Patent GB-150351-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to means for operating calculating machines of the thomas type
IPC: G06C23/04
Filed: 1920-08-25
Abstract: 150,351. Fournier, L., and Mang, G. Sept. 2,1919, [Convention date]. Multiplying and dividing apparatus; keyboards; differential mechanism.-In a machine of the Thomas type having two totalizing-counters means are provided for effecting the multiplication and division in each denomination by a single turn of the operating crank, for storing energy in a spring during the idle movement of the operating-crank, which energy is given back during the active part of the rotation. The operating crank 1, Figs. 2, 3, on which is provided a roller 36, is secured to a drum 3 mounted on a shaft 6 having alternate round and square sections, and the drum 3 is adapted to slide and rotate on a drum 4 secured to a base plate 5. In the upper position, as shown in Fig. 2, a toothed dog 29 on the drum 3 engages a pinion 11 mounted on a squared part of the shaft 6 which is thereby rotated when the crank is operated to wind up a spring 23 fixed to a washer 16 and drum 15 provided with a retaining ratchet wheel and pawl. The drum is provided with a crown 20, Fig. 7, on which is rotatably mounted a crown wheel 21 the outer teeth y<1> of which are adapted to engage a spring-controlled toothed sector 33 to prevent unwinding of the spring; the sector is carried by a spindle 34 on a member 32 that is rotatably mounted on a crown 31 secured to the drum 3. In the depressed position of the handle, i.e. when the roller 36 is permitted to pass through one of the slots t, Fig. 1, in the plate 39 depending on the digit of the second factor, the pinion 11 is disengaged and a second toothed dog 30 is engaged by the teeth y<1> of the crown wheel 21 and releases the segment 33 therefrom so as to enable the spring 23 to assist the operation of the crank. At the same time a crown wheel 35 secured to the outside of the drum 3 is adapted to engage a pinion 40 on the shaft 61 which gears with the usual stepped barrels. When the crank reaches the " 0 " position it is raised in three stages by a device 41, Fig. 10; during the second step a toothed sector 35<1>, Fig. 6, on the crown wheel 35 is caused to engage and to rotate through one revolution a bevel wheel 43 on a shaft 44 carrying slidably mounted bevel wheels 45, 45<1> adapted through a bevel wheel 46, pinion 48, and rack 49 on the carriage to move the latter in one direction or the other to the extent of one denomination or to maintain the carriage in set position. The sliding movement of the bevel wheels 45, 45<1>, to render them inoperative or effective for either direction of rotation, is controlled by a lever extending through the front of the machine. When the spring 23 is fully wound, a rider 24, Fig. 7, astride one of the'coils is drawn towards the centre and through a bifurcated lever 25 attached thereto and provided with slots engaging pins 14 on a sleeve 13 attached to the pinion 11 acts so as to withdraw the pinion out from engagement with the dog 29 to prevent further winding of the spring. The spring is also prevented from unwinding too much by a similar rider 26 which operates to free a pawl 28 from the ratchet teeth y of the crown wheel 21. The carriage is mounted on rails 58, 58<1>, Fig. 5, and is adapted to be raised and lowered in accordance with the corresponding movements imparted to the crank by means of a rocking lever 51 having a roller 50 engaging the drum 3 and a link 53 engaging a sector 54 gearing with a rack 55 depending from the carriage. Such movement of the carriage is necessary in order that neither of the pinions which actuate the totalizer-numeral wheels may be in mesh during the shifting of the carriage. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also means for (1) automatically setting the axially movable pinions by means of keys which forms the subjectmatter of Specification 158,197, (2) controlling the reversing mechanism which determines the nature of the calculations performed, (3) automatically positioning the punctuating or spacing- off digits and the decimal point in the result, and (4) effecting the transfer and zeroizing operations. (1) The keys 82, Fig. 18<a> (Cancelled), are provided with overlapping projections 82<2> and with bent arms 82<4>, Fig. 18 (Cancelled); a key on being depressed takes with it the keys of lower numerical value and causes the bent arms