Patent GB-550978-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating or similar accounting machines
IPC: G06F7/46
Filed: 1941-04-26
Abstract: 550,978. Calculating-apparatus. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. April 26, 1941, No. 5423. Convention date, April 27, 1940. [Class 106 (i)] The invention relates to a multiplying machine and is concerned with the provision of means whereby a standard type of mechanical accounting machine may be combined with an electrical multiplying unit for carrying out various accounting operations. The mechanical portion of the machine described is of the Ellis type, as set forth in Specifications 420,807, 427,722, 461,423 and 28523/08, [ Class 106], with a typewriter attachment for use in typing necessary descriptive matter. The electrical multiplying unit is an adaptation of the type of apparatus described in Specifications 211,137, 314,026, [both in Class 106 (i)]; and 335,891, and includes the known form of multi-contact relays for the factors, multiplication, addition of the partial products, controlling transfers, discarding digits, timing sequences, pairing off the digits of the factors, locking, clearing and resetting In multiplying operations the factors are first set up and then the multiplication key is depressed. Depression of this key locks the keyboard, sets latches for non-add, sets latches for the keyboard switches and actuates the motor starting bar to initiate a cycle of operation. During this first cycle the factors are printed and transmitted to the keyboard switch mechanism and the machine comes to rest. The switch mechanism prepares the multiplication unit and this continues to function until ,the final product is computed whereupon another cycle of the machine is initiated the product being transmitted to the differential actuators printed and entered in one or more of the totalizers. Keyboard; differential mechanism; operating mechanism.-The machine keyboard, Fig. 2 (not shown), has a number of banks of multiplicand and multiplier keys, a bank of control keys, motor starting bars, credit balance keys, a multiplication key, a tabulating key, typewriter keys, and credit and charge keys. The multiplication and multiplier keys are associated with the usual detent plates, control plates and zero stops and cooperate with corresponding differential actuators. During an ordinary adding or subtract cycle the actuators set up type sectors to print the item and to actuate one or more of the totalizers, one of which is a balance totalizer. The operating mechanism comprises the usual cam slot arms 131, 185, Fig. 4A, and roller arm 134 driven by a one-revolution clutch 138, 139 under the control of a linkage associated with the motor starting bar 50. The operation arm 134 is secured to a shaft 135 on which are mounted the usual totalizer engaging plates with flying levers for controlling the totalizer engagement timing. Regarding the No. 3 totalizer, on the initial clockwise movement of the engaging plate 174, Fig. SA, a stud 208 thereon is removed from a surface on a lever 206 and a link 205 is lowered to release a non- add lever 201 pivoted on the framework. The lever 201 on release moves a stud 200 thereon out of the path of the upper end of a pawl 198 pivoted on the flying lever 176 permitting the downward extension 212 of the pawl to engage a stud 213 on the engaging plate 174 whereby the lever 176 moves in unison with the plate and thereby displaces the link 178 to rock the totalizer engaging cam shaft 182 (not shown). This action is effective only in certain columnar positions of the carriage by reason of the action of the hanging Lever 211 which displaces a control pawl 209 to move its end out of the path of the lower end of the released non-add lever 201. If the control pawl 209 is not moved the lever 201 is arrested thereby and its stud 200 is engaged by the pawl 198 which is then moved to inoperative position. In non-add operations a notch in the stem of the depressed non-add key 48 is positioned' to release a lever 215 and a lever 219 interconnected therewith is rocked to place a shoulder thereon into the path of the non-add lever 201 to obstruct its movement. The lever 215 and 219 control the non-add condition of the No. 1 and No. 2 totalizers and No. 3 and No. 4 totalizers respectively. The numeral keys are released in the known manner by rocking a shaft 118 ; this shaft is operatively connected to a slide 228 having a pawl 231 that co-operates with a roller on an operating plate 234 on the shaft 135. The slide also carries a hooked lever 241 for co-operation with an operating arm 237 when a total key is depressed to ensure release of any depressed keys prior to a total-taking operation. Keyboard switch mechdnism.