Patent GB-550874-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical machines
Filed: 1941-07-26
Abstract: 550,874. Statistical machines. REMINGTON RAND, Inc. July 26, 1941, No. 9508. Convention date, Aug. 9, 1940. [Class 106 (i)] A statistical machine includes in combination a plurality of differentially settable members having numeric and non-numeric set positions, means, operative after the members have been set, to sense the settings of the members, and means operative under the control of said sensing means to control a function of the machine in accordance with whether the setting of one of said differential members is numeric or non- numeric. Type carriers 40, bearing alphabetic and numeral type, Fig. 26, (not shown), are differentially set in known manner under the control of perforated cards. Totalizers.-The totalizers are of the type described in Specification 523,532 and each have two sets of register wheels 48 carried by auxiliary frames 63, 64, connected by parallel links 65, 72, pivoted to parallel links 68, 74, pivoted to the frame. Links 65, 72 are normally in counterclockwise position, and when links 68, 74 are rocked clockwise, the lower wheels 48 are brought into engagement with the teeth 47 of the type carriers 40 for addition, but when links 65, 72 are moved into clockwise position and links 68, 74 are rocked, the upper wheels 48 are brought into mesh for subtraction. Two rows of totalizers are shown. The upper totalizers are moved into operative position for.adding by the clockwise rocking of shaft 80 when pin 84 on arm 82, detachably coupled to the shaft, engages shoulder 88 on link 85. Depression of the link 90 in the manner described in Specification 522,562 pulls down links 85, 86, so that pin 84 engages shoulder 91 on link 86 to push the upper frame 64 to an extent limited by the engagement of lugs 76, 77 to move the upper wheels of the totalizer into engagement with the racks for subtraction. Premature meshing of the wheels, before the relative positions of the frames 63, 64 have been fixed, is prevented by latch 92 holding the hooked end of lever 68 until released at the correct moment by lever 93 actuated by a pin on arm 82 The lower row of totalizers is operated in a similar manner by the counterclockwise rocking of shaft 81 and arms 95. Total-taking.-Motor driven shaft 56 carries four cams 96, Fig. 2, 100, Fig. 9 and two others, Figs. 6-8 (not shown), positively actuating the pair of links 101, 102 forwards and the pair of links 103, 104 rearwards. Links 101, 102 have pins 105 cooperating with spring-pressed push-links 106, 107, pivoted on arm 110 fast on shaft 81, while links 103, 104 have pins co-operating with spring- pressed pull-links 114, 115 pivoted on arm 117 fast on shaft 80. Links 106, 114 are normally in operative and links 107, 115 in inoperative position, so that the upper and lower totalizers are set to add position. Links 106, 107, 114, 115 are controlled respectively by bell-cranks 111, 112, 118, 120. Rocking of the total shaft 113 rocks bell-cranks 111, 112, 118 to set the machine for total-taking from the lower totalizers while setting the upper totalizers to non-add. The grand total shaft 122 rocks bell-cranks 112, 118, 120 to set the upper totalizers for total-taking, and the lower for non-add. Disabling totalizers when printing alphabetic characters.-Each arm 82 is loosely mounted on shaft 80 and beside it is an arm 123 fast to the shaft and carrying a pin 125 adapted normally to be engaged by coupling hook 126 pivoted to arm 82. In a similar manner, the lower totalizers have coupling hooks 130, which together with hook 126, have arms 131 adapted to be engaged by pins 132, as described below. A set of feelers 140, corresponding to each totalizer is urged clockwise in Fig. 10 to press sensing teeth against the edge of the associated type carriers 40. A long bail bar 147 overlies the links 138 corresponding to all the totalizers, each of which overlies the corresponding bail bar 144 which again overlies the horizontal arms of the feelers 140. Bail bar 147 is cyclically raised and lowered, and when raised, it frees the feelers 140 to sense the type carriers, which are notched in such a way, Fig. 18 (and Fig. 26, not shown), that the sensing tooth is obstructed whenever a numeral type is in printing position; and free whenever any other character is in position. When any feeler senses an alphabetic character in this way, it raises its associated bar 144 and engages the hook part of its associated link 138 with blade 158 of rock-shaft 160 which then pulls link 138 and, through members 136 and 135, Fig. 10, rocks bell-crank 133 so that pin 132 releases coupling hooks 126, 130 as' above described to disable the corresponding totalizers. Interconnection of totalizers.