Patent GB-417063-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating machines
IPC: G06F7/42
Filed: 1933-03-27
Abstract: 417,063. Calculating-apparatus. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., Strowger Works, Liverpool. March 27, 1933, No. 9180. Convention date, March 25, 1932. [Class 106 (i).] In an electric adding machine the digits of a multi-denominational number are set up in turn on a common key bank by momentary depression of the appropriate keys, transmitted in the form of coded electric impulses over a common cable to actuate corresponding decoding storage relay groups, and, in turn, transferred from the latter to the corresponding denominations of the register by a sequence switch. The register comprises electromagnetically operated rotary step-by-step switches one for each denomination. Each addition is recorded by an electromatic printer as the digit keys are depressed, and by the depression of further keys a subtotal or total may be recorded. In the embodiment described a number of sales prices and serial numbers corresponding to each sale are totalled. Setting up and code transmitting arrangements. Assuming a sales price of $968À40 corresponding to a serial number 52173 has to be added, then the keys 5, 2, 1, 7, 3, 9, 6, 8, 4, 0, of the digit transmitting keys, DTK, Fig. 6, are momentarily depressed in succession. A space key SK, is depressed immediately after the serial number has been set up, that is after depression of key 3, and again after the sales price has been set up, for a purpose hereinafter described. The depression of each key energizes a corresponding coding relay 601, ... 610, which sends a coded impulse over one or more of the conductors of a cable 100 leading to the decoding relay groups, Fig. 1. The relay 105<1>, Fig. 1, is normally energized so that the coded signal corresponding to the depression of the first digit key operated (5) is extended to one or more of, the relays 101, ... 104, which operate and lock, a relay 106<1> operating in the locking circuit over line 109 to positive at contact 337, Fig. 3, when the operated digit transmitting key is released. Relay 106<1> de-energizes relay 105<1> and energizes relay 105<2> so that when the second digit key is depressed the corresponding coded impulse is extended to the second decoding relay group DRG2. Relay 106<2> corresponding to 106<1> operates in the locking circuit of the operated decoding relays when the second digit key (2) is released, to de-energize relay 105<2> and energize relay 105<3> to direct the third coded signal to the third decoding relay group DRG3. In a similar manner the following signals are diverted to their respective decoding relay groups so that the digit numbers 5, 2, 1, 7, 3, 9, 6, 8, 4, 0 are stored in the decoding relay groups DRG1, DRG2, ... DRG10, respectively. Registering. The serial number register comprises denominational rotary switches 301, ... 305, (Fig. 3) and the sales prices register comprises corresponding denominational switches 406, ... 410 and additional higher denomination switches 411,412. Higher denominational switches are not provided in the serial number register since those used are sufficient for the checking purposes required. When relay 106<1> operates, as the first digit is stored, it extends + ve to a line 110, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and over the circuit 319, 318, 356, 401, (Fig. 4), line 413, Figs. 4, 3, wiper B<1>, a conductor of cable 311 to one of the computing relays 211, ... 220, Fig. 2 which locks to + ve on line 340. The computing relay operated thus depends on the position the wiper B<1> of register 301, that is on the digit registered thereon. + ve is now extended from the lower contact of the operated computing relay over line 230, Figs. 2, 3, line 357, contact 621 of relay 620, Fig. 6, and line 611 to operate a relay 400, Fig. 4, which at contact 401 breaks the circuit to the computing relay and extends + ve on line 356 over line 414 to the motor magnet 341 which now advances the register 301 by self interruption. At contact 402 of relay 400, + ve is extended over line 310 and conductor 1 of cable 107, Figs. 1, 3 by way of the first decoding relay group DRG1 and one of the ten conductors of cable 108 to operate one of the computing relays 201, ... 210, Fig. 2. The operated computing relay 211, ... 220 extends + ve over its contact 251, ... 260 to the corresponding conductor of cable 221, and, since the operated relay of the computing relays 201, ... 