Patent GB-523064-A (GB)
Abstract: 523,064. Calculating-apparatus. BURROUGHS ADDING MACHINE CO. Dec. 23, 1938, No. 37442. Convention date, Dec. 24, 1937. [Class 106 (i)] A calculating-machine is provided with a control mechanism whereby, upon setting up an item in the setting means, the operator will be notified whether said item, if entered into the totalizer, will produce in the totalizer a balance of undesired kind, such as an overdraft. The invention is shown applied to a Burroughs machine with an add and subtract totalizer controlled as described in Specification 274,411, [Class 106 (i)], and with a set of adding registers as described in Specification 285,885, [Class 106 (i)]. An amount key 10, Figs. 1 and 2, when depressed rocks its bell crank 11 to set an index wire 12 to control the movement of the actuator 13. Each bell crank 11 is provided with a stud 51 working in a slot 50 in a slide 52 and so disposed that the slide 52 is displaced a distance complementary to the value of the key depressed. Each slide is supported at its forward end on a shaft 53 and has a stud 54 engaging a slotted member 55 pivoted on the shaft 53 and formed with a lower arm 58 embracing a stud 59 on a rack 60 guided in a pair of partition plates 63. The forward movement of the rack 60 is imparted to a pinion 64 on a stud 65 guided in the plates 63. The pinion 64 is also in mesh with a lower rack 70 slidable in the plate 63 and having a stud 73 embracing the end of a lever 74 pivoted on a shaft 75 and carrying a sensing finger or feeler 80 adapted to co-operate with a stepped cam 82 on the corresponding adding pinion 30 of the add-subtract totalizer 30, 31. A spring 76 holds the lever 74 against a limit stud 77 on an arm 78 secured to the shaft 75. When the feelers 80 are caused to move the racks 70 move forward so that both sets of racks tend to move the pinions 64 forward. The arrangement is such that, in any given denomination, if the value of the depressed key exceeds the value standing on the corresponding totalizer wheel 30, the pinion 64 will be moved forward beyond a " neutral " position. To utilize this movement an arm 90 of a bell crank bears against the axle 65 of the pinion 64 and is adapted to follow the movement of the pinion until the axle passes more than one step beyond the "neutral" position, the arm being arrested by a fixed stud 94. The other arm 95 of the bell crank carries two studs 96, 97 engaging a slot in an arm 100 on the pivot of the bell crank. Each arm 100 has a lateral extension 101 which overlaps the extension on the arm of the next higher denomination. The extension on the arm 100 of the highest denomination overlaps an extension 102 of a lever 103. Whenever the pinion 64 of the highest denomination moves beyond " neutral" position the arm 100 will operate to rock the lever 103 to effect the control of part of the machine and to notify the operator. The overlapping extensions are so arranged that the lever 103 is rocked only when a pinion 64 is moved beyond the " neutral" position and all pinions 64 of the higher denominations are in or moved to their " neutral " positions. During an operating cycle while the totalizer pinions are rotating the feelers 80 are held inactive by rocking the shaft 75, carrying the arms with the limit studs 77, by means of an arm 117, Fig. 3. and lever 110 with a cam surface 112 operated by a roller 113 on a lever 114 on the main shaft 800. As the means described is for the purpose of predicting an overdraft occurring, the lever 110 is held in position to maintain the feelers inactive during adding operations by means of a latch 124 engaging a stud 125 on the lever 110. The latch 124 is yieldingly connected by links 120, 121 to the subtract lever 32 and is operated to free the lever 110 when the subtract lever is moved to subtract position. The latch 124 may be controlled automatically by the provision of a link 126 connected to the subtract lever and co-operating with the paper carriage as described in Specification 274,411. To adjust the position of the feelers 80 when the totalizer is tumbled from the add to subtract position the stud 132, Fig. 4, that engages the cam slot of the tumbling lever 130, is embraced by the end of an arm 140 operatively connected to a shaft 144 having arms 145, carrying a bail 146 with cam members 147 each engaging a stud 148 on its feeler. Control of machine parts. The movement of the lever 103, by the predicting means above described, operates, through a link 150 and shaft 152 with arms 151, 153 to displace a slide 155. The slide 155 has upturned ends 157, 160 which in the normal position permit depression of the motor operation control key 28 and bar 21 but prevent depression of control key 29. The movement of the slide 155 to the right holds the key 28 against depression and notifies the operator. If for some reason the entry is to be made the bar 21 or control key 29 can be depressed to initiate an operation and the negative total can be taken in the usual manner. Instead of or in addition to the selective locking of the control keys 28. 29, the slide 155 may operate contacts to give a visible or audible signal or open the circuit of the operating motor or may control a relay to govern other parts, of the machines. A form of control -for the printing mechanism is shown in Fig. 17. The actuators have shoulders 211 engaging hooks 210 secured to a shaft 212 and an additional idle rack 13a is provided at the right hand side of the machine with its upper end supporting an arm 214 secured to the shaft 212. In the normal operation when the bail. 215 moves the rack 13a falls to release the arm 214 and the shaft 212 rocks the hooks 210 to free the actuators. If, however, the slide 155 has been displaced its upturned end 157 underlies an arm 216 also fixed on the shaft 212 to prevent movement of any of the actuators when the bail 215 is moved so that the printing mechanism is inoperative and the totalizer is in non-add condition. A control for the front-feed paper throat is shown in Fig. 19. In a known form a power-operated slide 220, normally held by a latch 223, acts when freed to raise a bail 222 to throw back the platen. The latch may be controlled by a key or automatically by the carriage and a further control is provided by the slide 155 operated by the predicting mechanism to close the circuit of an electromagnet 224 the core of which operates to release the latch. A control for the lower totalizer selection is shown in Fig. 15. If the item set up, which produces an overdraft, is to be entered the operating control key 29 is depressed and through a slide 231 on the slide 155, which has been displaced, operates a linkage 235, 238 and an arm 240 to rock a member 230 to select one of the totalizers 33 in known manner. A control of column printing is shown in Figs. 15 and 16. The operation of the linkage 235, 238 on depression of the key 29 rocks an arm. 260 operatively connected with a bell crank 262 which co-operates with a stud on a tabulating pawl 254 to move it to ineffective position thereby preventing the pawl. 254 engaging the column stop 251 when a slide 253 is reciprocated during a machine operation so that the stop remains in engagement with an abutment 252 and ensures the item being printed without a change of column position. If, however, the item is to be printed in a special column the slide 155 closes the circuit of an electromagnet 270, Fig. 18, and its core is moved upwardly which, through a pass-by pawl, rocks a yoke 277 and arm 279. The arm 279 engages a bail 281 to rock the shaft 250 to free the column stop for tabulating movement of the carriage. A control of carriage return mechanism is shown in Fig. 20. When the slide 155 is displaced an electromagnet 290 is energized to lower a slide 293 which, by means of a lever 297 pivoted thereon, rocks a latch 301 to release a lever 302. Clockwise movement of the lever 302 through a bifurcated member 306 rocks a lever 308 to set the known carriage return mechanism into operation. These controls may be used separately or in any combination.