Patent GB-607622-A (GB)
Abstract: 607,622. Calculating-apparatus. BROIDO, D. Feb. 1, 1946, No. 3301. [Class 106 (i)] A calculating machine providing for non-uniform and decimal factors comprises stored representations of products of all digits of all denominations of the first factor multiplied, respectively, by all digits of all denominations of the second factor, a first set-up mechanism for selecting for operation representations corresponding to the desired denominations of the first factor, a second set-up mechanism for selecting representations corresponding to the desired digit of the second factor, a third set-up mechanism for selecting representations corresponding to the desired denomination of the second factor, means for sensing the selected representations, a totalizing register, means for entering the sensed values additively or subtractively into the register, and operating means for actuating the sensing means and the value-entering means once during multiplication or division by any set-up digit of the second factor. The embodiment described provides for multiplication of Sterling multiplicands by decimal multipliers and vice-versa, multiplication of two decimal factors, division of Sterling dividends by Sterling or decimal divisors, and of decimal dividends by decimal divisors. The machine contains representations of the partial products in the form of perforations 96, Fig. 8, in plates 20 stored in groups (Figs. 1A, 1B), D (pence), D10-1 (1/10 pence), S1 (shillings), L1 (pounds), L10 (tens of pounds) &c. supported on the movable carriage 4 of the machine. The Specification includes a complete set of tables of these partial products. Each group of plates is controlled by a separate setting disc 1, through a linkage (e.g. 17, 21, 23) which moves the group of plates laterally so that the plate corresponding with the value of the digit set up and indicated on a strip 13 is in register with a coupling plate 78 which has dependent lugs shaped to fit loosely in recesses 77, Fig. 8, in the selected plate 20. The second factor is entered, one digit at a time, by setting a disc 112, Fig. 14A, located. in the fixed portion of the machine. A link 111, Fig. 14B, connects the disc 112 with a stepped cam 109 and positions the latter according to the value of the set-up digit. The stepped cam determines the degree of upward movement of a lever 105 urged by a spring 107, a lug 108 on the lever engaging the selected step in the cam 109. The lever 105 lifts a framework 102 which carries with it the coupling plates 78 each together with its selected plate 20, the plates thus being lifted by an amount which brings the strip of perforated representations corresponding with the set-up digit of the second factor opposite a row of sensing devices 97, Fig. 10, suspended from shafts 122 which are fixed relative to the machine. The sensing devices 97 are arranged in groups of four, each member of a group terminating in a narrow projecting pin for entering perforations in the plate ; the four pins of a group are arranged in a vertical column. There is such a column for each denomination, see dots 97, Fig. 9, except the tens of shillings where one sensing pin 97a is arranged slightly higher than the top pins of the other denominations. The spacings between the pounds denominations are equal, but different spacings of the shillings and pence provide for the sensing of different columns of perforations by pounds, shillings and pence sensing devices, respectively, as the carriage moves step-bystep a distance equivalent to that between adjacent pounds denominations. In certain cases where selected groups of perforations are not to be used in a computation locking devices 98 travelling with the carriage prevent operation of the sensing mechanism at these positions. The value represented by each perforation according to its columnwise position is shown in Fig. 8. The sensing device 97, Fig. 10, for each of these positions co-operates with a vertical slide 26 whose upper end 129, Fig. 11, comprises a rectangular block having two parallel horizontal bores, the upper one containing a number of standard transmission discs 144 corresponding with the value of the associated sensing device (i.e. 1, 2 or 6) and the lower bore 145 being, normally, empty. The slides 126 are urged downwardly by springs 128 but are only released for movement when a plate 130 is lowered. Members 97 whose sensing pins have not entered perforations in the selected plates 20 block the downward movement of their associated slides 126 by the engagement of a lug 131 on the member 97 with a leg 141 of the slide. Where a sensing pin has entered a perforation, however, the lug 131 is moved clear and the slide 126 moves downward bringing its elements 144 in the upper bore of its block 129 into alignment with the lower bores 145 of the blocked slides 126. A plunger 146, Fig. 10 and 1B is now moved into the aligned lower bores, pushing together all the transmission units 144 which have been lowered and whose total thickness is proportional to the sum of the digits they represent, and thus moving a hooked differential slide 150, Fig. 1A, an amount also proportional to the sum of the digits. At the end of this movement the displaced transmission units have been completely pushed out of the lower bore into a lift block 149 which is then restored to its upper position, carrying the transmission elements upwards into alignment with the upper bores of the blocks 129 which have also been restored. By its return movement, the hooked slide 150 pushes the elements 144 along the upper bore, completely re-filling it again. The totalizer comprises numeral wheels 173, Fig. 1A, with adjacent pinions 177 mounted in a framework 175, Fig. 14A, which is supported at each side by pivots 239 mounted on two eccentrics 240. The eccentrics are pivoted to the machine structure by pins 241 which each carry a pinion 242 in mesh with a gear-wheel 243. Movement of a control lever 250 which connects the gear-wheels 243 at each side, rotates the eccentrics 240 and so rocks the totalizer framework 175 to bring the totalizer pinions 177, Fig. 1A, into mesh with pinions 170 or 171, according to the direction of movement of the lever, thus providing for additive or subtractive entry into the totalizer. During the first part of the operating cycle of the machine a lever 245, Fig. 14A, pushes a lug 244 into a cam slot in the gear-wheel 243 and, whatever the setting of the lever 250, the gear-wheel 243 is turned sufficiently to disengage the totalizer from both actuator pinions, but, upon the return of the lever 246, a spring 252 re-engages the pinions in their previously set position in preparation for entry of the amount represented by the displacement of the differential slide 150, Fig. 1A. A rack 155, Fig. 1A, attached to the slide is in mesh with a pinion 156 whose pivot is fixed to a rack 157 geared to the wheels 170, 171 through pinions 162, 167, 168. The pinion 156 is also in mesh with a transfer rack 160 and, if this is stationary, the displacement of the slide 150 rolls the pinion 156 along the rack 160 and so drives the totalizer. The transfer mechanism comprises a onetooth pinion 178, Fig. 1A, on each numeral wheel 173 which co-operates with lugs 179 on a spring-urged lever 180 which carries a double escapement pawl 184 co-operating with two series of ratchet teeth on the upper edge of the rack 160. Rocking of the lever 180 by the pinion 178 allows the spring-urged rack 160 to escape and, by rolling of the pinion 156 on the rack the appropriate digit is transferred to the next higher denomination. For stepping the carriage along a lever 86, Fig. 1A, is depressed and this rocks a double escapement pawl 83 co-operating with a rack 84, allowing the spring-urged carriage to move a distance equivalent to one denomination of the second factor. The carriage may be restored by turning a handle 88 on a shaft 89 carrying a pinion 90 in mesh with a second rack 91. A register 188 of known type may be provided for the second factor and may cooperate with a pointer 189 on the carriage. A. clearing lever 94 for the setting discs 1, when lifted up, rotates the shaft 2 so that lugs 93 fixed to the shaft pick up their associated discs 1 and restore them to zero position. The Provisional Specification discloses a different embodiment of the invention in which the representations of the partial products are arranged as notches of varying depth in plates supported by bails rockable around a shaft. The arrangement is such that in order to multiply, say, 3d X 9 the pence denominational set of plates is rotated around a supporting shaft three large steps to select the 3d digital group, and then nine small steps to select the 3dÎ9 notched plate. The sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of racks associated with each wheel of the totalizer and interconnected by differential gearing. Specifications 566,942, 575,324, 577,330 and 607,674 are referred to.