Patent GB-821831-A (GB)
Abstract: 821,831. Calculating-apparatus. TRIUMPH WERKE NUERNBERG A.G., and ELDIFEINMECHANIK G.m.b.H. Sept. 13, 1955 [Oct. 15, 1954], No. 26129/55. Class 106 (1). A book-keeping machine comprises a calculating store from which data may be transmitted to a calculating-device, a printing store from which data may be printed, manually operable input means by which data may be entered into both stores simultaneously (starting with the highest denomination) and a control member which is manually operable immediately after the entry of the last digit of a number to cause the number to be transferred to the calculating device (starting with the lowest denomination) so that calculation can commence immediately even when the full capacity of the store is not used. In that case, the number is transferred (starting with the highest denomination) from the printing store to printing mechanism at a later stage. The apparatus described employs stores and calculating mechanisms generally similar to those disclosed in Specification 785,285. Storage devices.-The calculating store, Figs. 1-3, has four spring combs 35, for code factors 1, 2, 3 and 5 respectively, each having a tooth 34 for each order, the end of which can be held in either of two corresponding notches in the edge of a plate 22, so as to store a binary bit of data. There is a plate 22 for each order and to permit setting of the store which is effected digit by digit, these plates may be rocked about shafts 30 in sequence by cams on a shaft A. To enter a digit, the spring combs 35 corresponding to the appropriate code factors are rocked about a vertical axis by corresponding solenoids 38, thus moving each of the corresponding spring teeth in the order in which they have been freed by their plate 22 from an initial position to a registering position. For reading out purposes plates 23 are shifted along shafts 25 in sequence by cams on the shaft A so that their ends are interposed between spring fingers 34 in their initial positions and projections on verticallymovable feeler bars 39. The latter bars are released to the action of springs 42 by the energization of a solenoid 43 as each plate 23 is moved to effective position, and if a feeler bar is able to move upwardly, as is the case when the tooth 34 for the order being sensed is in registering position, corresponding contacts 41 are closed to transmit that bit of data. In the calculating store, the cam-shaft A is rotated by ratchet mechanism 17, 19, 20 in one direction or the other according to whether it is raised by a solenoid 13 or not. During the entry of a number, the shaft A is in its lowered position and the cams cause the digits to be entered into the highest denominational position first, but when the shaft A is shifted upwardly, the readout plates 23 only are actuated and in the reverse order starting with the lowest denomination. In the case of the printing store, input and output control cams are arranged on separate shafts B, D, Fig. 8, and actuate the control plates of the different denominations in the same order. Operation.-On the depression of an amount key, contacts are closed to cause the entry of the corresponding digit into the calculating and printing stores by energization of the appropriate solenoids 38. Moreover the cam-shafts A and B are advanced by step. Thus the digits of a number are entered successively, starting with the highest order. A special key is then depressed which energizes the solenoid 13 to reverse the direction of the shaft A and also to cause a genera tor to emit a series of pulses equal in number to the number of denominations provided in each store. These pulses actuate, step-wise, the shaft A and cam-shafts of associated calculating mechanisms, so that the number is read out from the store and passed to the calculating mechanisms, starting with the lowest order. At the same time, the paper carriage of the machine is letter-spaced one step for each pulse, and the cam-shaft B is stepped further in the original direction. When the cam-shaft B has completed its cycle, it closes contacts which energize a relay and this relay initiates operation of the output camshaft D of the printing store and connects that store with solenoids adapted to actuate typelevers. The number is thus printed starting with the highest order and in the correct denominational position due to the preceding letter-spacing of the carriage. In an alternative arrangement, the above-mentioned relay which initiates printing may be energized by contacts closed by a further shaft, which is stepped together with the shafts A and B, when that shaft reaches a predetermined position. Thus, where the full capacity of a store is never to be used, printing may start before the shaft B has completed its cycle. The connections between the printing and calculating stores, 44, 45, and the calculating mechanisms 48, 49 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 22. Contacts 46, 47 are operated by relays so that the functions of the stores may be interchanged, thus enabling a number read into the stores from one of the calculating mechanisms starting with the lowest order to be read out for printing purposes from the calculating store 44, by actuating the shaft A in its reverse position, starting with the highest order.