Patent GB-616962-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to multiplying machines
IPC: G06F7/498
Filed: 1946-09-26
Abstract: 616,962. Calculating-apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. Sept. 26, 1946, No. 28776. Convention date, Sept. 27, 1945. [Class 106 (i)] A multiplying apparatus has storage devices for a first factor, a second factor, and a product, respectively, and is characterised by each storage device being a valve counter adapted to advance by one on receiving an impulse, means for setting the first and second factor storage devices to represent two factors respectively to be multiplied together, an impulseoperated valve cycle counter, a source of impulses, means for transmitting impulses from the source to the second factor storage device, means controlled by the cycle counter for applying an impulse to the first factor storage device each time a cycle consisting of a predetermined number of impulses is counted by the cycle counter, means operated by the first factor storage device for controlling the number of impulses transmitted to the second factor storage device and means operated by the second factor storage device for controlling the number of impulses transmitted to the product storage device. In a first embodiment, cards fed from a hopper R, Fig. 1, carry representations of a multiplier and a multiplicand which are sensed by brushes 13 and entered into respective valve counters by series of impulses corresponding in number with the digits sensed. The machine control is arranged so that there is a card feeding cycle followed by a cycle for carrying out multiplication during which cards are not fed. Multiplication is performed by metering a series of groups of high speed pulses into a product storage device, the number of pulses in each group being determined by the multiplicand storage device and the number of groups being determined by the multiplier storage device, the different denominations of the multiplier storage device controlling the pulse transmission in succession. In this manner a product is entered into the product storage device which then controls punches 26 through magnets PM to punch the result in a card fed with an intermittent motion from a hopper P. Means are provided to ensure that the feeding of cards in the two sections keeps in step, the machine being stopped automatically if not. Trigger circuits. The apparatus comprises a number of trigger circuits of the type described in Specification 609,502. A unit is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and similar units are indicated throughout the circuit diagrams by small rectangles showing only the arrangement of terminals. Each trigger circuit comprises two valves, or two halves of a twin valve, so interconnected with resistances that two stable states are possible: " right-hand (normally the initial state) in which the right-hand valve is conducting and the left-hand valve non- conducting, and the reverse or '' left-hand " state. The trigger changes from one state to the other each time a negative impulse 'is applied to terminals f and g; it does not respond to positive impulses. Terminals a and b are connected to a zero potential wire, c to a positive wire, d to a negative wire and e to another negative wire normally at the same potential as the last but adapted to be brought to zero to return the trigger to its normal " right-hand " state. Other terminals j, k, m and n provide means for tapping-off potentials for other control purposes. Counters such as the primary cycle counter, Fig. 4b, which is a scale - of - 30 counter, are built up from trigger circuits and locking valves in a manner similar to that described in Specification 609,502. Each time the primary counter completes a cycle an impulse is fed to a secondary cycle counter, Fig. 4c. The multiplier, multiplicand and product storage counters are built up from trigger circuits in a similar manner. Entry of multiplier and multiplicand. Impulses for this purpose are caused by cam contacts C4, C5, Fig. 4b, which close alternately, swinging a trigger T7 "left" and back again during the passage of each card index point position past the sensing brushes. A power valve P6, normally conductive, becomes non-conductive each time the trigger T7 switches " left " and an impulse passes from its anode to the control grids G2 of a series of switch valves ES7A ... C, one for each denomination of the multiplier. These valves only respond when positive potentials are applied to. both their grids G and G2 simultaneously, so that the impulses from valve P6 have no effect until a related trigger T9A ... C is reversed by an impulse from the card sensing brushes 13. From this point the valve fires at each impulse from valve P6 and passes on impulses to the MP storage counter, thus setting up a representation of the multiplier in the latter. The multiplicand is set up in the MC storage counter, Fig. 4d, in a similar manner. Multiplying cycle. After entry of multiplier and multiplicand a cam-controlled