210 depends upon the digit stored in the first decoding relay group, this marking is extended to the conductor of cable 222 corresponding to the sum of the registration on switch 301 and the number stored in the decoding relay group DRG1. Thus in the example given, the digit 5 is stored and therefore relay 205 is operated, and, assuming register 301 to be in its zero position, relay 220 would be operated to mark conductor 0 of cable 221, this marking being extended to conductor 5 (the sum 0+5) of cable 222. This marking is extended to the fourth contact of bank C<1> of register 301. The register wipers B<1>, C<1>, D<1> are stepped over the self-interrupting circuit as above described until the wiper C<1> encounters the marked contact whereupon the marking is extended over conductor 1 of cable 314, wiper 348 of the sequence switch 300, relay 316, wiper 349, conductor 1 of cable 315 to motor magnet 341 which is held energized to stop the switch in its fourth position. Relay 316 operates in this circuit and energizes a relay 317 which locks to the + ve on line 230 and at contacts 319 removes earth from conductor 340 to release the operated computing relay 220, and breaks the circuit of the sequence switch drive magnet 346 which energized over the circuit 346, line 612, contact 622, Fig. 6, line 358, Fig. 3, contact 336, line 340 to earth on line 110. The sequence switch is therefore stepped to its first position, when relay 316 de-energizes and motor magnet 341 de-energizes to step the register 301 to its fifth position. Relays 317 and 400 de-energize as relay 220 falls off. The relay 322, Fig. 3, is now operated over sequence switch wiper 347 and conductor 2 of cable 313 and locks to + ve on line 110 whereupon the + ve on line 110 is extended over line 356 contact 401, line 413 and wiper B<2> of register 302 to operate the computing relay 211, ... 220 corresponding to the registration thereon. Switch 302 is then set into motion and the number stored in the second decoding relay group DRG2 is added to the registration thereon in a manner identical with that described above. When this registration is completed the sequence switch is stepped to its second position where the digit stored in the third decoding relay group DRG3 is added to the register 303. In this way the sequence switch in its successive positions causes the digits stored in the decoding relay groups to be added to the corresponding denominational registers. When the last digit of the sales price is added to register 410 the sequence switch is stepped to its tenth position, when + ve on line 110 is extended over wiper 347 to operate a relay 330, which at armature 337 opens the locking circuit over line 109 to all the operated relays in the decoding relay groups which therefore revert to normal, and at armatures 338, 339 energizes the motor magnet 346 over its off-normal contacts 366 and lines 358, 612 which steps the sequence switch to normal by self-interruption. The + ve on line 110 is removed as the first decoding relay group goes to normal when all relays in the registers revert to normal ready for another adding operation. Transfer. The lower contacts of the computing relays 201, ... 210 are connected with contacts 241, ... 249, of computing relays 211, ... 220, Fig. 2, in such a way that should the sum of the numbers corresponding to the computing relays operated during a denominational registration exceed nine, + ve is extended over a conductor 231 and wiper 350, Fig. 3, of the sequence switch to energize the motor magnet 341, ... 345, 446, ... of the next higher denomination which steps its wipers to register the transfer as the relay 317, de-energizes to step the sequence switch. Should such a transfer impulse be sent to register 303, for example, when standing in its ninth position then the impulse to motor magnet 343 over sequence switch wiper 350 also passes over bank and wiper A<3>, and contact 394 to energize the motor magnet 342 of the next higher denomination so that transfer impulses are given to both switches 303 and 302. Each register is provided with a wiper D<1>, D<2>, ... over which its motor magnet 341, 342 ... &c. is energized to step the switch from its tenth (inactive) position to normal should the register be stepped only to its tenth position over the normal stepping circuit. Recording by digit keys. The successive operation of the digit keys, in the example above, 5, 2, 1, 7, 3, 9, 6, 8, 4, 0, operates the corresponding magnets of the "electromatic printer," EM, Fig. 6, to print these digits on a record card Fig. 7. The printer carriage is automatically advanced one step as each digit is printed, and depression of the space key SK after the last digit in the serial number has been set up, energizes the space magnet 630 causing the printer to insert a space on the record card. When the space key is depressed after the sales price 96840 has been printed, that is in the twelfth position of the printer carriage the magnet 631 is energized over contacts 632 to return the carriage to normal. Individual entries are thus printed in tabular form. Serial total taking. Totals can only be taken when the printer carriage is at normal, since when off normal a relay 555, Fig. 5, is energized over a key 633 and line 643 to isolate the totals keys. STK, PTK and PSTK. Depression of the serial total key STK, Fig. 6, energizes a relay 548, Fig. 5, which locks over its contacts 552, energizes relay 555 at contacts 553 to isolate the other total keys, and at contacts 550 extends + ve to line 582 to operate magnet 620, Fig. 6. The marking on line 582 is also