US2540296A - Office machine - Google Patents

Description

F. N. SCHWEND ET AL .Filed Oct. 4, 1949 Feb. 6, 1951 l 1 f l/ l f f l f f f Ell E3 INVENTORS. HQE@ N. .SCHWEND A703527 E. 5eme/4 ATTURNE Y l l 1 f, l f l f.

Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OFFICE MACHINE Application October 4, 1949, Serial No. 119,518

(CL 23S-1) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to ofce machines, such as adding, calculating, check writing, stenographic andV the like machines which utilize a keyboard for entering values and factors into the machine, and has particular reference to an arrangement for facilitating transporting and storing such machines.

In machines of the above type it is normally desirable, for convenience in operating and viewing the keyboard, that the latter be inclined at an angle to the horizontal. Consequently, adding and the like machines are generally designed with the keyboard permanently inclined. However, by so inclining the keyboard, the machine is made higher and more bulky than would otherwise be necessary. This increase in heighth is often a decided disadvantage when attempting to store the machine in a desk drawer or other relatively small storage space and in order to overcome these disadvantages, a telescoping or collapsing machine arrangement has been developed as disclosed and claimed in the cepending application of Nadine Freeman et al., Serial No. 119,519, led Oct. 4, 1949,

Also, in the copendi-ng application of Robert '-5 E. Boyden, Serial No. 119,517, filed Oct. 4, 1949, retractable carrying handles which are permanently mounted on the machine are dsclosed and claimed. Such handles facilitate carrying of the machine and when in retracted position are out Another object is to utilize carrying handles of the foregoing type to control the above noted collapsing feature.

The above objects are accomplished by the present invention by providing a locking device for selectively locking the machine in d'iferent tilted positions, which lock is controlled by the carrying handles. Movement of the handles from retracted to extended carrying positions releases the locking device permitting the base and chassis of the machine to be relatively positioned.

As an example of the use of the present invention, let it be assumed that the machine is in its extended normal operating position and that it is desired to place the same in a desk or other storage compartment of limited space. The handles are first raised to carrying position, thereby releasing the locking device, and the machine is carried to its storage place. As the machine is placed in its storage compartment and drawer VCI pressed down into collapsed condition. Thereafter, the handles are allowed to drop into their retracted positions which enables the lockingdevice to again function to lock the machine into such collapsed condition.

When it is desired to later use the machine, the handles are raised to lift the machine, thereby releasing the locking device so that the machine may assume its extended Operating condition. After carrying the machine to the place where it is to be operated, the handles are merely released to their retracted, positions thus locking the machine in such extended or raised operating condition.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention which is intended for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention and the manner of its use without intending that the invention should be considered as limited to the details of the construction herein disclosed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective vieW of an adding machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 4, illustrating the locking device and controls therefor, for locking the machine in diiferent tilted positions.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, illustrating the pivotal support for the machine chassis.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along theA line -l of Fig. 2.

The machine is illustrated as an adding Inachine embodying a 1seybcard comprising a series of keys ll for the purpose of entering selected amounts and for conditioning and controlling the computing mechanisms of the machine as desired. A rotatable platen lil is provided adjacent the rear of the machine to carry a paper strip past a printing mechanism (not shown) for the purpose of recording. various factors and amounts on the strip.

lt is to be understood, however, that the machine may be of the ten key type (as shown) or the full key keyboard type, either hand driven or motor driven, and may alternatively be a calculating machine, check Writer or the like since the present invention is not limited to any particular type of keyboard equipped ofce machine but can be applied to any of the above and other types with equal advantage.

Generally, in all such machines, however, the computing and operating mechanisms thereof are carried by a traine or chassis. ln the present instance, a chassis, generally indicated at i2, is provided to carry the various mechanisms (not shown) of the machine and comprises a door plate E3 having sides lil integral therewith. End braces l and l5 (Fig. e) extend across and are suitably secured to the ends of the side frames iii, thus forming a rigid boxlike frame unit for containing and supporting the operating mechanisms.

A housing il' of plastic or the like extends over the machine proper having an opening i3 in the tcp thereof through which the keys l i extend. The housing includes a skirt i9 extending downwardly therearound to cover the sides ld and end braces i5 and l5 oi the machine frame.

The housing l? is removably secured to the frame i2 through brackets 253 (Figs. 3 and 4) suitably attached to the frame sides it. Screws 2l removably secure the housing to the brackets 2li from the under side of the machine so as to be invisible from the exterior.

The chassis unit, including the housing il, is mounted on a supporting base generally indicated at 22 for movement into either of two positions about coaxial pivot pins 2t located adjam centthe front end of the machine. The base 22 comprises a floor plate 2li mounted on machine supporting feet 9. An integral skirt 25 extends upwardly from the base 22 and is located between the sides lil of the machine frame i2 and the skirt i9 of the housing il, thus forming a substantially soundproof and dustproof enclosure for the operating parts of the machine in either tilted position of the chassis unit about the pins 23.

The pins 23 extend through the forward portion o1 the frame sides ifi and the slr' the base, thus forming trunnion bearings, and are attached to slides 25. The latter are prom vided with slots 2l guided over pins 2S attached to the floor plate 2d, permitting the pins 23 to be retracted so as to enable the chassis to be removed from the base for repair or inspection purposes. Ears 3@ extend upwardly :from the adjacent ends of the slides 2@ and a compression spring 3l' is inserted therebetween to normally holdthe slides and pivot pins 23 in their outer illustrated positions. rfabs S3 extend downwardly from the adjacent ends or" the slides 25, through an opening 'Si in the oor plate 2d, whereby the latter may be grasped and moved inwardly to release the pins 23 from pivotal engagement with the skirt of base 22.