-Interconnection between different fields of the machine whereby more than one totalizer may be disabled on the sensing by one feeler of an alphabetic character is shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 13. A link 167 connects each disabling bell-crank 133 to a bellcrank 168 having a pin 171- projecting into inverted L-shaped slots 172 in two floating links 173. Each link 173 is spring-urged upwards and controlled by two cam discs 175, the cam discs of adjacent links being mounted concentrically and controlled by knobs 177, 180 projecting through the casing. With the cam discs in the position shown in Fig. 11, the mechanism is inactive and when a bell-crank 168 is rocked, its pin 171 moves idly in the slots 172, and only the one totalizer is disabled. In Fig. 13, the lefthand front disc 175 is active, the others inactive, and motion of the left-hand bell-crank 168 is transmitted to the right-hand bell-crank, but would not be if the right-hand disc were set active. In Fig. 14 (not shown), the units are set oppositely and a movement originating in the right-hand unit has been transmitted to the left but not to the right. With all the discs set to active position, all the totalizers would be interconnected. A variety of combinations is possible and some of the links 173 may be lengthened to skip a number of fields and to affect a more distant unit. Disabling totalizers. Modification.-When link 138, Fig. 18, is pulled at the sensing of an alphabetic character, it rocks bell-crank 221, a pin 224 on which pulls down link 225 so that pins 228, 241 act respectively on coupling hooks 230, 237 to uncouple arms 82, 95 from shafts 80, 81 and thereby to disconnect the totalizers. A simplified interconnecting means comprises a bail 250 which has two arms embracing a pin 251 on the links 225 of those totalizers which are to be interconnected, so that when one link 225 is operated, the others are also, the slots in the lower ends of the links facilitating the actuation. In a modification, the lower tine of the fork embracing one of the pins 251 is omitted, so that the particular link 225 cannot operate the interconnecting mechanism but can be operated by it. Controlling recording of zeros.-Associated with each type carrier 40 is a firing pin 45 and a type hammer 44, impelled by a spring and restored by bail 185. The hammer is restrained by latch lever 186 to which is pivoted trip link 188, held in inactive position by link 190 pivoted to control lever 192. normally held in clockwise position by a ledge on the type carrier 40. When a type carrier has been moved upwards, the associated link 188 rocks clockwise under spring influence until its shoulder 193 contacts flange 194 on print bar 195 which pulls link 188 slightly to the right to release latch 186 and allow printing. Each latch carries a coupler 196, which may assume any of four positions, A, B, C, D; shown in Fig. 24. The coupler, in either of positions A or B, contacts the pin 197 of the latch of next lower denomination, to release that latch if its associated type carrier has not moved and so to print a zero. In positions C and D, the coupler is inactive. A non-print shaft 201 has a flange 202 with a series of slots 203 (Fig. 20, not shown), embracing control links 204 pivoted to the couplers 196. The links 204 carry four lugs 205 which can pass through the wider left-hand part of the slots 203 for adjustment purposes. When a link moves to the right-hand part of the slot under the action of spring 208 connecting adjustment handle 206 and guide piece 207, the flange is gripped between a pair of adjacent lugs 205 to position the coupler in one of the preset positions A, B or C. When an alphabetic character is sensed and the link 138, Fig. 18, is pulled, bell-crank 221 rocks bell-crank 223 and through a system of links, rocks shaft 201 counterclockwise to lift the couplers of the corresponding field to the next position to cause or prevent the printing of zeroes according to the individual settings. In the computing columns, the couplers would normally be set to position B, whereas in address fields where a number is to be printed irrespective of the feelers, the couplers would be set to position A. In fields reserved for alphabetic printing, the couplers would be set to the inactive position C. Yet again, a coupler may be set in an inactive position E (Fig. 25, not shown) one step below A, so as to be rendered active at the sensing of an alphabetic character. Reference also is made to Specification 555,823 and to U.S.A. Specification 2,044,119.