Patent GB-785285-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating and book keeping machines
Inventor: HEBEL MARTIN
Filed: 1953-03-24
Abstract: 785,285. Calculating-apparatus; transfer mechanism. ELDI-FEINMECHANIK GES. March 24, 1953, No. 7997/53. Class 106 (1). A calculating machine with a keyboard and printing mechanism comprises storage and calculating devices in which numbers are represented in code by members each movable between two alternative positions. The machine described has a typewriter input and output and operates in the decimal system, each decimal order being coded on the basis of four elements 1, 2, 3 and 5. Two groups of stores each with a totalizer are mounted one above the other beneath the typewriter, and are associated respectively with column and line calculations. The transmission of data within the machine is effected by mechanical links but as a result of the small movements employed and their binary nature, the links may be replaced by contacts associated with remote solenoids. Moreover, many of the cam-shafts referred to below may be actuated step-by-step electromagnetically. Keyboard input. Coding. Depression of a key 8, Fig. 1, lowers a bar 15 which rocks a bail 19 to engage a one-revolution clutch. An ear 16 on the bar 15 depresses a leaf-spring 24, Fig. 15, formed as a twisted finger of a comb 25. A cam-controlled lever 40 shifts a bar 36 laterally of the machine and a tooth enters a hole in the depressed spring 24 to hold it depressed and move the spring. Selector bars 30-34 have teeth 44 so arranged that the depressed spring 24 will co-operate with the teeth on certain of the bars to move them, the moved and unmoved bars representing in code the digit or other symbol represented by the key. A cam-controlled flap then raises the prongs 24a of a spring comb, only one of which is able to enter aligned ones of notches in the lower edges of the bars. In a modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), much of this control mechanism is electromagnetically operated. The selector bars, Fig. 18, rock levers 81 out of notches in links 84 which are thus freed for longitudinal movement under the action of springs to transmit the digit to a " keyoperated " store (as described below) for subsequent transmission to the totalizer and to the " printing " store referred to below. Printing. De-coding. When the selector bars 30-34, Fig. 1, are set to represent in code a digit or symbol, one of the prongs 24a is able to rise and to move a member 53 which is then raised by a cam-controlled bail 58 and strikes an arm 64 coupled to the type lever 66. The latter is thus thrown against the platen 2. The selector bars, Fig. 18, are set by the levers 81 actuated resiliently by cams 85 and controlled by links 84a having blocking projections. The links 84a are in turn controlled by the feeler tacks of a special " printing " store (not shown) similar to the stores described below, and shown in Fig. 24, but having its feeler racks 95 extended to co-operate with the links 84a and operating during read-out from the highest order to the lowest. In one arrangement, Fig. 63, a decimal tabulating mechanism automatically positions the paper carriage within a column so that a number is correctly positioned relative to a decimal point position. The mechanism comprises stops 330 one of which is released, according to the setting of the selector bars 30-34 and the links 84 which, in this case, may be controlled by levers 300, released by a key 803 and set by cams 308 on the cam shaft of the key-operated store, the posi-. tion of which will correspond to the number of digits entered. Stores. Each store, Fig. 24, accommodates a multi-digit decimal number and comprises four spring combs 90 corresponding to the four elements of the code and each having one prong for each decimal order, and an additional prong K. The four K prongs register the form (e.g. positive or negative) of the number stored. The prongs of each denomination are normally locked by teeth 94, Fig. 38, of a comb member, the several comb members being rocked in sequence by cams 121 to release the prongs for re-setting. As each comb member is rocked, one or more of the four spring combs 90 is rocked by the input links 84 through arms 93 according to the digit to be stored in that denomination and the corresponding prongs assume a deflected position in which they are again latched when the comb member is restored. A number stored is read out denomination by denomination, from the lowest to the highest by moving denominational combs 98 laterally, in sequence, by further cams, and by urging racks 95, of which there is one for each comb 90, upwardly by cam-operated springs 96 or electromagnetically, Fig. 43 (not shown). Operation of a comb 98 moves its prongs over teeth in the racks 95 so that the latter are blocked against upward movement in those cases where the corresponding prongs 90 are in undeflected positions. If a prong 90 is in deflected position, however, the corresponding prong 98 can