Patent GB-781398-A (GB)
Abstract: 781,398. Calculating-apparatus; transfer mechanism. MONROE CALCULATING MACHINE CO. Aug. 15, 1955 [Dec. 2, 1954], No. 23424/55. Class 106 (1). Apparatus, for detecting the sigr of an amount registered in the totalizer of a calculating-machine having tens transfer mechanism o: the crawl type, comprises member; adapted to be controlled by the several orders of the totalizer respec tively and which are periodically re ciprocated so as to be adjusted by the totalizer or to which a mechani cal impulse is periodically applied the members being able to transmit movement to an overdraft registering member. The apparatus may be incorporated in an adding- machine having a pulsating tens transfer mechanism as described below and able to subtract by engaging the totalizer with its actuators during their forward stroke instead of during their return stroke, or in a multiplying and dividing machine having a constant-speed tens transfer mechanism for a totalizer of which each wheel is constantly driven in one direction or the other at a rate depending on the corresponding set digit. In the latter case, the overdraft signal may be used during division by repeated subtraction to cause an add-back cycle and a denominational shift of the totalizer in knownmanner. Tens transfer mechanism. In the adding- machine, each actuator drives a gear 1, Figs. 2 and 3, rotatable on a hub 3 and having nine teeth for co-operation with ten internal teeth formed in a corresponding registering wheel 9 secured to a sleeve 7 by which it is rotatable on an eccentric 3a integral with the hub 3. The sleeve 7 has a finger 7a by which it is coupled to a plate 11 secured to the hub of the next higher order. Thus, as a registering wheel 9 rotates, the eccentric 3a of the next higher order is correspondingly rotated to advance the registering wheel 9 of that order by approximately one-tenth of the rotation of the lower order, this movement being added to any movement derived simultaneously from the associated gear 1. The arrangement is such as to produce a pulsating transfer movement which varies in speed, for a given speed of rotation of the lower order wheel, according to the registering position of that wheel. Overdraft indicating. In the case of the adding - machine with a pulsating transfer mechanism each plate 11 which rotates with a totalizer registering wheel 9 is formed with a low " positive " surface 11b, a high negative " surface 11c, and an intermediate zero " surface 11d. A corresponding feeler 15 is thus permitted a large, an insignificant or a small movement, when urged towards the plate, according to the registering position of the corresponding registering wheel 9. The feelers 15, Fig. 7, are mounted for sliding and rocking movement against springs in a frame 16 which is reciprocated to cause the feelers 15 to sense the plates 11, by a linkage, Fig. 1 (not shown), actuated by a mainshaft cam at the end of each cycle. The linkage may be rendered effective or ineffective under the control of coupled " on " and " off " control keys. Each feeler is so guided in the plate 16 that on sensing the high " negative " surface of its plate, it is cammed counterclockwise (see right-most feeler 15, Fig. 7) and similarly rocks the next higher order feeler. If a feeler senses the " zero " surface, it is not itself cammed counter-clockwise, but is capable of transmitting such movement from a lower order, but if the " positive " surface is sensed (see third feeler 15 from the left) the feeler is so positioned that it will not transmit any rocking movement it receives to the next higher order. The leftmost feeler is associated with an overflow order of the totalizer and co-operates with an indicating arm 18 through a coupling arm 17. If, say, - 1 is registered, the lowest order (rightmost) feeler will be rocked and such movement will be transmitted through the higher orders, which register approximately 0, to the arm 18 which will thus indicate a negative total. If, say, - 5 is registered, the lowest order feeler will sense the " positive " surface, but the next higher order will be registering - 0.5 approximately and so its feeler will be rocked to operate the arm 18. If, on the other hand, +9 is registered, the lowest order feeler will be rocked by engagement with the " negative " surface of the corresponding plate 11 but the next higher order will be registering +0.9 and so its feeler, sensing the " positive " surface, will not transmit the movement. The arm 18 may be engaged in its " negative " position by a latch formed with a key 35a which may be depressed to release the arm. In the case of the multiplying-machine, the apparatus is similar but to allow the totalizer wheels to be driven during the sensing operation, each control plate 40, Fig. 4, is driven by its number wheel 42 through a spring 47. Due to the fact that the transfer movement occurs at a constant rate, the arrangement of the " positive " and " negative " surfaces 40b, 40c, is slightly different and more critical. In a modification, the feelers 15 are constantly positioned by the totalizer wheels and a mechanical pulse is applied at the end of each cycle to the highest order. The pulse is transmitted by feelers in " zero position but not by a feeler in " positive position. A feeler in " negative " position is actuated by the pulse to operate an indicating member common to all of the feelers. Specifications 389,630, 406,152, 450,599 and 472,456 are referred to.