Patent GB-1238048-A (GB)
IPC: G06C15/02
Filed: 1968-07-31
Abstract: 1,238,048. Currency-convertible calculating machines. ING C. OLIVETTI & C. S.p.A. 31 July, 1968 [31 Aug., 1967; 21 Sept., 1967; 20 May, 1968], No. 36597/68. Headings G4B and G4D. The invention relates to a calculating machine of the type having a setting mechanism, a totalizer and actuators for accumulating at the totalizer amounts set in the setting mechanism, the machine being normally adapted for calculating in a system wherein the lowest order is non-decimal (e.g. the old English monetary system wherein twelve pence are one shilling) and provided with means for converting for decimal operation (e.g. in the new English monetary system wherein one hundred pence are one pound and the smallest denomination is a halfpenny). A machine according to the invention includes a key depressible for setting up a fraction of the decimal unit corresponding to a fraction of the total range of the lowest non- decimal order, an auxiliary setting member operative after conversion for arresting the lowest order actuator after a predetermined stroke corresponding to the fraction, and further means operative after conversion and under control of the key for arresting the lowest order actuator at zero when the key is not depressed and for allowing the actuator to move until arrested by the auxiliary setting member when the key is depressed. The orders of the entire capacity of the machine are utilized in both systems. Non-decimal operation.-The machine is provided with a reduced keyboard (not shown) adapted for setting an amount of pounds, shillings and pence in the normal stop-carrying slide 6. An actuator rack 27 for the pence order and actuators 24 for other orders are adapted to move resiliently upwardly under the control of a universal bar 26 so that lugs 29 (Fig. 1) and 25 (Fig. 3) respectively engage with the stop 7, 8 or 10 set and rotate printing heads 76, 81 accordingly. On the return downstroke, the actuators accumulate the amount set in the totalizer 17, comprising a pair of meshing toothed wheels for each order, the wheels for all but the pence order having ten teeth each. The tooth spacing on rack 27 is 10/12 of that of the other racks 24. The totalizer wheels are moved to the right into engagement with the racks before the latter start their return downstroke. Setting from nought to eleven pence.-The lug 29 of the pence actuator 27 is formed by the end of a lever 28, which carries a pin 31, which moves along the inclined face of a lever 32 when the actuator rises. The linkage, in its normal position shown, is such that the stroke of the rack 27 is 10/12 of the stroke of lug 29 so that, for example, a stroke of nine teeth is imparted to the rack when lug 29 meets stop 10, which corresponds to nine pence. When either of two keys (41, 43), Fig. 6 (not shown) for setting ten or eleven pennies are depressed, however, a slide bar 34 (Fig. 1) is moved forwardly to alter the angle of lever 32 so that a stroke of ten or eleven teeth, respectively, is imparted to rack 27 when lug 29 meets stop 10. The rack 24 (Fig. 3) corresponding to tens of shillings is provided with a pin 129 adapted to be arrested by a lug 131 after a stroke of one tooth if a stop corresponding to "2-9" has been set in error. The carrying mechanism at the totalizer 17 is similar to that described in Specification 768,395 (Heading G4D). Upon the return stroke of the actuator rack, if the corresponding wheel in the totalizer is moved to the "0" position, a lever 108 (Fig. 1) is tripped to allow anti-clockwise movement of a lever 110. Upon completion of the downstroke, the totalizer wheels are moved to the left out of engagement with the racks and into engagement with the toothed ends of levers 110. The latter are then returned to their original position by means (not shown) to accumulate the carried amount. If the accumulation of this carried amount at one order moves the wheels of this order into the "0" position, the carrying tooth on the left-hand wheel of this order contacts and moves a tooth 112 carried by the lever 110 of the next highest order to effect the subsequent carrying into the latter order, e.g. when moving from 99 to 100 pounds. The tens of shillings totalizer wheels are each formed with five carrying teeth 22, 23 (Figs. 3 and 4) the tooth 23 being thicker than the other four teeth 22. Conversion to and operation in a decimal system.-To convert the machine, lever 55 (Fig. 4) and thus a lever 59, is moved to the broken line position shown. This causes four adjustments to the machine:- Firstly, a slide 118, Fig. 4, is moved downwardly and pulls a yoke 113 therewith. Yoke 113 bears the carrying lever for the old tens of shillings order and, in moving, the end 114 (Figs. 3 and 4) of this lever is moved out of the plane of carrying teeth 22 so that it co-operates with the single thicker tooth 23 only and will be tripped only once every revolution of the respective totalizer wheel 21, this order now corresponding to tens of new pennies. Lug 131, also carried by yoke 113, is moved clear of pin 129 (Fig. 3) so that rack 24 can move through 0-9 places instead of 0 or 1 only. Movement of slide 118 also moves a yoke 126 so that a finger 127 (Figs. 3 and 4) carried by this yoke is also moved out of engagement with teeth 22 and co-operates only with thick tooth 23. If now, a carrying operation into wheels 21 from the units of new pennies order moves wheels 21 from the "9" to "0" position, finger 127 will be moved by tooth 23 to move, through block 123, lever 122 which effects the carrying into the unit pounds order. Secondly, a lever 62, Figs. 2 and 4, which constitutes the auxiliary setting member, rotates clockwise so that a lug 67 moves above a lug 68 of a slide 69, mounted on the new halfpenny rack 27. The slide is thus prevented from moving upwardly and a pin-and-slot connection 70-73 to the new halfpenny rack limits upward movement of this rack to 6 (out of 12) teeth steps when a new halfpenny is set. Thirdly, a lever 133 moves anti-clockwise to move a lug 137 into the path of a lug 150 to prevent movement of the slide 6 into a position in which the last rank of stops may be set. This is to ensure that if all the normally available ranks (i.e. all but the last one) are used in setting the pounds and pence, the last rank is still available and the lug 137 may then be moved out of the path of lug 150 so that a new halfpenny may or may not be set in this rank. A new halfpenny is set by depressing either of the keys previously used for setting ten or eleven old pennies. The setting of a halfpenny moves a lever 139, Fig. 4, and thus the lever 133 back to the full line position (by linkage not shown) so that the last rank can now be used, if necessary, for the setting of this halfpenny. If a halfpenny is not set, then the rotation of the machine main shaft 169 during the calculating operation operates through linkage to (a) move levers 139, 133 back to the full line position, (b) move slide 6 one place to the left and (c) to set the zero stop in the halfpenny rank. Fourthly, a yoke 101 (Figs. 3 and 4) rotates clockwise to pull down a slide 96 and thus move a lug 92 clear of hook 93 on the slide 82 of the old tens of shillings printing roll 81. Previously, lug 92 prevented movement of this slide unless a figure other than zero had been set in the tens of shillings rank. Modifications, Figs. 7-9, 10-13 and 14-16 (not shown).-The old pennies printing roll may carry figures "1-11 and 0" instead of "1-11 and ¢". A separate printing slide for ¢ is provided and movement of this slide is blocked before conversion. After conversion, movement of the old penny printing slide is blocked and the halfpenny slide is freed or blocked according to whether a new halfpenny has or has not been set. Alternatively, the old pennies printing roll may carry the figures "1-11 and 0 and ¢". The pin-and-slot connection between the old pence rack and a slide similar to slide 69, Fig. 2, allows the rack to move up seven steps relative to the slide. Lug 67, however, has an inclined operative edge in this modification so that, on conversion, the slide is pulled down one step, leaving a stroke of six steps for the rack and moving the printing roll so that it presents the figure "¢" rather than "0" to printing roller 79.