flex and the rack 95 moves upwardly. The racks 95 are formed with projections by which they control the movement of transversely arranged links 101, which pass through the corresponding group of stores and transmit the number read out, or a function of that number, to the calculating mechanism. The racks 95 normally permit movement of the links 101 but when a store is to be read, they are given an initial movement so as to block those links, only those racks not blocked by prongs 90 moving still further to release them again. Selection of stores. The arms 93 of each store are pivotally mounted on the spring combs 90 and are normally held by a corresponding cam so as to be disengaged from the input links 84. Operation of the cam permits the arms to engage the links and so conditions the store to receive a number. Alternatively, the cams 121 releasing the prongs 90 may be rotated only in the desired store. A store is selected for reading purposes by rotating its cams 97 actuating the springs 96. These cams may be coupled, under electromagnetic control from the typewriter carriage, to a driving shaft. Totalizer, Figs. 48-62. Each group of stores is provided with a totalizer which adds an amount from the key-operated store to an amount previously transferred to one of the other " fundamental '' stores. Addition takes place in the 1, 2, 3, 5 code denomination by denomination from the lowest to the highest and the result is passed by the links 84 to a fundamental store or to the printing store. As described above, when a digit stored is read out, corresponding transmission links 101 are released. These links act through crossplates 130 to shift " fundamental " term rails S1, S2, S3 and S5 and " key-operated " term rails T1, T2, T3 and T5. Actually a "keyoperated " term code element is entered into the appropriate " fundamental " term rail unless that rail is also to be actuated from the fundamental store. In this case, a link 101, released by the racks 95 of both key-operated and fundamental stores, is released and shifts the key-operated term rail. The term rails are toothed for co-operation with toothed feeler bars 110 urged upwardly at appropriate times by cam-controlled springs 296. The bars 110 which are released represent the sum and rock corresponding plates F1-F5, 210, &c., and a plate F10. 211, when a tens transfer is necessary. The plates 210, when rocked, release the corresponding transmission links 84. When the plate 211 is rocked, a spring arm 213 on the same shaft raises a bar DZv, forming part of a " converter ". This bar is locked during the next denominational period by a slide 107. This bar blocks the transmission links 101 representing the fundamental term and releases a further set of links (released by the fundamental store feeler racks 95 at the same time as the first set of links) representing that number plus one. If the key-operated term includes a code element corresponding to one of the released tens transfer links, then the keyoperated term rail for this code element is also shifted by the release of a further link 101 under the control of both stores and the transfer bar. Handling of negative amounts. A negative amount may be stored as its modulus with a registration of the negative sign or, in the case of intermediate results, in complementary form. An additional (K) order is provided to register the form of the number, a code element " 2 " indicating complementary form and elements " 2 " and " 5 " indicating a negative amount. These elements are entered in the K denomination under the control of a minus key or of the carriage in the case of negative amounts, by means of bars 407, 408, Fig. 54, controlling the " 2 " and " 5 " transmission links 84 respectively. These are raised to an intermediate blocking position at K time and beyond that position to release the links by springs 405 or by electromagnets. Subtraction is performed by complementary addition, the conversion to complementary form of a number from the key-operated store being effected in the converter by releasing links 101 representing the complementary values. For cases where a code element is common to the complement of the key-operated term and to the fundamental term, further links 101 are provided. Still further links 101 provide for complementary conversion together with tens transfer and a final set of links 101 serve the same function in cases where the same element occurs in the fundamental term. For these purposes, the converter comprises bars 400, 401, Fig. 53, for controlling the groups of transmission links, the former being released for upward movement by operation of the links 101 for both " 2 " and " 5 " and the latter by release of the " 2 " link alone. As the bars 400, 401 are set initially during the read-out of the K order and must remain set during the read-out of the several numerical orders, their teeth which sense the " 2 " and " 5 " links are formed on spring leaves so that subsequent operations of those links are not impeded. Whether a complementary conver