Patent GB-501566-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in accounting machines
Filed: 1938-06-17
Abstract: 501,566. Calculating apparatus. REMINGTON RAND, Inc. June 17, 1938, No. 18065. Convention date, June 24, 1937. [Class 106 (i)] In a machine with an accumulator adapted to receive positive and negative entries means. arc provided for printing a true negative total from a complementary negative amount stored in the accumulator, The means described comprises differential actuating racks, type carriers associated with the racks for movement relatively thereto, two separate sets of type elements on the carriers arranged in opposite directions, and means for arresting the independent movement of the type carriers according as the machine is operated for listing and positive total taking purposes or for negative total taking purposes. The invention is shown applied to a record card controlled machine of the Powers type. The machine is composed of several units each with its own accumulator individually operable from its respective field of the card to list positive or negative items. During a total taking operation all the accumulators are cleared simultaneously and effect printing- of their balances either positive or negative. Each unit is provided with a stop basket 42, Figs. 4 and 5, with columns of stop pins 41 and zero stops 43 actuated by the pins of a pin box in known manner. Each column of stops is associated with a type carrying sector 44 and an actuating sector 46. The type sector 44 has a pin 48 passing through a slot 47 in the actuating sector and is normally engaged by a latch 49 pivoted on the actuating sector. The type sectors are normally retained in retracted position by a bail 55 and a detent on each actuating sector 58 holds its latch 49 and stud 48 engaged. A downward extension 62 on each sector 46 lies behind a zero stop which is adapted'to be lowered by a bell crank 63 and co-operating slide 66 when a stop pin 41 is elevated. The zero stops are also removed from operative position during a total taking operation on the operation of a rock shaft 69. The accumulator wheels 131 are movable to engage the actuating sectors on the backward or forward movement for addition or subtraction respectively. The transfer mechanism comprises the usual trip pawls and latches and sectors 115 controlled by springs 156 secured to a bail 157 that is movable from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 8, so as to permit the mechanism to function in either direction of movement of the accumulator wheels. The shifting of the bail is effected automatically when a negative control hole is sensed in the card and returns to normal position after each subtract operation. The total taking mechanism is of known type and operates automatically on a change of designation in the cards. True negative totals. The type sectors 44 carry two sets of type elements 97 and 214, Figs. 4 and 9 ; the set 97 is effective for listing and positive total printing operations while the set 215 is effective when the accumulator contains a negative balance. The sets are reversely arranged with a blank space and an additional " 0 " type between them. The transfer sector 115, Fig. 8, of the highest denomination co-operates with a latch 224 which is held in one or other of its two positions by a roller 227 ; the latch 224 has a pin 231 which is normally presented to a lug 232 on a slide 233 but is moved to the position of Fig. 8, to permit the slide to move, when the accmnulator overruns in the negative direction. The slide is not allowed to move until an arm 234 is raised out of the path of the slide by operation of the total shaft 202 with which it is connected. The slide is guided by pins on the stop basket 42 and is resiliently connected at its rear end to a link 239 supported by a link 244 and arm 245 that co-operates with a grooved cam 254 on the main shaft 72. This mechanism is effective to reciprocate the slide when the pin 231 and arm 234 are removed from its path. The is formed with cam surface 265 that co-operates with a roller 263 on a vertical slide 259, Figs. 5 and 11, to the upper end of which is pivoted an interponent member 261 that forms an operative connection between an arm 255 and finger 258 when the slide 233 is displaced. The arm 255 is rocked by a cam 254 on the shaft 72 and through the interponent 261 rocks the finger 258 and its shaft 256. Also secured to the shaft 256 is a pair of arms carrying a bail 267 underlying a set of slides 268, one for each denomination, that are connected to the bell cranks 63 of the zero stops 43. The slides 268 are also resiliently connected to members 269 which, when the slides are raised by operation of the bail 267, engage studs 272 on the latches 49 and free them from the pins 48 to permit the type sectors to swing forwardly, when the bail 55 is operated, until the hooked end of the extensions 273 engage the studs 272, the zero stops being meanwhile withdrawn. The type sectors 44 and actuators 46 then move to extents determined by the position of the accumulator wheels. By this arrangement the sectors 44 would print the tens complement but the true negative total must be represented by the nines complement in all denominations to the left of the lowest significant figure. For this purpose levers 274 are provided with pivotally connected arms 276 supporting carry links 278 pivotally connected to bell cranks 279. The other arm of each of these bell cranks overlies an extension of the member 269 associated with the next higher denomination. During normal operations when the members 269 are in their lower position a bail 288 actuated by the cam 252 rocks the bell cranks ineffectively. When the members 269 are raised in negative total taking operations the studs 272 raise the levers 274 thereby lowering the arms 276 and the carry links 278 out of the range of the actuating bails 288. As long as the studs 272 remain below the end of their respective levers 274, and in elevated position, the links 278 will be ineffective. In operation, as the sectors 44 and 46 move forward the stud 272 in the lowest significant denomination will leave the end of the lever 274 and its link 278 will be restored so that the bail 288 will rock the bell crank 279 to depress the next higher denomination member 269 thereby releasing the extension 273 to permit the corresponding sector 44 to move an additional step to set the nines complement. By providing the links 278 with overlapping projections 292 forward movement of any link will be imparted to all those to the left.