case the some key which was first do Iressed is again depressed. in the setting up or s new amount before the first operation of the machine is concluded, there Will not of course be the disengagement of the latch above described because this latch is still disengaged and held depressed. The key will. however,

be caught end held in its depressed position so that upon restoretiou of the root: 2 normal position st the conclusion oi s chines operation it 'll not be rels-tohcd but Will ogein move re... lord When the second operation oi? the machine commences.

It will be seen that keyboard thus for described is of the so-celled flexible verb ety, for having depressed one key in e book another may be immediately depressed and the first will be thereby releese l. in Fig. l 1 the so-colled locked variety of keyboard is illustrated, the depression of :1- key in this construction operating to lock oil the other keys in the brink so theft no other can be depressed until the operstion of the machine has started or else the s ecisl hey releesc brought into play. The iey stems 221 in this modified construction each have on enslot, acting upon thepin or lug within the slot, thrusts the detcnt strip rearwsrdly thereby carrying the other pins or lugs into the rear ports of the transverse portions of the slots iii the other key stems so that the letterwill be locked against down word movement. The pin or luc; in the slot of the depressed key occupies toe upper portion of the oblique part of ssid slot and the key is held depressed by the engagement with the front end of the detent strip 21 i of a shoulder 216 on a lever 216 journelcd upon the cross rod 201 and engaging the rock shef t 200 in the some manner that the previously deseribed bell creel; lever 216*- engegos sold roclt she'ft' The rest of the construction illustrated in ii is the some us that shovm in the previous figures end the opera tion of the parts is practically the same. .It will be seen that upon the forward thrust of the bar 221' as in the operation previously described the resultant rocking of the shaft 200 will tilt the lever 216" and thereby releasethe detent strip 214? The spring 289 which draws the detent strip forward is in about the engagement thereof with the front end of said detent strip when the latter is moved rearwardly by the depression of a key.

In order to provide for releasing a depressed key in the flexible keyboard construction. without using another key in the bank for'this purpose, as may be done by ,of the shaft 200 tapping such other key, release'buttons 292 are employed, the same having stems 262 mounted to slide through suitable bushings in the top late of the machine at the front thereof. luaeh button rests upon the top of the for wardly extending arm of the bell cranklever216 which operates the detent strip 214 To provide for simultaneous release of any number of depressed keys where the entire amount set up on the keyboard is to be 'eifaced, a separate button 292 is em ployed, (Figs. 3 and 6) the same having a Stern 262 sliding through thetop plate of the machine and resting upon an arm 200 It will be seen that by depressing this button 292 said shaft will be rocked and all of the bell crank levers thereby actuated to thrust thcdetent strips 214 rear wardly and release any depressed keys. Practically the same construction is used with the locked keyboard of Fig, 11', buttons 292" being employed with stems 262 which bear upon the forward ends of the levers 216 It will now be seen that the constructions above described are thoroughly capable of performing the objects primarily stated. It is to be particularly noted that, unlike all principles of operation heretofore resorted to in an. effort to accomplish the same general result, the present invention removes entirely from the keys the duty of moving the indexing devices to set position and conlines their function to the mere unlatching or unlocking of the indexing devices, the indexing movement of the latter being entircly produced through operation of the machine Thus the indexing movements become entirely automatic and finger pressure is no longer relied upon to produce such movements. This has the advantage of producing a keyboard of extremely light touch which of itself promotes speed of fingering. It follows that in the power driven machine, where the presentinvention will doubt'ess be found most useful, exertion on the part of the operator is reduced to the minimum, inasmuch as the only manual labor consists in lightly touching the keys for an unlatch ingprocess merely followed by the light touching of a starting button or key.

' What is claimed is:

1. In machine of the character described, the combinationwith accounting mechanism of normally lbcked amount determining means for variously limiting. the extent of movement thereof, keys for unlocking the said means and means coming into play in subsequent operation of the machine to cause the unlocked amount determiningmeans to take up effective position;

2. In a machine of the-character described,

the combination of normally locked amount determining means, keys for unlocking the same, and means coming intoplay in subsequent operation of the machine to cause the unlocked amount determiningimeans to take up effective position; with provisions for unlocking amount determining meansduring such operation of the machine and for preventing relocking of amount determining means so unlocked during said operationof the machine in preparation for a second op eration thereof.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of normally locked amount determining means, keys for unlocking the same, means for temporarily holding such keys in operated position, means coming into play in subsequent operations of'the machine to cause the unlocked amount determining means to take up effective position, and means coming into play at an early stage of such subsequent operation of the machine to release the operated keys and permit operation of others.

