Patent GB-136628-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Calculators.
Filed: 1918-12-17
Abstract: 136,628. Clarke, F. M. Russell-, (Executrix of Clarke, E. Russell.), and Autokal Syndicate. Dec. 17, 1918. Multiplying and dividing apparatus.-In multiplying-apparatus for ascertaining the cost of a number of articles at a known price, the depression of the necessary denomination-selecting keys and numeral keys, in accordance with the calculation to be performed, actuates the setting-rods through selecting-mechanism comprising an escapement and series of cams adapted to move setting-plates and to position stop-setting rods, to select stops which on the forward stroke of the operating- mechanism determine the movement of product plates, operating as described in Specification 29574/12; a series of pins on the product plates, the lengths of which are a representation of the various partial products, are moved into the path of feelers carried on a frame with pulleys over which pass a flexible wire connected to an adding- unit as described in Specification 7014/10. On the further movement of the operating-mechanism, the adding-units are felt and the result displayed. The return stroke of the operating- mechanism restores all the parts to their initial position. Selecting-mechanism. Mounted on a frame F<6>, F<7>, Fig. 5, are a number of rows of pairs of plates K, K<1>, L, L' notched to receive the ends of longitudinal stop-setting rods M, M<x>, M<y>, and N, N' respectively. These plates and rods are grouped in series " a " and " b " to deal with tens of articles and units articles, and the selecting of a row is effected by a corresponding pair of cams F<2>, F<3> mounted on a shaft under the control of an escapement-wheel G and pawls H, J, Fig. 4, the movement of which through a differentiallyactuated plate E is determined by the depression of a denominating selecting-key A, Fig. 1. Depression of a key A through the lever arms A<1>, rod C, and arms C', C' withdraws the pawl H from engagement with the teeth of the wheel G, which is allowed to rotate, until a projection on the plate E is arrested by the end of the lever A. Release of the key A allows the wheel G to rotate until arrested by the pawl H, and the cams are thereby set. The machine is then said to be " alive," and the subsequent depression of a numeral key B through arms B<2>, bar D, and arms D<4>, D<5>, D<6> moves the pawl J to engage the wheel G, and withdraws the pawl H sumciently to free it from the ordinary teeth but not from the special teeth G<1>, G<4>. At the same time, the keys B, through the levers B<2>, bar B<4>, and levers B<5>, B<6>, actuate knife-like members B<9>, B<9x>, Figs. 6 and 7, which reciprocate between the grouped ends of the setting-rods M, N, but shift longitudinally these setting-rods which have been moved by the setting- plates K, L through the action of the cams. The stops O acted upon by the setting-rods M determine the movement of product plates after the stops N<4>, N<6> controlled by the rods N, N<1>, which inhibit the movement of the product plates, have been withdrawn. The depression of the keys A and B as above described results in bringing the pawl H into engagement with the special tooth G<4> of the escapement-wheel G. Similar operations dealing with the price of the articles at units pounds, tens and units of shillings and pence set the corresponding rods a<1>, b<1>, &c. and position the stops which finally determine the movement of the partial product plates. Partial product plates. Adjacent and parallel to each plate O<2> is a product plate P provided with V-shaped guides P<1> and one or more groups of pins P<2>, Fig. 8, the lengths of which represent a partial product in accordance with the products which it is possible to obtain by the positioning of any product plate. Parallel movement of the plates P is effected by bars P<3> and the projecting ends P<5> thereof; these are controlled by springs P<6> attached to the bare and to an arm Q of a lever actuated by the operating-mechanism. Movement of the plates P is restrained until the stop-rods N<1>, which control the groups " a " and " b," withdraws the stops N<6> from engagement with a projection P<8> on the underside of a bar P<7> provided with pins P<9> engaging the front of the plate P and operated by the lever Q. The return movement of the lever Q through the bar P<7> returns the plate P to their initial position. The return of the stop-setting rods is effected by plates situated at the rear end of the rods, the rearmost one of which has an extension O<4> overlapping an arm Q<5> of a lever Q<6>. A snap-over pawl Q<7> allows the lever Q<5> to move rearwardly, but, on return, pushes the extension O<6>, and with it the plates, to return the stop-setting rods. Adding partial products. Comprises a series of pulleys R, Fig. 12, and a flexible wire or tape S fixed to an adjusting-pulley R' and to the periphery of a spring-controlled templet S<1>. The pulleys R are mounted on frames provided with fingers R<3> adapted to feel the pins P<2> set by the product plates. Each frame has a rack engaging a pinion loose on the shaft T<2>, the pinions having sleeves to engage studs on the shaft T<2>, which studs, when the shaft is rotated by a pinion T<5> and rack T<6> through links and a shaft T<10>, move out of engagement with the sleeves and allow the frame to move to the extent permitted by the pins P<2>. After all the templets have been set, a lever u' is adapted to feel them, and the product corresponding thereto will be presented by a suitablydisposed quadrant U<3>. After the product has been read, the quadrants are returned, and the rack T<6> is operated so that the studs T<3> on the shaft T<2> pick up the sleeves and thereby restore the frames R<2> and the templets to their initial position. Transfer mechanism.-Pulleys R<x>, Fig. 12, through the movement of levers R<6>, R<8> adapted to engage projections S<5> on the templet S<1> of the next-lowest denomination, are permitted to move and thereby rotate the next templet one or more units, depending on the projection S<5> presented to the lever R<2>. Th slide carrying the pulleys R<x> is allowed the necessary movement by means of a pin R<9> thereon engaging a recess in the. disk T<11> on the shaft T<2>; the recesses of the disks are arranged to act on the slides in succession. Operating-mechanism.-This comprises a lever V, Fig. 9, and plate V<2> provided with cams V<3>, V<4>, V<5> and projecting pins V<6>, V<7>. The cam V<3> acts upon the end of the differentially-actuated plate E and returns it to its initial position; the cam V<4> acts upon a roller W<2> on a lever W and, through an extension W<3> and link Q<8>, oparates the levers Q, Q<1> on the shaft Q<2> which position the partial product plates. The lever W is locked in the initial position of the lever V by the projection V<6>. The arms Q<5>, Q<6> are mounted on a boss on the shaft Q<2> and, by means of an internal recess and pin in the boss, actuate the levers towards the end of the forward stroke, and return them as described above to re-set the stop-rods towards the end of the return stroke. The cam V<5> engages a roller X<3> which is adapted to drop off the end of the cam and thereby move a bar X<7> clear of the quadrant arms U<2>. A roller Y<3> on a lever Y drops off the cam V<5>, and the projection V<7>, acting on the end of the lever Y, turns this lever and, through a link Y<4>, rotates the shaft T<10> to operate the rack-bar T<6>. A dash-pot V<9> is provided to prevent too rapid movement of the lever.