Patent GB-377988-A (GB)
Abstract: 377,988. Selecting-mechanism for account-keeping machines. ACCOUNTING & TABULATING CORPORATION OF GT. BRITAIN, Ltd., Aldwych House, Aldwych, London, and CAMPOS, F., 4, Rue Dufrenoy, Paris. Jan. 30, 1931, No. 16897/32. Divided on 377,957 and addition to 365,049. [Class 106 (i).] Relates to mechanism for selecting an account or other item retaining device from a plurality of such devices as described in the parent Specification. According to the invention two or more minor selector mechanisms each comprising members having slots arranged in the manner of a vernier are combined with means for simultaneously moving the vernier members in all the minor selector mechanisms whereby the same selection is made in each and a group selector for selecting the particular minor mechanism required. The invention is shown applied to a book-keeping machine as described in Specification 377,957 for the purpose or selecting an account storing device and bringing it into engagement with the computing mechanism of the machine. Account storing devices. These devices comprise denominational columns of racks 134, Figs. 7 and 12, arranged in compact groups in removable frames or boxes each comprising upper and lower endplates 137, 138 and intermediate plates 185 connected by rods and sideplates 231. Each set of racks constituting an account set is carried on a plane member and is guided thereon by the provision of lugs. A set of racks is adapted to be tilted, to engage long pinions 133 rotatably supported in the endplates, by means of a corresponding draw-bar 200 formed of two metal strips with indentations between which the racks pass and by which means they are held in adjusted position. When the amount standing on the selected account is to be read the long pinions are rotated to bring the racks to zero position the movement being transmitted to numeral drums. Each draw-bar carries a spring controlled latch 209, Fig. 9, which, when permitted, engages a segregator bar 214 to move the selected drawbar to the right or left. Each storing box is provided with a fixed plate 211, Figs. 8 and 10A, having a turned back edge with pins 222 passing through slots in a pair of notched vernier bars 220, 221, Fig. 11. To the pins 222 is secured a comb or grid plate 223 with wires separating the draw-bar latches 209. The turned back edge also carries two plates 211b, 211c one on each side; the plate 211b is a clearing plate normally holding the latches inoperative and is provided with pins working in cam slots 211e in the plate 211c. The plate 211c is furnished with straight slots engaging pins on the edge of the fixed plate, and has a lug 211d projecting through a slot in a plate 215. The plate 215 has shaped slots 216 in which work pins 213 secured to the segregator bar 214, said pins passing through horizontal slots in the fixed plate 211. The plate 215 is adapted to move vertically and in its upward movement causes a movement to the left of the segregator bar. This upward movement through the lug 211d raises the plate 211c to withdraw the clearing bar 211b from the latches the latch of the selected account entering the aligned notches in the vernier bars so that when the segregator bar is moved the engagement of the racks with the pinions 133 is effected. Selecting mechanism. This mechanism as shown in Figs. 13 to 16 comprises settable levers 240 mounted upon a tubular axis member 241 and co-operating with rollers on selector bars 243 .. 246 provided with racks 247 engaging pinions carrying indicator drums 249. The units bar 243 is composed of two parts 243, 243a the part 243a having a bracket 254 thereon carrying an offset pawl 255 engaging a rack 257 slidably mounted on the tens bar 244. The units bar also carries a roller 271 engaging a slot in a lever 272 fixed to a tube 273 the other end of which has a slotted arm 274 engaging a pin on one part 276 of a composite block secured to a vertical actuating rod 278. The tens bar has a bracket 259 carrying a pawl 258 engaging the rack 257. The rack has a roller 279 engaging a slot in a lever 280 on a shaft 281 carrying a slotted arm 282 engaging a pin on the other part 284 of the composite block the part 284 being secured to a vertical actuating rod 286. The action of the block is such that if the part 276 is acted upon by the operation of the units lever the rods 278, 286 are raised together by the movement of the bar 243 and the co-operating rack 257. If however the tens lever 240 is manipulated the rack 257 raises the rod 286 alone. The hundreds bar 245 has a roller 289 engaging a slot in an arm 290 on a shaft 291 the other end of which has a forked arm 292 engaging a pin on a spring controlled rack bar 294. The rack bar meshes with a pinion 297 on a vertical rod 298 carrying a staggered arrangement of fingers 301 with pins 303 one for each group of account storing boxes. The thousands rack 246 in the machine described is not furnished with any mechanism. The rods 278, 286 for the units and tens carry adjustable collars 287 with pins 288 engaging lugs 225, 226 on the notched vernier bars 220, 221, Fig. 11. The setting of the hundreds rod 298 causes one of the pins 303 to engage lugs 304, Figs. 8 and 13, on the plate 215 of the appropriate storing box. The movement of the operative plate 215 is produced by means of a cam 307 on the shaft 29 and an arm 309 rocking a shaft 310 which through an arm 312, links 313, collar 314 and spring 315 reciprocates the rod 298. The selector bars 243 .. 246 are provided on the underside with racks 262 engaging pinions 263 fixed to locking discs 264 carrying cams 353 and provided with ratchet teeth shaped in the manner of the deep-notch type of transfer mechanism and co-operating with holding pawls 265. The discs and pawls are mounted on shafts in a laterally movable frame 268 which in the normal working is so set as to permit of the setting of the discs by the selector bars. When the frame is moved to the right the cam discs 353 align themselves with pins extending from brackets 356 adjustably mounted on the selector bars. This movement is effected under the control of the operator when it is desired to obtain a list of balances from all or a predetermined series of accounts automatically. For this purpose a lever 336, Figs. 13,15, and 17, is shifted to the right and through operative spring and lever connections 334, 335 with a forked lever 328 shifts a bush 322 on the shaft 27. This bush is engaged by a lever 361 which on the movement of the bush is rocked to displace the frame 268 carrying the locking discs. On the bush is mounted two cams 321, 323 separated by a notched disc 324a that co-operates with a shaped plate to fix the moment during the revolution of the shaft 27 when the bush can slide. In the left-hand position of the bush the cam 321 co-operates with an arm 343 on a shaft 342 which is rocked when the shaft 27 is rotated causing an arm 345 thereon to actuate the locking discs 264 through a set of stepped pawls 348 carried by a shaft 346 supported on arms on the shaft 270. At the same time the cam 323 is in operative relation with a lever 367 carrying Bowden cables 368, 369 for actuating the main operating clutch release levers 46, 57 of the shaft 29. The clutch is engaged and disengaged repeatedly since the bush carrying the cams 321, 323 is constantly rotated by a wheel 26 gearing with the continuously running motor. By the action of the pawls 348 on the locking discs 264 the cams 353 are stepped on to segregate the account sets successively. An error in selecting an account set is corrected by manipulating a lever 555 to operate Bowden cables 559, 560 so as to release the pawls 265 from the locking discs 264 and at the same time disengage the pawl 258 from the rack 257 so that the selecting parts are restored to normal under spring action. The lever 555 is interlocked with the main clutch operating lever 36 and the balance listing lever 336. Printing mechanism. To print the selected account number type-bars are provided which are set by arms on nested sleeves 252 which sleeves are provided with other arms 251 co-operating with pins 250 on the selector bars 243 .. 246. The impression is produced by means of hammer mechanism similar to that described in Specification 377,957.