Patent GB-772170-A (GB)
Abstract: 772,170. Calculating-apparatus. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Sept. 29, 1955 [Nov. 2, 1954], No. 27729/55. Class 106 (1). In a calculating machine, mechanism for shifting interspersed sets of totalizer wheels transversely of their actuators, in order to select a particular set for actuation, is driven to an invariable extent at each machine operation and a differentially-settable control mechanism co-operates with the shifting mechanism so as to vary the amount of shifting movement imparted to the totalizer wheels to select the set of wheels corresponding to the setting of the control mechanism. The invention is applied to an accounting machine similar in many respects to those described in Specifications 611,539 and 680,992, and provides mechanism for shifting a line of interspersed group totalizers 208 relatively to amount actuator racks 197 under the control of selector stops 74 on a travelling carriage. The machine includes also a balance totalizer comprising intermeshing and laterally offset wheels 202 and 203. Normally the wheels 202 register with the actuator racks and mechanism according to the invention is applied also to this totalizer for shifting the complementary wheels 203 into effective register during total-taking operations and when the balance totalizer is overdrawn, in order that a true negative total shall be registered and printed. Mechanism is also provided for selecting a particular group totalizer for accumulating the negative balances and for automatically adjusting the group totalizer engagement to subtraction for such accumulation. The principal mechanisms of the machine are substantially as described in the aforementioned Specifications; in particular, the totalizers- and their transfer mechanisms are as described in Specification 611,539; the travelling carriage and the totalizer engagement mechanism are as described in Specification 680,992. Overdraft control of automatic machine release. A lever 367, Fig. 26, operated by the travelling carriage is adapted to raise a link 379 which rocks a machine release lever 380 to initiate operation. Depression of a " non-auto " key 107 cams a link 382 rearwardly which, through a lever 377, shifts the link 379 clear of the lever 367 and so prevents automatic machine release. The lever 377 is connected to a slide 370 which is displaced rearwardly and then forwardly during machine operation by a cam 375 on a main shaft 185. If an overdraft occurs in the balance totalizer during the operation, an overdraft shaft 356, associated with the highest order transfer mechanism, rocks counterclockwise and a hook 368 is positioned before a shoulder 369 on the slide 370. This prevents forward return of the slide which then, through the lever 377, holds the link 379 clear of the carriage operated lever 367 and prevents automatic release so that the operator is made aware of the overdraft. Overdraft control of balance totalizer. The balance totalizer comprises intermeshing pairs of wheels 202 and 203 on adjacent shafts 204 and 207, the two sets of wheels being axially offset, the wheels 202 normally registering with the differential actuators 197 for engagement therewith in addition, subtraction and positive totaltaking. The wheels 203 register the complement of the accumulated total and are automatically brought into register with the actuators in totaltaking operations when the accumulated total is negative, so that a true negative total is printed. The shafts 204 and 207 of the two sets of wheels are connected together for simultaneous axial movement by arms 255, Fig. 7, and the shaft 204 is fitted with a pair of discs 386 and 387 engageable by studs 388 and 389 on a pair of shifting arms 390, 391, Figs. 12 and 14. A yoke 407 on a cyclically operated slide 409 is adapted to rock the arms 390, 391 inwardly during machine operation, the movement of the individual arms being controlled by the engagement of feelers 398 and 399 thereon with a control disc 425 positioned according to the negative/positive condition of the balance totalizer and whether or not a total is to be taken. The disc is positioned by means of a link 431 and lever 433, Fig. 30, the lever being rocked counterclockwise and then clockwise under control of a main cam during each machine operation. Movement of the lever 433 is controlled by means of a feeler 455 engageable with an arm 458 secured to the overdraft shaft 356 of the balance totalizer, the arm 458 releasing the feeler and permitting movement of the lever 433 only upon the occurrence of an overdraft. The lever 433 is also blocked against movement by the engagement of a stud 442 on an arm 443 over a notch 441 in the lever. The arm 443 moves with a sensing lever 452 connected to a sensing finger 75 (see also Fig. 5A) adapted to feel the carriage control stops 74. Stops of sufficient length to prevent movement of the stud 442 over the notch 441 are fitted in the total-taking