Patent GB-922696-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating devices
Inventor: PRITCHARD RONALD
IPC: G06F7/46
Filed: 1959-11-25
Abstract: 922,696. Electronic multipliers combined with accounting-machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Ltd. Sept. 28, 1960 [Nov. 25, 1959], No. 40027/59. Class 106 (1). An accounting machine, e.g. that described in Specification 680,992, is combined with an electronic multiplier, e.g. that described in Specification 877,192, by causing at least one of the factors to be set in the appropriate store of the multiplier from the accounting machine keyboard and the computed product to control differential mechanisms of the accounting machine. The other factor may also be set on the accounting machine keyboard but may be registered in the multiplier by a printed circuit card which causes certain connections in the multiplier and which may be energized under the control of either the tabulation of the machine or a press-button. Registration of factor from accounting machine keyboard (Fig. 4). Depression of a key causes a rack 21 to move a distance representative of the integer associated with the key and brings an arm 19 adjacent one of a series of plungers 32. Subsequent automatic operation of a solenoid SFA causes a reciprocal movement of lever 26 and thus of arm 19 to depress the selected plunger 32 which performs a gating function equivalent to a key of the multiplier described in the above-mentioned application. Again, operation of a solenoid RFA causes reciprocation of a member 37, constrained by pegs 36 moving in slots in the housing, which, due to its arcuate flanged end, returns the plunger to its undepressed position. Registration of factor from printed circuit card.-The card is shown in Fig. 5A and consists of an insulated sheet 201 bearing printed conductors 202 which when the card is in position beneath the keyboard of the accounting machine make connections between terminals 219 (Fig. 5), which are in the circuits of the electronic multiplier. The card also carries an identification tag which is visible through a slot 222 in the keyboard and with each card is associated a key 6. The card is inserted by engaging a slot 203 with a peg 213 on a lever 211 and one edge of the card with a slot 215, and then rotating the lever to the position shown in full line. Registration of product in accounting machine (Fig. 6). The multiplier is sequence controlled and when the final control tube fires a linear bar LB is removed from the totalizing wheels of the accounting machine. One typical denomination is shown in Fig. 6 in which the outputs 0 to 9 from one order of the electronic accumulator are connected to the terminals of a selector switch 164 and contain one marked line. The selector switch is on a common shaft with gear-wheel 163 which is geared to totalizer wheel 161 through an idler 162 with which the liner bar is associated. The disengagement of the liner bar from the idlers 162 actuates a microswitoh LM which starts the selector switches hunting for their respective marked terminals, the totalizer wheels 161 rotating at the same rate as wheel 163. When all selector switches have stopped a circuit is closed to replace the liner bar. At a later stage the accumulated total or sub-total is printed by engaging the totalizer wheels with the racks. Operation control.-The accounting machine has a split keyboard on the halves of which factors A and B may be entered. If a printed circuit card is used factor B only is entered. There are two form bars, the front bar carrying factor A and B and function control stops and the rear bar carrying control devices in columnar alignment with the stops on the front bar. These control devices, as described in Specification 680,992, when the machine carriage tabulates to a stop position by their configuration contact certain levers which then, in the present case, close switches controlling the multiplier. The position of the decimal point may be determined by the factor A rear control device, by selecting a key on the accounting machine keyboard or by a connection on the printed circuit card. In all cases, selector switches in the multiplier are actuated. When the factor A control stop reaches the stop position, and the main motor bar is depressed the rear control device operates to energize electromagnetic circuitry (Figs. 2A to 2D and 2F, not shown) which actuates the solenoids RFA, SFA, in that order, to set the multiplicand in the multiplier as described above with reference to Fig. 4, and the decimal point is also set. The macine then tabulates to the factor B stop position and depression of the main motor bar will cause the factor to be set in the multiplier and the multiplication operation to start by firing the first of the sequence control tubes. As the machine tabulates to the function stop the multiplication is completed and the product is transferred to the totalizer wheels as described above. Finally, depression of the main motor bar results in a sub-total print operation after which depressed keys are released. The rear factor control devices may be dispensed with apart from factor A decimal point control and keys used to initiate transfer of factors from the accounting machine to the multiplier. If a printed circuit card is used no factor A control stop and rear control device is used. The factor B control device is effective to set the decimal point and to bring in circuits using the printed card. The connections on the card are used to direct groups of equalvalued pulses to appropriate orders of the multiplier accumulator (Fig. 2E). The typical card 78 shown represents the number 000.275 since output terminals 0 6  to 0 8  are connected to earth E, 0 5  to input terminal i 2 , 0 4  to i 7 , 03 to i 5  and d 3  to a terminal of +50V line. The i terminals 219 of Fig. 5 are supplied with groups of pulses each group containing the number of pulses indicated by its suffix, e.g. i 7  receives groups of seven pulses. The 0 terminals are connected to a column of switches R 3  to R 8  in a cross-bar switch 77, the d terminal through switch R 2  to +50V. Depression of key 6 appropriate to the required printed card will close these switches and the decimal point will be set and pulse groups sent to appropriate orders of the accumulator on lines 0 3  to 0 8  when a further actuating key is pressed. Automatic control by the factor B control device may replace manual selection of the printed card.