Patent GB-699954-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in computing machines
IPC: G06C15/04
Filed: 1950-03-15
Abstract: 699,954. Calculating-apparatus. ING. OLIVETTI & C., SOC. PER. AZIONI. March 15, 1950, No. 6540/50. Class 106 (i). An adding and subtracting machine comprises reciprocable actuators, a register capable of representing positive and negative amounts, an index member capable of assuming either .of two positions indicative of the character of said amounts, means for initiating a division opera - tion, a control device capable of sensing said index member for conditioning machine functions, and means controlled by said initiating means for enabling said control device to sense said index member substantially at the beginning of each cycle of a plurality of machine cycles for conditioning machine functions during division, some machine functions being conditioned in said.cycle if said index member is in a position corresponding to a positive amount and some other machine functions being conditioned in said cycle if said index member is in a position corresponding to a negative amount. The invention is described as applied to a tenkey machine and comprises keys 1, Fig. 1, a pin carriage 2, pins 3, actuators 4, type bars 5, a platen 14 and hammers 16. A rack 7 is attached to each actuator 4 by a pin and slot connection and co-operate with the adjacent adding and subtracting accumulator wheels 11 and 12 supported in a carriage 10 rockable through 180 degrees about a shaft 13, Fig. 8. During each cycle the main shaft 18, Fig. 1, is rocked clockwise then counter-clockwise through 90 degrees and the actuators 4 are reciprocated. Adding and subtracting are effected in the usual way. Transfer mechanism.-The - wheels 11, 12, Fig. 2, have transfer teeth 111, 121 respectively, either of which at the appropriate time effect counter-clockwise movement of a pawl 23 to release a lever 24 which is moved counterclockwise by a spring 68 whereupon a projection 71 thereon leaves the associated next higher rack 7, Figs. 2 and 4, which takes an additional step of movement. The lever 24 of the highest order is connected by a bail 165 to a lever 25, Fig. 4, having the projection 71 which normally blocks the rack 7 of the lowest order thus constituting " fugitive-one " mechanism. Division is effected by repeated subtraction from the dividend set up in the accumulator. The dividend having been entered the division key and stem 31, 32, Fig. 8, is rocked clockwise about the pivot 34 to effect clockwise movement of a bail 36 until the lug 35 of the bail 36 engages the tooth 33 on the stem 32. An arm 106 of the bail 36 moves a lever 108 to disengage the pin carriage from the pin carriage returning mechanism in known manner. Movement of the bail 36, Fig. 11, is transmitted by an arm 38 and stud 39 to a lever 41 which effects motor starting in known manner. An arm 42 of the bail 36 rocks a lever 43 counter clockwise against a spring 26 so that its arm 44 moves away from a plate 46 pivoted on a shaft 47 and having arms 48, 49. The clockwise movement of the bail 36 allows a bail 110, 111, Figs. 8 and 11, to be swung counterclockwise by a spring 26 for the purpose described later. During the clockwise rotation of the main shaft 18 a cam 56 moves away from a roller 50, Fig. 11, on the arm 48 of the plate 46 which is then rocked counter-clockwise by a spring 54 until arrested by a fixed stud 64. The spring 54 also rocks a lever 52 and its shaft 53 clockwise the edge 51 of the lever bearing against the roller 50. At the same time a lever 58 which engages a roller 62 on the cam 56 is moved counter-clockwise by a spring 63 until it is arrested by a lug 60 on the lever 52. Near the end of the clockwise movement of the cam 56 finger 57 thereon moves the lug 60 into latching engagement with the lever 58. Towards the end of its return the cam 56 returns the plate 46 clockwise and the roller 62 unlatches the lever 58 from the lug 60, whereupon the lever 52 is freed to be rotated clockwise to its initial position by the spring 54. The accumulator wheels 11, 12 of the highest order have besides their transfer teeth 111, 121, Fig. 6, and aligned therewith additional teeth 75, 76 which co-operate respectively with pivoted levers 78, 81, Fig. 5, interconnected by a spring 83. The lever 81 has two arms 86, 87. The arrangement is such that during an oversubtraction cycle of a division the tooth 76 rocks the lever 81 from the full line position to the dotted line position, Fig. 5, and during the succeeding " add " cycle the tooth 75 moves the levers 78, 81 back to their initial positions. The position of the