-A framework 250, Figs. 4B and 7 is formed with a number of U-shaped plates 259 carrying denominational switch plugs 344 each provided with a shoulder which is adapted to engage, when lowered, the appropriate one of a set of projections 340, 341 and 342 on extensions 337 of the corresponding actuator. The plugs are held in their displaced position in accordance with the factors entered by means of detent plates 351 so that when the frame is raised to normal position contact buttons 345 on the plugs engage contact blades 346, 347 and 348. These blades are connected by wiring to contact members in an insulating panel 459 on the machine base and co-operate with corresponding plugs 460 in an insulating panel secured to the cabinet on which the machine is supported. The detent plates are engaged by a rod 454 on arms 455 secured to an operating shaft 456. The framework also carries a switch 354 (PBS), Fig. 7, which operates to energize a control plus switch relay to cause the plus side of the current supply to be connected to all plus load sources. The framework is supported for parallel up and down movement by means of links and cranks on shafts 268, 269, Figs. 4B, 5B, that are operatively connected by a linkage 274, 276, 278 to the lower arm of a bell crank 284 on a shaft 285. The link 274, at its forward end has an inverted L-shaped slot engaged by a stud 293 on the operating lever 185 ; the link 276 has a stud 288 normally engaging a notch in an extension 289 of the multiplication key 54 ; the links 274 and 276 are pivotally connected bv a link 294 to a bell crank 295. The bell crank 295 carries a link 298 operatively connected to the clutch lever latch arm 300 and to a link 305 that has a slot connection with the clutch releasing arm 158. Another link 307 connects the bell crank to the non-add control shaft 309. This shaft is connected through a link 320 and stud 321 with a slotted bell crank 323 and with a slotted manipulative control lever 330. With the control lever in its effective position the stud 321 is in the lower part of the slot of the lever 323 as shown in Fig. 5A so that in multiplying operations the shaft 309 is operative to rock the lever 323 and by means of a transverse lever 326 acts to depress the non-add key automatically. Multiplication key action.-On depression, this key raises the links 274, 276, 278 and 294. A nin 312 on the link 294 co-operates with a latch 314 to hold the parts in adjusted position. At the same time the bell crank 295 is rocked and as described above puts the machine in non-add condition and rocks the arm 158 to release the clutch for the first or factor entering cycle. Near the end of this cycle the release lever 146 is held against further releasing movement by the latch 300 until the beginning of the product printing cycle. The closure of switch 354 during this first cycle initiates the multiplying process in the electrical unit until the complete product is computed whereupon a machine release solenoid 371, Fig. 5B, is energized to initiate the product printing cycle. The pull of the armature 372, through links 373 and an arm 375 on a hub 376 rocks a bell crank 378 operatively connected to the shaft 285. This shaft through the bell crank 284 and link 382 lowers a link 383 pivoted to the rod 454 so as to engage a stud 384 thereon with a link 385 attached to the operating cam arm 131. At the same time the stud 280 on the belt crank 284 shifts the latch 314 to release the link 294 and the associated mechanism thereby rendering the link 274 inoperative so as to maintain the framework 250 stationary during the product printing cycle. The stud 280 also shifts the link 278 rearwardly so that inadvertent depression of the multiplication key is ineffectual. The bell crank 295 shifts the link 298 rearwardly to move the shoulder 303 of the clutch latch arm 300 out of the path of the ear 304 thereby releasing the machine for operation. To assist in rendering the clutch mechanism effective the release solenoid pulls on a link 388 operatively connected to the release shaft 396 on which is mounted an arm 399, Fig. 4A, connected to the motor start bar 167. At the same time a cam surface on a connecting plate 390 rocks the lever 245 thus permitting the lever 241 to engage the roller 239 so that all depressed keys will be released at the beginning of this operation. The bell crank 295 also releases the non-add key 48. During this cycle electromagnets 369, Fig. 4B, are energized in accordance with the product values and elevate corresponding stop bars 366 which serve to arrest the differential actuators by engagement with appropriate projections 365 on the extensions 337 thereof. Control switches.-A switch 412, Fig. 4B, is provided to prevent operation of the release solenoid 371 prior to the completion of the factor entering cycle. The contacts of this switch are controlled by a pawl arm 407 pivotally mounted on a lever 404 acted upon by the operating lever 134. A switch 419 functions near the end of the product printing cycles to release the last of a set of circuit timing relays. For this purpose a pawl 415 pivoted on the lever 404, during the first half cycle, byepasses one of the switch contacts 418 but on its return opens the last holding circuit to said relay after multiplication to cause release of the stop magnets 3