4.. In a machine of the character described, the combination of normally locked amount determining means, keys for unlocking the same, means for temporarily holding such keys in operated position, means coming into play in subsequent o eration of the machineto cause the unloc ed amount determining means to take up effective position and means coming into play at an early stage of such subsequent'operation of the machine to release the operated keys; with provisions for preventing relocking of amount determining means unlocked. during said operationof the machine in pfeparation for a second operation thereof.

5. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with accounting mechanism of normally restrained and locked amount determining means for variously limiting the extent of movement thereof, keys for unlocking the said means, and means coming into play in subsequent operation of the machine to first release said amount determining means-from restraint and then restore the same to normal.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of normally restrained and tion thereof.- 4 I 7. in a machine of the character described, the combination of normally restrained and locked amount determining means, keys for unlocking the same, means for temporarily holding such keys in operated position,

means coming into play in suhsequent operation of the machine to fast release said amount determining means from restraint and then restore the same to vnormal, and means coming into pla r at an early stage of such subsequent operation of the machine to release the operated keys and permit operation of others.

8. In a machine of the character descrihed,

the combination of normally restrained and locked amount determining m'eans,lreys for unlocking the same, means for temporrily holding such keys in operated position, means coming into play in subsequent operations of the machine to first release said amount determining means from restraint and then restore the same to normal, and means coming into play at an early stage of such subsequent operation of the machine to release the operated keys; with provisions for preventing relocking of amount determining means unlocked during said opera tion of the machine in preparation for a Sec ond operation thereof.

9. in a machine of the character described,

the combination of-normally locked stop setting means, keys for unlocking the same and means coming into playin subsequent operationof the machine to cause the unlocked stop setting means to take up effective position.

10. In ,a machine of the character described, the combination of normally locked stop setting means, keys for unlocking the same, and-means coming into play in subsequent operation of the machine to cause the unlocked stop setting means to take up eliective position; With provisions for preventing reloclcing of stop setting means unlocked during said operation of the machine in preparation for a second operation thereof.

11. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of normally locked stop setting 'means, keys for unlocking the seine, means for temporarily holding such keys in operated position,.means coming into I play in subsequent operations of the machine to cause the unlocked stop setting means to take up effective position, and means coming into play at an early stage of such subsequent sconce o eration olthe machine to release the opersame, means-for temporarily lmldin g'such keys in operated position, means coming into play in subsequent operations oi the machine to cause the ui'ilocked sto tsettinetmeans to take up effective position and. means coining, into play at an early stage ot such subsequent operation of the machine to release the operated keys; with provisions for preventing relockine ol stop setting inc ans unlocked during said operation. of the machine in' preparation for a second operation thereof". 13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of normally restrained and locked stop setting moans, keys for unlocking the same, and means coming into play in subsequent operations of the machine to first release said stop setting means from restraint and then restore the same to normal.

14. In a machine ol' the character described, the combination of normally rostrained and locked stop setting means, keys for unlocking the same and means coming into play in subsequent operation of the machine to first release said stop setting moans h'om restraint and then restore the same to normal; with provisions for preventing relocking of stop setting means unlocked during said operation of the machine in preparation. for a second operation thereof.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of normally restrained and locked stop setting means, keys for unlocking the same, means for temporarily holding such keys in operated position, means coming into play in subsequent operations of the machine to first release said stop setting meanslrom restraint and then restore the same to normal, and means coming into play at an early stage of such subsequent operation otthe machine to release the operated keys. I

16. 'In a machine of the character described, the comhination oi normally re strained and locked stop setting means, keys for unlocking the same, means for temporarily holding; such keys in operated position, means coming into play in subsequent operations oithe machine to first release said stop setting means from restraint and then restore the same to normal, and means coming into play at an early stage of such subseipient operation of the machine to release thcopcrated keys; with provisions for preventing rolocking of stop setting unlocked during said operation of the machine in preparation for a second operation thereof.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, springnrawn latches for locking 130 the same, keys for displacing the latches, detents for latching said keys, means holding said stop setters to normal position independently ofthe latches, and means coming into play in subsequent operations of the machine to restore the key detents to normal position and to release the unlocked stop setters.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, spring-drawn latches for locking the same, keys for displacing the latches, detents for latching said keys, means holding said stop setters to normal position independently of the latches and means coming into play in subsequent operation of the machine to restore the key detents to normal position and to release the unlocked stop setters; with provisions for disabling the latches by keys depressed during said operation of the machine in preparation for a second operation thereof.