Means are provided for selectively locking the machine chassis and housing ll in either their normal tilted operating position, as shown in the full lines in the drawings, or in collapsed position, illustrated by dot-and-dash lines lla (Fig. 4), for storage or the like purposes wherein the upper surface or the housing il and the general plane of the keyboard extends substantially horizontally or parallel with the supporting surface for the machine.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, in. particular, lock pieces 35 are provided on opposite sides of the machine chassis and each is pivoted on a pin it extending between two transverse plates d? and 353. The latter are formed with tenons t@ tting snugly within holes in the sides id whereby to hold the plates in rigid relation to the machine chassis. Each lock piece 35 has a locking ear 4i on the lower end thereof adapted to lock within either of two spaced openings or detents i2 formed in the adjacent side portion of the skirt 25 or the base 22. The upper end of each lock piece is provided with an extension i3 and a spring ifi is tensioned between this extension and the chassis floor plate i3 so as to normally hold the lock piece in locking engagement with one or the other of the openings 42.

Carrying handles generally indicated at l5 are provided for carrying the machine from place to place. These handles are U-shaped and the legs i635 of each thereof are pivoted on two spaced frame pins One of said pins extends between 'the aforementioned transverse plates 3l and S8 and the other pin extends between a second pair of similar frame plates l?? and lit.

The legs of the handles extend through openings #i9 in the top of the housing Il and, when in retracted position, nt in wells 5t so that the upper surfaces of such handle legs will lie iiush with the upper surface of the housing. This arrangement places the handles out of the way of the operators fingers and obviates the possibility cf his fingers or fingernails catching on the-same when manipulating t le keys il.

The rearmost leg of each handle is provided with a foot El extending at right angles thereto and a spring 52 is extended between such feet to normally hold the handles in their retracted pon sitions. However, when the handles are raised to their carrying positions shown by the dotted lines 45a in Fig. 2 for the purpose of carrying the machine, the feet 5l will engage the extensions 3 oi the lock pieces t5, thereby rocking such lock pieces to retract the locking ears di thereot` from engagement with the base so that the chas- Sis may be lowered into its collapsed position. By releasing the handles l5 to their retracted positions while the chassis is held in its collapsed position, the ears di of the locking pieces will be inserted by their springs lil into the lower openings to lock the chassis in this position.

Likewise, if it is desired to locate the machine in extended operating condition, the handles are raised to carrying position, permitting the chassis to be moved to its upper, extended position wherein it can be locked by releasing the handles to their retracted positions.

A spring 55 is tensioned between an extension 5t of the rear oi the base skirt 25 and an extension 5'@ or" the chassis frame l2 to normally urge the chassis into its upper position when released by the locking pieces Se. fi stop 558 is mounted on the skirt 25 to arrest the chassis when it reaches its upper extended position.

The handles i5 are so arranged that when in carrying position they will act as an integral part or rigid extension of the machine so as to eliminate any free swinging action or pendulum swinging of the machine while being carried. For this purpose, it will be noted that the handles straddle the keyboard, and the inner pivoted ends of the legs thereof are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the machine but in spaced apart relation from each other. As the handles d5 are moved to their carrying positions @5a wherein they rock the locking pieces 35 to released positions, the latter engage pins 53 extending between the adjacent side plates lil, 38, il and iid, thereby limiting movement by the handles beyond their spaced apart carrying positions @5a. Thus, when the operator grasps the handles in order to carry the machine, the latter will form a rigid unit and a rigid extension of the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what we desire to secure by United States Letters Patentis:

1. In an ofnce machine, the combination oi a machine chassis, a base, means on said base supporting said chassis for movement relative to said base, means for selectively locking said chassis in any of a plurality oi positions relative to said base, a handle for carrying said machine, means supporting said handle on said chassis for movement between a retracted position and a carrying position, and means controlled by said handle upon movement thereof between said retracted position and said carrying position for releasing said locking means.

2. In an office machine, the combination machine chassis, a base, means on said base supporting said chassis for tilting movement a substantially vertical direction, means for selectively locking said chassis in any of a plurality of tilted positions, a handle for carrying said machine, means supporting said handle on Said chassis for movement between a retracted position and a carrying position, and means controlled by said handle upon movement thereof from said retracted position to said carrying position for releasing said locking means.

3. In an omce machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a base, means pivotally supporting said chassis on said base for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, means for selectively locking said chassis in any of a plurality of positions relative to said base, a handle for carrying said machine, means pivotally supporting said handle on said chassis for movement between a retracted position and a carrying position, and means operable by said handle upon movement ola thereof from said retracted position to said carrying position for releasing said locking means.

4. In an office machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a base, means pivotally supporting said chassis on said base for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, detent means on said base, a locking element carried by said chassis and engageable with said detent means for locking said chassis in any of a plurality of positions relative to said base, a handle for carrying said machine, means on said chassis pivotally supporting said handle for movement between a retracted position and a carrying position, and means operable by said handle upon movement thereof from retracted position to carrying position for releasing said locking element from engagement with said detent means.

5. In an ofce machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a base, means pivotally supporting said chassis on said base for tilting movement about a horizontal aXis, a locking element carried by said chassis and engageable with said base for locking said chassis in any of a plurality of positions relative to said base, spring means for normally engaging said locking el-ement with said base, a handle for carrying said machine, means on said chassis pivotally supporting said handle for movement between a retracted position and a carrying position, and means on said handle adapted upon movement thereof from said retracted position to said carrying position to release said locking element from engagement with said base.

FRED N. SCHWEND. ROBERT E. BOYDEN.

No references cited.

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