thereof to move out of the path of a forked member 84 which carries the axially movable pinion 76 and under the control of a spring 86<4> sets the pinion 76 to a position depending on the key depressed. The fork 84 is provided with a spring abutment mem ber 84<1> which prevents a sudden stoppage of the pinion 76 and is of such a width as to lock the lower bent arms in depressed position. Each fork 84 carries a rack 86<1> which engages a corresponding pinion on a set of numeral wheels or disks 86 to indicate the setting. A key 88<2>, Fig. 23 (Cancelled), mounted on a bent T-piece is adapted to rock parallel levers to oscillate a shaft 88<1> provided with arms 88 adapted to engage a pin 86<2> on the racks 86<1> to restore the setting elements to normal position. (2) To change the nature of the calculations performed on the two totalizing- counters, two pivotally mounted levers 106, 107, Fig. 23 (Canceled), are provided; if one totalizing-counter is set for positive calculations and the other for negative calculations, the nature of the calculations performed thereon can be reversed simultaneously by the following arrangement. The lever 106 is composed of two parts 106<2>, 106<3> having a pin-and-slot connexion and so arranged that by pulling the part 106<3> outwards against the action of a spring a pin 106<7> thereon engages a recess in a pivoted lever 107<1>, Fig. 26 (Cancelled), the opposite end of which is slotted to receive the lever 107. Raising or lowering the lever 106 thus rocks the lever 107<1> and consequently moves the lever 107 upwards or downwards to reverse the totalizing-counters through the action of the bars 78, 108 on the bevel wheels which are adapted to engage bevel wheels on the numeral wheels. In the mid-position of the levers 106, 107 the totalizing-counters are inoperative. (3) Punctuation.-In order to place spacing-off commas and the decimal-point in the result of a calculating operation, two bars 89, 90, Fig. 20 (Cancelled), are provided on the carriage and a bar 91 is provided on the keyboard. The bar 89 is provided with a stop 96 and claws 95 which can engage a tooth 96<2>, Fig. 22<a> (Cancelled), pivoted on the bar 90. The tooth 96<2> is held in a position at right angles to the bar 90 by a spring 97 and a stop 98 which is under the control of a spring 98<2>. These parts are enclosed in a casing mounted on the bar 90, and the stop 98 at the limit of movement of the said bar to the right engages a fixed pin 92<1>, whereupon a pin on the tooth 96<2> enters a depression in the stop 98 and frees the tooth from the claw 95 of the bar 89 to allow this bar to continue its movement. The bar 91 at its left hand end has a hinged rod 102, Fig. 21 (Cancelled), provided with a projection 102<3> which in the full line position lies in the path of the stop 96 of the bar 89 and can move this bar to the left. When performing multiplication or division if the bars 90, 91 or 91, 89 are set to correct position, the bar 89 or 90 will be advanced automatically to position the decimal-point &c. correctly. (4) Transfer mechanism.-Each numeral wheel 62, Fig. 13 (Cancelled), carries a transfer tooth 63 which, when a transfer is to be effected, rocks an arm 64 on a shaft 66 provided with arms 67 having rollers engaging a disk 68' on a member 68 and causes this member to be slid axially on the shaft 69 of the stepped barrels. To the member 68 is secured a rod 68<4> having a pin 68<5>, Fig. 16 (Cancelled), engaging an arm of a bell crank lever 71, the other arm of which engages a pin on an elongated member 72, Figs. 13, 14 (Cancelled), which is slidable in grooves on the stepped barrels and is adapted to be projected when the arm 64 is rocked to form an additional tooth on the next higher denominational stepped barrel. The member 68 is provided with a cam portion. 68<2> which is adapted to engage a fixed abutment 68<3> to reset the parts to normal position. (5) Zeroizing-mechanism.-The resetting to zero of the numeral wheels of the various counting-mechanisms is effected in the known manner by heart cams and abutment levers 111, Fig. 23 (Cancelled). These levers instead of operating through a lever placed above the machine are controlled by keys 113, 114, and 115 at the front thereof. Each key is mounted on a bent T-piece and is adapted to engage an abutment 112', Fig. 26 (Cancelled), on a corresponding lever 112<2> that actuates the abutment levers 111. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.