Patent GB-526762-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in calculating machines
Filed: 1939-03-17
Abstract: 526,762. Calculating-machines. THOMAS, A., and MOWBRAY, E. March 17, 1939, No. 8581. [Class 106 (i)] The invention relates to a calculating machine of the kind having an algebraic accumulator with denominational pairs 86, 87, Fig. 7, of positive and negative toothed wheels, each pair having a toothed actuator 85, and a grand total accumulator 47 of which each denominational toothed adding wheel has a toothed actuator 36 to set printing elements 45,corresponding denominational actuators 85, 36 of the two accumulators being connected together (link 84). The present invention consists in a calculating machine of the above kind having negative total control mechanism whereby, when the total in the algebraic accumulator 86, 87 is negative, two total-taking cycles are performed as follows ; first total-taking cycle : the negative wheels 87 of the algebraic counter are meshed during the return of the actuator 85 to restore the negative total to the wheels 87, and the wheels 47 are prevented from meshing with their actuators 36 (also, the negative total is printed) ; second. total-taking cycle : the complement of the negative total is entered into the grand total wheels 47 and the printing of this complement is prevented. The invention is illustrated in a record-card-controlled statistical machine of the kind set out in Specification 405,666 and having automatic card-group control mechanisms and designation pin-box as in Specification 371,849, an item pin-box as in Specification 401,012 a stop basket as in Specification 483,236, and printing mechanism as in Specification 461,612. The present arrangement not only permits the printing of the true negative total by the type sectors 44 associated with the sector 36 but also allows the accumulation of the grand balance on the grand total wheels 47. The shaft 48 of the wheels 47 is carried in a cam shaft 51 of an arm 52 controlled by a plate 54 as in Specification 405,666. For tens transfer, when a wheel 47 passes from 9 to 0 its transfer cam raises a pawl 143 acting as zero stop for the next higher sector 36 so that the latter is released and its pin and slot connection 55, 56, with the type sector 44 permits the next higher sector 36 an additional one-tooth movement. As in Specification 405,666 (part 38, Fig. 2 thereof) an abutment member 89, Figs. 4 and 5, decides whether +ve wheels 86 or -ve wheels 87 shall mesh with the sectors 85. When the total is positive, it is transmitted from the wheels 86 to the wheels 47 and is printed. If the total is negative the first-mentioned two total-taking cycle is performed. The extra actions entailed by the duplicated cycles are controlled by an auxiliary cam-shaft 160 Fig. 3, and a stop 170, Figs. 4 and 5 (equal to stop 103 in Fig. 7 of Specification 405,666). A disc 161 on shaft 160 carries six latches 165 (one shown in Fig. 3) and when any one latch is allowed to engage the clutch, the shaft makes one revolution, equal to six revolutions of the main machine shaft. Stop 170 is shown in the negative position in Fig. 4, is pivoted at 171, and is connected by links 266 and 333 to the abutment 89 for the algebraic counter wheels 86 and 87. When the card-group changes, the total shaft 191, Fig. 3, makes one rotation, the card feed to the designation pin-box and the reciprocation of the latter are stopped, and the negative total cam 190 pulls down a link 186, Figs. 3 and 4, which rocks a shaft 176 counterclockwise. If the total is negative, the stop 170 is in register with a pin 172, Figs. 4 and 5, on a lever 173 pivoted at 174 to an arm 175 on the shaft 176, so that this lever 173 is rocked clockwise and its extension 180, through pin 181 and arm 182, rocks a shaft 183 counter-clockwise. An arm 205, Fig. 4, on shaft 183, depresses a link 206 which rocks a lever 207 about its pivot 208 whereby a pin 209 on it raises the trip 166 to permit one of the six latches 165 to engage the clutch. Auxiliary shaft 160 thereupon makes one revolution. In the next cycle but one following that in which the total shaft 191 started to move, a total cam 210 on it, Fig. 3, meets roller 213 on arm 212 and through links 214 and 216, Fig. 4, rocks the front and back total shafts 128, 127 at a time when wheels 86 or 87 still engage their sectors 85. The depressed lever 212 is latched down by a hook 223 which is removed by a pin 225 to release the lever 212 early in the cycle following the total cycle, so that shafts 128, 127 are returned to normal by spring action. When the total is negative, in the first of the two consecutive