arm 86 is therefore indicative of the sign or character of the amount in the accumulator. As the shaft 53 rocks clockwise each cycle a lever 66, Fig 9, carried thereby senses the position of the arm 86 and the shaft is either locked by the lever 66 abutting the arm 86 or is free to move until the lever 66 abuts the stop 88. The shaft 53 carries a doublearmed lever 90, Fig. 10, which co-operates with two links 93, 96 respectively urged to the right and left by springs 99, 105. If at the beginning of a cycle during division the shaft 53 is free to move clockwise the lever 90 moves the link 93 to the left and a rack segment 101, Fig. 8, connected to the link 93 by known mechanism, not shown, rocks counter-clockwise to rotate the carriage 10 through 180 degrees into " subtract " position. At the same time the link 96, Fig. 10, is moved to the right to disable the printing mechanism in known manner. When an " over-subtraction " cycle occurs the arm 86, Fig. 9, is, as above described, placed in the path of the lever 66 so that in the succeeding cycle the shaft 53 is prevented from moving clockwise and the links 93, 96, Fig. 10, remain stationary so that add cycle ensues. Quotient printing.-The bail 36 has a dependent arm 119, Fig. 11, to which one end of a link 120 is attached by a pin and slot connection. The other end of the link 120 is attached to one arm of a bell crank 123 which is pivoted to a spindle 124 and the other arm of which co-operates with a lever 129 connected by a pin and slot to a lever 190 fixed to the cam 56. A spring 193 causes the levers 129, 190 to move together when reciprocated by the cam 56 each machine cycle. A ratchet wheel 125 on the shaft 124 is geared to the quotient type rack 127 situated to the left of the type bars 5, Fig. 1. A pin 134 on a pivoted bell crank 131, Fig. 11, normally engages the arm 49 of the slate 46. When the bail 110 is moved clockwise by the carriage 10, Fig. 8, a stud 117 on the bail arm 116, Fig. 11, leaves the path of a nose 122 on the link 120 which is then moved to the left by a spring 27. The bell crank 123 is rocked clockwise and a lug 137 of the lever 129 engages and steps-on the ratchet 125 to move the rack 127. The lever 131 is moved clockwise by the plate 46 and a lug 135 thereon acts as a detent to the ratchet 125. During an " add " cycle succeeding an " over subtraction " cycle the rack segment 101 is in its full line position, Fig. 8, and when the bail 110 is rocked counter-clockwise by the spring 26, Fig. 11, the stud 117 on the bail arm 116 moves the link 120 to the right against the spring 27 and so the bell-crank 123 is rocked counter-clockwise to prevent the lever 129 from engaging the ratchet 125. The divisor and quotient printing mechanisms then operate. The individual numerals of the vertically printed quotient slope to the right, Fig. 15 (not shown). Also during the counter-clockwise movement of the bail 110 in the said add cycle a stud 118 on the arm 116 leaves the projection 139 of a lever 138 having a hook 146 whereby it is moved to the left by a pin 147 on the return of the plate 46 to actuate the pin carriage back-spacing mechanism. During the last " add " cycle in the division operation when the bail 110 is moved to its counter-clockwise position a hook 158, Fig. 7, projecting therefrom frees a lever 154 and as the lowest order actuator 4 moves to the left a pivoted lever 151 is rocked clockwise by a spring 157 until arrested by a stud 160. On the return of the actuator 4 a pin 150 thereon returns the lever 151 counter-clockwise and the lever 154 engages a hook 159 of a bail 197 connected to the stem 32 of the division key 31 which is thereby returned to its initial position whereby the lever 41, Fig. 11, moves to stop the driving motor. A lever 161, Fig. 13, pivoted on the shaft 34 is urged by a spring 162 against the bail 197 and is moved clockwise upon depression of the division key 31 to effect a clockwise movement of a lever 164 and a lug 166 thereon locks the bail 165 to disable the " fugitive-one " mechanism during division. When the key 31 is returned before the end of the last cycle the lever 164 is retained in its locking position by a latch 168 which co-operates with a fixed part 171. On the return of the bail 36, Fig. 11, at the end of a division operation a lever 174 attached to the bail arm 119 rocks a pivoted lever 178 counter-clockwise to free a bail 183 to the action of a spring 189 which through the bail arm 185 and a stud 186 depresses the totaltaking key 188 which is returned during the ensuing cycle by the cam 56 through a linkage 195, 194. Specifications 652,285 and 700,000 are referred to.