Patent GB-726693-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to multiplying machines
IPC: G06F7/46
Filed: 1953-02-20
Abstract: 726,693. Statistical apparatus, calculating apparatus. MAUL, M. Feb. 20, 1953 [March 4, 1952], No. 4837/53. Class 106 (1). A record card or keyboard controlled multiplying machine, is characterised in that the digit of each multiplicand denomina. tion, and of each multiplier denomination is divided into partial values according to a predetermined code, the additive sum of the values corresponding to the respective digit, and in that by the aid of a partial product device each-partial value of a multiplier digit is multiplied consecutively with each partial value of a multiplicand digit, and the respective partial value products are added one after the other to form the total product, and in which in known manner, after the multiplication by a multiplier digit the column shaft operation between the multiplicand and the product accumulation takes place in accordance with the consecutive multiplication by the various multiplier digits. The factors are transferred from a punched card to storing devices from which the removal of the partial values for multiplication is effected. The products of the various multiplication operations are added one by one into an accumulator. The accumulator consequently shows at the end of all multiplication operations the complete product and is therefore designated the product accumulator. When multiplication is finished the product accumulator is analysed and its setting is transferred to a punching device under which the card has been passed in the meantime. While the product is being punched into the card, the following card is being analysed at the same time and the factors entered into the storing devices. The card is of the type shown in Fig. 1, comprising three decks of 30 columns each with six hole positions. Punching is effected according to the code shown in Fig. 3, which omits the sixth column since this is employed in alphabetical punching and not in numeral punching. The multiplication of the setting in the storage device is effected by means of a crank drive with two variables and a continuously rotating crank. These embodiments are shown in Figs. 5 to 7. Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a crank drive having a crank 11 with variable crank radius and with a variable rocking point of the bar 12, indicated diagrammatically by screw-threaded spindles. To the right-hand end of the bar 12 there is pivoted a pawl 13 acting on a ratchet-wheel 14 of the product accumulator. The stroke of the pawl may be varied on one hand by variation of the radius of the crank 11 and on the other hand by moving the guide 15 and thereby changing the rocking point. If the setting of the rocking point and of the crank radius is made in accordance with the partial values of the factors, the stroke of the pawl will be in accordance with the products of the two settings. A further diagrammatic embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6 which shows a crank 16 with constant radius and two pusher bars 17 and 18 arranged in series. The connection between the two pusher bars is flexible, and each bar has a rocking point variable independently of the other. A pawl is pivoted at the right-hand end of the bar 18. Depending on the setting of the guides 19 and 20 the stroke of the pawl will be varied and determined by the partial values of the factors so that the stroke of the pawl will result as the product of the two settings. Where, as in the embodiment described, there are only the numerals 1, 2 and 3 to be multiplied by one another, one of the variables of the crank drive may be replaced by different ratios of gears as shown in Fig. 7. The crank 21 is rotated at constant speed in counterclockwise direction. A rod 24 is pivoted to the crank 21. At the right-hand end of the rod 24 there is connected a link 26 which rocks in accordance with the elipse traced by the righthand end of the rod 24. The adjustment of the guide 25 is effected by the crank 22, dimensions being so chosen that unequal distance between consecutive positions of the guide 25 on the rod 24 are transformed into equal movements of the crank 22. The rocker 23 is connected to the toothed segment 27 meshing with toothed wheels 28 and 29. The ratio of the diameters of the segment and the two gears has been so chosen that they have the same relation to one another as do the partial values 3, 2 and 1. The drive to the accumulators may then be clutched directly either to the segment or to one of the two gears 28, 29. The rocking movement of the segment being multiplied by the ratio of the gears. This arrangement simplifies the crank drive since only one of the factors need be set up on the crank drive itself while the other may be derived from the gear ratio. The actual construction of the crank drive is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The rod 24 consists of two metal sheets linked by the crank 21, having a'rectangular cut-out portion 24a in which a guide piece 31 slides, Fig. 9. The guide piece 31 is loosely seated and rotatable upon the pivot pin 32. On the pin 32 there are two loose guide pieces 33 adapted to slide in the guide bars 34 which are provided on both sides of rod 24 and are fast to the base-plate. This arrangement permits sliding of the pin 32 in the guide bars 34, sliding of the rod 24 on the pin 32 and rock. ing of the rod 24 relative to the fixed guide bars 34 about the axis 32. At the left-hand end of the rod 24 the rocker 23 is connected by the link 26. The positioning of links 36 and therewith of guide 25 is effected by crank 22 which in practice takes the form of a ratchet-wheel. Movement of the ratchet-wheel is effected by a pawl 39. The pawl 39 is rotatably mounted on the rocket 41 and is resiliently held against the ratchet-wheel 22. The rocker 41 is driven by the eccentric rod 43. The eccentric 42 is mounted on the same shaft as the crank 21 so that the rocker 41 will rock back and forth once every' revolution of the crank 21, the ratchet-wheel 22 being moved one step by means of a pawl 39. By this means movement of the guide 25 is effected through rod 40 and link 36, the rod 40 being pivotally mounted on the ratchet-wheel 22. The position of the guiding pieces in the guide bars 34 must be exactly defined after the rocker 23 has reached outer dead-centre. This is necessary so that declutching of the storing and product devices may take place during a period of no movement. The ratchet-wheel 22 is accordingly positively locked in position by the lever 44 with its semicircular cut-out portion 45 which engages over the screw heads. 46. The screws 46 are individually adjustable, the holes in the disc being large enough to accommodate limited movement. The rocker 23 acts on a set of gears, Figs. 8, 13 and 14, and is constructed in triangular form and mounted on the shaft 23. In accordance with the rocking movement of the rocker 23, the shaft 55 will be taken with it, on which shaft are fast the gears 56, 57, 58 and 59. These gears are in engagement with gears 69, 71, 72 and 73. The gear 69 is fast on the shaft 65 from which a drive for the accumulator setting is derived. The gears 71, 72 and 73 on the other hand are loosely mounted on the shaft 54 so that if one of the gears 71, 72 or 73 is arrested, the associated gear 57; 58 or 59 of the reciprocating set of gears will roll upon the first one. Due to the different diameters with respect to the gear 56 engaging 69, the gear 69 and shaft 65 receive a rotating movement depending on the selection of the diameters of the gears. The ratio of the diameters have been chosen so that if gear 71 is arrested a ratio of 1 : 1 results, if gear 72, a ratio of 1 : 2 results, and if gear 73 a ratio of 1 : 3 results. The gears are arrested by means of levers 74 and 75, Fig. 8, mounted on a pin 77. Rocking of levers 75 is effected by the magnets K1, K2, the armature 81 of which is linked to the levers 75 by bars 82. The levers 75 are held in their rest position by the springs 83 against the stop 84. The ratio 1 : 1 is normally set up, if the magnet K1 is energized the ratio 1 : 2 is set up, and if K2 is energized the ratio 1 : 3 is set up and the rocking movement of the main drive multiplied accordingly. The record cards are fed from a magazine in known manner past sensing brushes G by the usual arrangement of rollers. The product is punched,into the card by means of known punching arrangements, the selection of the punches being effected by electromagnets. The impulse emitter is represented by cam discs, the cam shape of each individual disc is such that they conduct the sequence of impulses consecutively to one line which is associated with the respective number according to the code shown in Fig. 3. The first cam consequently emits an impulse at the setting of the value 1, the second cam limits an impulse at the setting of value 2 and so on. The cams rotate synchronously with the analysis of the storage devices.