total-taking cycles a cam 226, Fig. 10 (not shown), on the shaft 160 raises a link 231, Fig. 3, which, through linkage 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 217 depresses the link 216 to break the connection 221, 222 so that the back total shaft 127 is rocked but not the front total shaft 128. Hence the shaft 128, Fig. 7, does not move the plate 54 which remains in the intermediate position shown (neither pin 115, 116 engages notches 113, 114) and the grand total wheels 47 remain out of mesh with their actuators 36. The rocked back total shaft 127 releases the nought-stops 35 and a shaft 99 has been previously rocked, so that negative wheels 87 engage the sectors 85. The latter move out until stopped by the wheels reaching zero and the sectors 44 are thus set through links 84 to position the type 45 for the true negative total-printing. To restore the negative total to the wheels 87, the shaft 233, Fig. 4, rocked as above-described by the link 231 is used to prevent further rocking of the shaft 99 so that the negative wheels 87 remain meshed with the sectors 85 on the return stroke of the latter. To cause the second total-taking cycle, a cam 243, Fig. 10 (not shown), on the auxiliary shaft 160 actuates linkage 247, 248, Fig. 3, to rock a shaft 249 (equal to shaft 147 in Fig. 2 of Specification 371,849) which in the normal operation of the tabulator produces the second operation of the total shaft required when a grand total-taking follows a sub-group total operation. In the present instance, rocking of shaft 249 is used to initiate the second of the two consecutive total-taking cycles, through linkage 250, 251, 252 ; shaft 252 rocking a latch (corresponding to latch 202 in Specification 371,849) into the path of the total-testing bar 192 (not shown) of the designation pin-box, whereby obstruction of this bar 192 causes the total shaft 191, Fig. 3, to make a second revolution. At the end of the first total-taking cycle the negative wheels 87 still mesh with their sectors 85 and during the first half of the following cycle their wheels are unmeshed. Also during this latter cycle, a cam 265, Fig. 10 (not shown) on the auxiliary shaft 160, Fig. 3, causes the positive wheels 86 to mesh with their sectors 85 before the latter move outwards, as follows. With the total negative, the lever 173, 180, Figs. 7 and 5, is rocked clockwise as described above and a pin 278 on arm 180 rocks a latch 277 to release a plate 272. The latter is still, however, held by a pin 279 on a link 280 until subsequently the cam 265 causes this link to move to release the plate 272. The latter is thereupon rocked clockwise about pivot 273 by a spring 275 and, through linkage 270, 269, 267, 266, pulls the stop member 170 into positive position and, also, through link 333, rocks the abutment member 89 into positive position. The positive wheels 86 are thus meshed with the sectors to transmit the complement of the negative total to the grand total wheels 47 in the second total-taking cycle which is the third machine cycle following the first total-taking cycle. Means are provided for adding the " fugitive one," Fig. 14 (not shown). To prevent printing of the complement of the negative total, a cam 294 on the auxiliary shaft 160, Fig. 3, controls the following mechanism. A non-print shutter 295, Fig. 18 (not shown). is carried on a non-print shaft 295a, Fig. 4, which is pulled by spring 296 to non-print position. Levers 299 and 300 pivoted at 298 are connected by a spring 301 and a lug 302 on lever 300 coacts with a manual plunger (not shown) whereby at the will of the operator the lever 300 may be in the non-print position shown or may be moved to the left to permit printing. For the non-print position shown, at total-taking, the link 216 is moved left and a lug 303 on it meets a pin 304 on lever 300 to move the latter to the left, whereby lever 299 moves to the right to permit printing. To prevent the latter action when the complement of the negative total would be printed the cam 294 actuates linkage 306, 307, 308, 309, 310 to raise a cam plate 311 of which the cam face 312 meets a pin 313 on the lever 299 to rock the latter counter-clockwise. Spring 296 thereby rocks shaft 295a and its shutter to non-print position. Action of link 216 on arm 300 thereby merely stretches spring 301. When the above total is negative, a further cam 328, Fig. 10 (not shown), on the auxiliary shaft 160 delays the grand total cycle to permit the above-described second total-taking cycle. Specification 26896/13, [Class 106 (i)], also is referred to. Specification 271,935, [Class 106 (i)], is referred to in the Provisional Specification.