Patent GB-191115908-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the Setting and Differential Actuating Mechanisms of Calculating-machines.
Inventor: RECHNITZER ALEXANDER
Filed: 1911-07-08
Granted: 1912-07-04
Abstract: 15,908. Rechnitzer, A. Aug. 6, 1910, [Convention date]. Multiplying and dividing apparatus with operating-means. - In a multiple - bank machine, adapted for the four rules, (1) the depression of a key differentially positions a denominational lever and connected parts, the further movement of which by the operating - lever rotates the counting - wheels through adding or subtracting racks. Means are also provided (2) so that a new item can be set upon the keys before the previous operation, or series of operations, in the case of repeated addition &c., is completed; (3) for setting on the item or multiplicand wheels the sum appearing on the totalizer by a single movement, without zeroizing the totalizer; and (4) for preventing during an operation the restoration of the setting-parts until after one, two, or more actuations of the main shaft as may be required. (1) The depression of a key 18, Fig. 1, moves a locking-bar 19, Fig. 8, from a ratchet-wheel 23, Fig. 5; the shaft 24 is thereupon rotated by a spring-controlled rack, and a parallel shaft 30 is driven by gearing from the shaft 24, until one of a series of pins 31 thereon strikes a pin 32 on the depressed key. The pin 31 returns the key to its normal position but remains in contact therewith; the item-wheels 53 on the shaft 30 are thus set and the shaft 24 and sleeve 33 thereon thus receive a differential rotation. The sleeve is provided with a helical groove which rocks a lever 36 pivoted on a sliding plate 38, and thereby determines the angle between the two equal links 41, 43 connecting the lever to a shaft 44, 45 which is capable of a rotary movement only. When the angle between the two links is zero, the pivot 40, Fig. 10, connecting the link 41 and lever 36 coincides (see Fig. 1) with the axis of the shaft 44, 45; an oscillation of this shaft will therefore not affect the lever 36, but as the angle between the links increases the lever 36, slide 38, and adding and subtracting racks 48, 49 will receive an increasing reciprocatory movement which in one direction will be transmitted to the receiving-pinions 50 and through the pinions 51, 52 to the totalizer 8. The shaft 44, 45 is oscillated from the main shaft 3 through a crank and connecting-rod 60, 61, Fig. 3, levers 62, 63 and link 64 connected to an arm on the shaft. An additive or subtractive operation depends on the position of the pinions 50 relatively to the pairs of racks 48, 49; the racks of each pair are not in the same vertical plane. On either the outward or return stroke of the racks the receiving-pinions 50 may have an intermediate idle position. The nature of the operation to be performed is determined by the cams 67, 68, Fig. 3, which are manually set along the shaft so that either of them can actuate the projection 77, and sector 79 provided with a cam-groove, and thus cause the lever 82 to slide the shaft 90 on which the receiving-wheels are mounted. At the beginning and end of each stroke the shaft 44, 45 is locked by a lug 97 on an arm 95 which is moved by projections on the sector 79. (2) Plates 111, Figs. 3 and 4, have projections 186, 187 for moving the shaft 30 to the left, after the return of the keys but at the commencement of the operation, so that another item can be set on the keyboard. The shafts 30 are returned at the end of the operation, or series of operations, by projections 190, 191 on the plate 111. (3) When the handle 300, Fig. 1, is actuated, the locking - bars 19, described above, are released, and the spindles 24, 30 rotate until rods 193, Fig. 17, are thrust out by screws so as to push slides 191 against stepped disks 198 on the numeral - wheels of the totalizer. The numbers appearing thereon are thus set on the item wheels 53, but the numeral-wheels of the totalizer are not returned to zero. (4) Multiplying-mechanism; locking-devices for setting-means. When once it has been set relatively to the liuk 43, the link 41 is locked in position by means of a locking-sector 130, Fig. 1, which is moved so as to engage a pin thereon by means of a rocking-shaft and disk and cam 101, 102, Fig. 4, which can be set so that either one or the other engages the twoarmed lever 105. So long as the disk is in engagement the link 41 is locked by the sector and thus the number of operations of the main shaft required to complete a multiplying &c. operation can be made with the setting- mechanism locked. The position of a pin determines whether this locking shall continue for one or more operations, and the pin may be set manually or automatically. The resetting of the keys and item-wheels is caused by a bar 174, through projections 170, 171, Figs. 3 and 4, on the oscillating plates 111, which are also actuated by the disk and cam 101, 102. The bar 174 drives the resetting-rack 26. The parts 170, 171 can be moved by a lever 180 so as to be inoperative as regards the bar 174, thus determining whether the setting shall be manual or follow automatically in the course of the operation.