Patent GB-336260-A (GB)
Title: Calculating mechanism
IPC: G06F7/40
Filed: 1929-07-10
Abstract: 336,260. Robinson, E. B., (International Communications Laboratories, Inc.). July 10, 1929. Multiplying-apparatus. - A machine for calculating the increase or decrease in the credit balances of traders in accordance with the fluctuations in the price of the commodities or for indicating the price variations in stocks, &c., comprises a plurality of counters, means, individual to each of the counters, settable in accordance with a plurality of commodities and/or quantities thereof, a common setting means adjustable in accordance with the price variation of any commodity, and means automatically operable t o actuate the counters selectively. The apparatus as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 for handling transactions of two traders in a variety of nine commodities consists of a pair of credit counters A, A', corresponding trade indicators B, B', comprising pairs of cams b, b<1>, each pair representing a different commodity and having one cam assigned to a buying transaction and the other to a selling transaction, setting means D settable in one direction or the other to represent the advance or drop in market price, and electromagnetic means for initiating an operation in two semi-cycles during the first of which the buyers' counters are advanced on a price rise and on the other the sellers' counters are reversed, the action on these counters being reversed on a price drop. The duration of operation of either counter is thus dependent on the length of the cam in contact with a corresponding switch b<3> or b<4> and on the speed of the shaft B<3> as determined by the adjustment of the lever D'. Credit counters. The counters A, A<1>, which are of known form, are adapted to be coupled to a constant speed shaft A<3>, Figs. 1 and 3, normally connected by gearing 16, 19, 20, a shaft 21 and reversing gear 23 to a motor 22. The coupling is effected by an electromagnet A<5> energized during the closure of contacts b<3> or b<4>. A push button 14 is provided to couple the shaft A<3> to the counter when it is desired to set the counter to the initial credit balance by rotation of a handle 17 and gearing 15, 16. Commodity indicators and selectors. The pairs of cams b, b<1>, Figs. 1 and 6, are angularly adjustable on a shaft B<3> being held in set position by a latch engaging a ratchet on the shaft. The ten positions represent amounts of stock in multiples of one hundred. Co-operating with the cams is a pair of contacts b<3>, b<4> which are longitudinally displaceable to select the pair of cams assigned to the particular commodity by means of a carrier bar 39 having a rack 38 thereon engaging a pinion rotatable by means of a selector arm 37, Figs. 1 and 2, from a neutral to any one of nine selected positions. Price selector. A set of levers ,D<1> each individual to a commodity is rotatably mounted on a shaft 43. Each lever has a latch whereby the lever can be connected to a gear element 48, Figs. 1 and 4, in mesh with a pinion 49 on a shaft D<3> in alignment with the shaft A<3> but normally disconnected therefrom by the release of a coupling member 51. The lever D<1>, which is movable to one side or the other of a central position depending on the rise and fall in the price, co-operates with a notched bar 45 and indicates the prices change on an adjustable scale 46 carried by rollers 47. The movement of the shaft D' is transmitted through gearing 53, to a screwed spindle 54 whereby a carriage 55 with commutator brushes 56 shifts to one side or the other over contact sets 57, 57<1> in circuit with relays 67 and electromagnets 31 - - 34 controlling a change speed gearing E to drive the shaft B<3> of the commodity indicators at a speed depending on the price variation. In a movement of the carriage to the right, Fig. 1, a brush 58 thereon is connected to an earthed contact strip 59. Operation. Depression of the starting key G, Fig. 1, energizes a relay 62 which controls the circuit of motor 22, connects up one of the relays 67, controlling the change speed gearing E, and throws the buyers' counters into operative condition with respect to the contacts b<3>. Release of the key G then starts the motor. By the movement of the commutator carriage a switch 93 is closed and electromagnet 52 is energized so that during the first semi-cycle the carriage 55 and price indicator D' through the clutch gearing 51 are returned to normal position. At the end of the first semi-cycle a cam 40 on the shaft B' closes contacts 91 to energize a relay 89 which momentarily stops the motor to enable the reversing gear of the motor to be shifted through electromagnets 24, 28, and by the energization of reversing relay 75 causes the sellers' counters to be put under the control of the contacts b<4>. During the second semi-cycle the electrical conditions are maintained until a cam on the shaft B<3> returns to normal at the end of the operation whereupon relays 62 and 89 are deenergized, opening the circuits of relays 67, A' 31, 24, and 28. The operation on a price drop by movement of the carriage contact 58 on to the contact strip 59 establishes a relay circuit 108 to shift motor reverse gear 23, 26, which will be restored to normal position at the end of the first semi-cycle by operation of relay 89. Capacity signal. To indicate when a credit balance has reached a predetermined point an alarm bell or other signal 130, Fig. 7, is arranged in a circuit with fixed contacts 133 and settable contacts 134 co-operating with studs 135 on insulating plates 136 driven by gearing 138, Fig. 3, from the hundreds and thousands wheels of the counter. Varying function of machine. For use as an indicator for stock values the current price of a particular stock is entered on the counter and a handle D moved in accordance with the price change, the indicators B being used merely as a means for closing the circuit of the clutch magnet of the counter.