positions of the carriage so that, in such positions and when an overdraft exists, the lever 433 is free to move and turns the control disc 459 from the position shown (Fig. 14) to one in which the feeler 398 is freed and the feeler 399 blocked. Immediately thereafter, the slide 409 and yoke 407 move to the right so rocking the shifting arm 390 inwardly, its stud 388 engaging the disc 386, Fig. 7, and shifting the balance totalizer shafts 204 and 207 to the right to register the complementary wheels 203 with the actuators in place of the main wheels. In other operations than total operations, or if the balance totalizer is not overdrawn, the lever 433 is blocked against movement and the control disc 425 remains in the position shown. The balance totalizer is then shifted by the stud 389 to register the main wheels 202 with the actuators if it is not already in that position. The arm 443 is also controlled by the total key for the balance totalizer, depression of that key rocking a shaft 465 so that a finger 464 thereon blocks the arm 443. The lever 433 is then free to move, if the balance totalizer is overdrawn, to register the complementary wheels 203 with the actuators. Subtracting overdraft from group totalizer. Movement of the lever 433 during an overdraft total operation of the balance totalizer is adapted also to reverse the add/subtract function of the selected group totalizer. The movement of the lever is communicated by a link 474 to mechanism which controls individual engaging hooks determining, as described in Specification 680,992, the timing of engagement of the selected group totalizer with the actuators. Ribbon shift upon overdraft. Movement of the lever 433 and link 474, during a total operation with the balance totalizer overdrawn, is adapted also to shift the ink ribbon so that the amount of the total is printed in red. Control of balance totalizer for addition and subtraction. As indicated above, during add and subtract operations initiated by carriage stops 74, the lever 433, Fig. 30, is blocked by the stud 442 so that the main wheels 202 of the balance totalizer remain registered with the actuators. Depression of the balance totalizer add or subtract key is adapted also to block the lever 433, to retain the main wheels 202 operative, in the event of the balance totalizer being overdrawn. These keys are adapted to rock a lever 492 to position a stud 491 thereon under an arm 489 secured to a shaft 477 connected by a crank 476 with the link 474 and lever 433. Group totalizer selection. Four sets of group totalizer wheels are interspersed on a shaft 209, Fig. 5B, which is shifted axially under carriage control, to register a selected set with the actuators, by mechanism similar to that for selecting the main or auxiliary wheels of the balance totalizer. The group totalizer shaft 209 carries a pair of discs 520, 521 engageable by studs 522 and 523 on a pair of shifting arms 524 and 525, Figs. 12 and 15. A further yoke 542 on the cyclically operated slide 409 rocks the arms 524, 525 inwardly during machine operation, the movement of the individual arms being controlled by the engagement of feelers 528 and 529 thereon with a control disc 535 having a stepped periphery and positioned under control of a carriage stop feeler mechanism. As the slide 409 moves to the right, during cyclic operation, the feelers 528 and 529 close on the disc 535 so that the arms 524 and 525 are differentially positioned according to the depth of the carriage stop and the group totalizer shaft 209 is shifted accordingly. The control disc 535 has four pairs of steps corresponding to the four group totalizers. Additional group totalizers can be provided for by means of a second stepped control disc engaged by the opposite ends 530, 532 of the feelers 528, 529; the second disc 534 actually shown in Fig. 15 is non-adjustable and has one pair of active surfaces 544 and 545 only. Automatic totalizer selection. Mechanism is provided for automatically selecting a particular set of group totalizer wheels to receive overdraft totals from the balance totalizer. A lever 573, Fig. 28, moves with the carriage stop feeler mechanism which positions the group totalizer selector disc 535. Clockwise movement of the shaft 356 when the balance totalizer becomes overdrawn releases an arm 570 which drops into blocking relationship with the lever 573, arresting the lever in a position for the disc 535 to select the particular group totalizer. In other than total-taking operations, however, the counterclockwise movement of shaft 444 of lever 443 (see also Fig. 30 and above) shifts a lever 577 to obstruct the arm 570 so that the group totalizer selection remains unaffected. Totalizer shaft alignment and rebound prevention. The balance totalizer shaft 204 is aligned by an arm 342, Fig. 7, and the group totalizer shaft 209 similarly. To prevent rebound of the shaft 209 during totalizer selection, the disc 521 thereon is embraced by fingers of an anti-r