relay transfers to connect the output of the " primary cycle counter " with the units section 140A of the MP storage counter for the multiplying operation which is carried out by high-speed impulses of the order of 8,000 per second. A pulse generator supplies " A " pulses on a wire W5, Fig. 4b, which alternate with " B " pulses on a wire W13. De-energization of a cam-controlled relay R15, Fig. 4b, closes a circuit which causes a trigger T1 to switch " left," thus raising the potential on the grid G1 of a valve ES1 so that " A " pulses applied at its grid G2 fire the valve and cause similar pulses to pass from its anode to the primary cycle counter. This is a scale-of-30 counter and for each complete cycle, an impulse passes to a secondary cycle counter, Fig. 4c. This impulse occurs at the 16-point in the cycle, being transmitted via a trigger T5, Fig. 4d, which switches left at this point. The trigger is restored at the 28-point. The function of the secondary cycle counter is to initiate the equivalent of a column shift at the end of each ten secondary cycles. The reversal of trigger T5 also, through wire W14, lifts the potential of the grid of a valve 18 causing the valve to become conductive and transmit an impulse to the first trigger of the units counter 140A, Fig. 4b, of the multiplier storage device, adding a unit to the digit already standing in the counter. Further units are added in a similar manner until the counter passes from 9 to 0 when a trigger T2, Fig. 4c, is switched left by an impulse passing from the last trigger of counter 140A along wire 221. Reversal of trigger T2 raises the potential on the grid G1 of a valve ES2, conditioning the valve for transmission of an impulse applied to its grid G2 from the trigger CC6 of the primary counter. The negative pulse from valve ES2 passes to a trigger T3, switching it left, and trigger T3 conditions a valve ES3 to transmit " A '' pulses from the wire W5, through a power valve P1 to a column of valves ES8A ... C related to the denominations of the multiplicand counter. Ten " A " pulses are metered through and then an impulse from the trigger CC6 of the primary cycle counter returns the trigger T3 to its " right " position where it remains until the next negative pulse arrives from the valve ES2. The switching of trigger T3 to the left also conditions the grid G1 of a valve ES4, Fig. 4d, to allow " B " pulses from wire W13 to pass through the valve to a power valve P2 which sends corresponding pulses to valves ES9A ... C. Each of these valves is prevented from conducting until its associated trigger T17A ... C is reversed by a pulse from the corresponding MC storage counter. These storage counters are stepped on by the " A " pulses coming via valves ES8A ... C, and each time they pass from 9 to 0 during each group of ten pulses the associated trigger T17A ... C is reversed to initiate metering of " B " pulses to the product counter 62A ... F, Fig. 4c. The triggers T17A ... C are restored at the " 20 " point of the primary counter from the trigger CC5 through the valve P5. Carry. The groups of pulses representing the product of the units digit of the multiplier times all the denominations of the multiplicand are fed into the corresponding denominations 62A ... F of the product storage counter, Fig. 4e. When a counter unit passes from 9 to 0, an impulse on wire 270 reverses an associated trigger T18A ... F which raises the potential on the grid G2 of an associated valve ES10A ... E. Thus, when an impulse arrives via wire W17 from a valve P3 under the control of trigger T5, a carry impulse passes from valve ES10A ... E along wire 275 to the next higher denomination of the counter. This impulse lasts long enough to perform carries through more than one denomination (i.e. when the higher denomination stands at " 9 "). The triggers T18A ... E which have been reversed are restored by an impulse from a valve P4 goverened by a trigger T6, at a predetermined point in each cycle. Column shift. During the tenth secondary cycle the trigger CC10, Fig. 4c, of the secondary cycle counter sends out a positive impulse through wire W15. This controls (i) the cutting off of " A " pulses through the counter; (ii) column shift of the product entry wires relative to the product storage device; (iii) substitution of tens counter 140B of the multiplier storage device to control the next stage of multiplication, and (iv) re-entry of " A " pulses to the primary cycle counter. The controls are accomplished as follows: (i) the negative pulse from CC10 is transmitted through a wire W15 to a valve 14 causing it to conduct and pass a pulse switching over a trigger T1A, Fig. 4b, to the left. Trigger T1A is returned to the right subsequently when trigger T6, Fig. 4d, goes right under control of the primary cycle counter, and transmits a negative pulse to trigger T1, switching it right and thus lowering the potential on the grid G1 of valve ES1 so that " A " pulses can no longer pass through to the primary cycle counter; (ii) the pulse causes valve