19. In a machine of the character Y described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, spring-drawn latches for locking the same, keys for displacing the latches, detents for latching said keys, means holding said sto setters to normal positions inde pendent y of the latches, said means when dis laced limiting movement of subsequently un ocked stop setters and means coming into play in subsequent operation of the machine to restore the key detents to normal position and to release the unlocked stop setters.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, spring-drawnlatches therefor,.

deprossible keys to displace the latches, de-

tents for the keys, detainers for the stop-setters, operating mechanism for the'machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of springrdrawn stop-setters, spring-drawn latches therefor, depressible keys to displace the latches, detents for the keys, detainers for the stop-setters, locks for the detainers, operating mechanismfor the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers and actuating the lock for thelatter.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stopsetters, including rocking shouldered members, spring-drawn latches therefor, de

- pressible keys to displace the latches, dc tents for the keys, detamers for the stop-setters, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers; the latter When'displaced presenting abutments to the shoulders of the rocking members of the stop-setters 23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, including rocking shouldered members, spring-drawn latches therefor, depressible keys to displace the latches, detents for the keys, detainers for the stop-setters, in the form of sliding apertured strips or plates through which the said rocking members extend, operating mechanism controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers the latter when displaced presenting abu-tments to the shoulders of the rocking members of the stop-setters.

2a. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, spring-drawn swinging latches therefor, depressible keys to displace the latches, detents for the keys, detainers for the stop-setters, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spring-drawn stop-setters, including rocking shouldered members, spring-drawn swinging latches therefor, depressible keysto displace the latches, detents'for'the keys, detainers for the stop-setters, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers.

26. In a machine of the character dcscribed, the combinationpf spring-drawn stop-setters, including rocking shouldered members, spring-drawn swinging latches therefor, depressible keys to displace the latches, detents for the keys, detainers for the stop setters in the form of sliding apertured strips or plates through which the said rocking members extend, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers.

27. In a machine of the 'character described, the combination of spring drawn stop setters, spring drawn latches therefor, spring drawn tappets for the latches,

depressible keys hearing on the tap ets, detents for the keys, detainers for t 1e stopsetters, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination'of spring drawn stop setters, spring drawn swinging latches therefor, spring drawn swinging tappets for the latches, depressible keys bearing on the tappets, detents for the keys, detainers for the stop setters, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers.

29. In a machine of the character detherefor, spring drawn swinging tappets for the latches, depressible keys bearing on the tappets, detents for the keys, detainers for the stop setters, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detents and the detainers the latter when displaced presenting abutments to the shoulders of the rocking members of the stop setters.

30. In a machine of the character dc scribed, the combination of spring drawn stop setters, including rocking shouldered members, spring drawn swinging latches therefor, spring drawn swinging tappets for the latches, depressible keys bearing on the tappets, de'tents for the keys, detainers for the stop-setters in the form of sliding apertured strips or plates through which the said rocking members extend, operating mechanism for the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detentsand the detainers the latter when displaced presenting abutments to the shoulders of the rocking members of the stop setters.

31. In a machine .of the character described, the combination of spring drawn stop setters, spring drawn swinging latches therefor, depressible keys to displace the latches, detents for the keys, detainers for the 'sto setters o eratin mechanism far P i P g the machine, and means controlled thereby for causing displacement or" the detents and the detainers, saidjmeans comprising a s ring-drawn rocki'ngf member abutting the etainer-strips.

32. In a machine of the character described, the fcombination of normally locked amount determining means, detainers therefor, depressible keys for unlocking said means, detents for the keys, operating mechanism for the machine, means controlled thereby for causing displacement of the detainers, and a thrusting member actuated by said operating mechanism at the outset of the'operation to displace the detents and release the keys.

33. In a machine of the character de, scribedfthe combination of normally locked determining means, detainers tl'rerefor, depressible keys for unlocking said means, detents for the keys, operating mechanism for the machine, including a vibratory member, means controlled by said operating mechanism for causing displacement of the dc of said operating mechanism at the outset of the operation to displace the detents and release the keys.

. JESSE G. VINCENT.

l/Vitnesses S. MmLna'r, amen l /iEACAULEYu- 1 tainers, and a thrusting member actuated by the Wbratory member

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