Patent GB-485103-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to counters for tabulating and other calculating machines
Filed: 1936-11-13
Abstract: 485,103. Calculating apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. Nov. 13, 1936, No. 31076. Convention - date, Nov. 14, 1935. [Class 106 (i)] A counter-unit comprises a counter-wheel 35, a dog-clutch of which one part 32 is constantly rotated and the other part 36 is connected to the counter-wheel, a spring 34 separating the two parts 32, 36 and actuating means 38 which moves the constantly rotated clutch part 32 to engage the other part 36 and which is incapable of reversed operation by the movable part 32 when it has moved the part 32 to engaged position. The invention is shown in the statistical machine described in Specification 372,365, the means 38 being moved by magnet 47 to engage the clutch when a card hole is read and being moved back to unclutch the parts by cam 45 (addition) or by magnet 50 (subtraction). Fig. 2 shows two denominations of counter mounted on a plate 27 whereby the plate and the parts it carries are removable horizontally from the machine as a unit. When in position, each wheel 24 is rotated constantly and drives a wheel 25 which is freely mounted on a stud 26 and is rigidly connected by rivets 28 to a cam 45 and a disc 29. This disc has bent-over lugs 30 reaching into holes 31. in the clutch part 32. The latter is free on the hub 33 of disc 29 and is held against the disc by a multi-blade leaf spring 34 so as to rotate constantly therewith. The second clutch part 36 with detent teeth 37 is integral with the counter-wheel 35 which is loose on stud 26. When cam 38 is moved bodily to the left its inclined edge face first moves part 32 into engagement with part 36 and then holds them engaged by means of its flat face parallel to wheel 35. The clutch is only engaged adjacent the cam 38. The teeth 37 of wheel 35 are normally locked by a detent 39 pivoted at 40 and having a pin-and-slot connection 41 with the arm 42 carrying the cam 38. A spring 43 between parts 42 and 39 pulls the latter upwards. Arm 42 is pivoted at 40 and when its extension 71 is released by armature 48 of energized magnet 47 the detent 39 is rocked away from the teeth as cam 38 engages the clutch. The clutch is subsequently broken again during adding operations by the cam 45 rigid with 25 moving the cam 38 to the right. The clutch teeth are bevelled to assist disengagement. Alternatively, for subtraction the clutch is broken at a differential time by energization of magnet 50 whose armature 51 releases a lever 52 pivoted at 53 whereupon a spring 49 rocks lever 52 counterclockwise so that a pin 54 on the lever depresses the extension 71 and moves cam 38 to the right. For adding, each magnet 47 is energized differentially from the card hole to engage the clutch and disengagement is effected at a fixed time in the cycle for all wheels by the cams 45. For subtraction the magnets 47 are energized at the commencement of the cycle through cam contacts and disengagement of each clutch is effected at a differential time by the energization of magnet 50 from the card hole. Arm 52 is restored by cam 70 rigid. with wheel 25. Transfer means.-A disc 55 on each numeral wheel 35 has a notch 56 and a cam 57. When the wheel registers " 9 " a finger 58, on a lever 59 pivoted at 60, rises into notch 56 and an insulating bar 61 on lever 59 rises and allows brush 63 to meet contact 65. When the wheel passes from " 9 to " 0 cam 57 depresses finger 58 so that the left end of lever 59 is latched bv a member 66 and brush 63 is raised to meet contact 67. This position is maintained until a roller 68 on the cam 70 (rigid with wheel 25) rocks the latch 66 to free the parts 59, 63. Transfer is effected at a fixed time in the cycle by the closure of cam contacts. If a brush 63 is on contact 67 a circuit is closed to the magnet 47 of next higher denomination to engage the clutch to add one. The clutch is broken again by a second rise on cam 45. If in the higher denomination the brush 63 is on contact 65, consequent transfer will occur in the yet higher denomination. Total printing.-Each counter-wheel 35 is given a half-revolution bv energizing its magnet 47 at the beginning of the cycle and permitting cam 45 to break the clutch at the end of the cycle. Depending upon the initial location of wheel 35, its extension 57 will rock the lever 59 to close contacts 63, 67 at a time corresponding to the number on the wheel and a printing circuit is completed : the transfer contacts being adapted for total printing. A branch of the same circuit may be used to energize the magnet 50 to break the clutch and leave the counter-wheel at zero.