Patent GB-544766-A (GB)
Abstract: 544,766. Calculating machines. NILSSON, R. S. March 17, 1941, No. 3634. [Class 106 (i)] A calculating machine of the kind comprising a plurality of coaxial actuating wheels provided with radially movable teeth, means for causing a selected number of said teeth to project from and be with drawn into said wheels, and a totalizing counter mechanism to which values according to the number of teeth caused to project are transmitted from the actuating wheels when the same are rotated, the projecting teeth acting as gear teeth and co-operating with gear wheels associated with the counter discs of the totalizing counter mechanism, is characterized in that the teeth of the settable actuating wheels are set up by means of a bank of keys each of which operates an appropriate setting stud or studs mounted in a setting carriage adapted to be advanced step by step as successive keys are depressed so as to locate itself progressively against each actuating wheel in such a position that the said studs, as they are operated selectively engage elements which respectively form part of a plurality of transmission means carried by the particular actuating wheel and connected each with a tooth or tooth-group of said wheel, whereby the keys through the studs and transmission means effect the setting up of selected teeth of the actuating wheel. The machine comprises a bank of keys 14, a carriage 6 slidable from side to side of the machine and carrying the totalizing counter 8 and a single row of setting studs 12, and a set of actuating wheels A with teeth movable radially under the control of the keys. To enter an item into the counter, the carriage 6 is moved to the extreme left when the row of studs 12 underlies the row of Bowden cables 24 secured to the actuating wheel A at the extreme left of the machine. Depression of the key 14 corresponding to the highest denomination of the item causes its toe 19 to lift one or more of the bars 20 carried by U-shaped frames, according to the selfexplanatory Fig. 5, and through the spring- pressed studs 12, to operate the corresponding Bowden cables 24, so moving a number of teeth 22 on the actuating wheel A, radially outwards. As shown, two of the cables operate single teeth, while the other three each operate groups of three whereby any number from one to eleven may be made up. Alternatively, all the teeth may be operated separately, or other arrangements may be made. The teeth are held in projected position by latches 28 engaging the lip of spring- influenced arcuate locking plate 30. When key 14 is released, carriage 6 is stepped one place to the right through the action of bar 15, escapement 13 and rack 16, to position the studs 12 under the Bowden cables of the next denomination and to put the actuating wheel just set opposite the counter 8 of lowest denomination. Whenever zero occurs in an item, operation of the zero key actuates the carriage shifting mechanism without setting the corresponding actuating wheel. When the setting of an item is complete, the actuating wheels, which are all mounted on rods 4, carried by end plates, are rotated by a handle or motor, the projecting teeth 22 driving pinions 10 and so totalizing counter 8. The carriage 6 is then returned to the left, locking plates 30 being rocked slightly as fingers 35 wipe past spring-pressed ball 33, so that teeth 22 are returned to original position under the spring influence of the free ends of the Bowden cable sheaths. Subtraction can be performed by rotating the actuating wheels in the opposite direction. A back-spacing key is provided. The counter-wheels are visible through a window in a cowl (not shown). For British currency the counter wheels for farthings and pence each have twelve teeth, the farthing, halfpenny and three-farthings being entered by the " 3 ", " 6 " and " 9 " keys, respectively. The Bowden transmissions may be replaced by levers pivoted on the actuating wheels.