Patent GB-514181-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating machines
Filed: 1938-04-28
Abstract: 514,181. Calculating-machines. FREEBORN, F. V., and BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO.. Ltd. April 28, 1938, No. 12765. [Class 106 (i)] In a calculating-machine an amount to be rounded off (e.g., ú47 12s. 7d. to be rounded off to the nearest ú above) is entered into an amount register (counter 3, Fig. 1), an adjustment figure (e.g., ú 1) is entered into a figure register (counter 1), and differencing means (counter 2) automatically obtain the difference between a lower portion (12s. 7d.) of the amount and the adjustment figure; adding means then automatically add this difference to the said lower portion, but means controlled by the amount register prevent operation of the adding means when the said lower portion is zero. The adjustment figure may be a fraction of a denominational unitrounding off a number of hours and minutes to the nearest quarter hour above is described with reference to Fig. 3. The invention is set out as embodied in the record-card-controlled machine described in Specification 422,135. In the latter, however, fine total-taking cycles (including the reset cycle) are employed. In the present instance a maximum of ten total-taking cycles is used and resetting may occur during one or more of these ten cycles. The machine is arranged for major, intermediate, and minor group controlcontacts Ma, I, and Mi, respectively, in Fig. 2. Two cycles occur at a major group change and seven at a minor group change. The counters are of the normal Hollerith type controlled by a magnet CT, Fig. 1, for each denomination, but the counter wheels are arranged to make each a revolution in the appropriate number ofsteps ; e.g., for hours and minutes (Fig. 3) the units of minutes wheel and the hour wheels rotate each once in ten steps, whereas the tens of minutes wheel rotates once in six steps. In the counters Nos. 1, 2 and 3, in Fig. 1, the lowest magnet CT is for units of minutes, the second for tens of minutes, and of the hour magnets only one, at the top, is shown. Associated with each counter is a reading-out device with the appropriate number of segments 12 or 12' for each denomination and brushes 10 geared to the counter wheels, together with contacts ID-4 and ID-5 which are reversed to read out complements in connection with emitters E10 and E6 for subtraction or zeroizing. Each counter coacts with multicontact relays acting as distributors 1D-0, 1D-2, 1D-3, 1D-4, 1D-5 for counter 1, distributors 2D-0, 2D-2 &c. for counter 2, and 3D-0 &c. for counter 3. The distributors 1D-0, 2D-0, 3D-0 when energized connect their appropriate counter sockets TS to the reading-out means of the same counter. Sockets TS are plug-connected to sockets R of other counters as desired. Distributors 1D-2, 2D-2, 3D-2 when energized connect sockets R of each counter to the adding magnets CT of the same counter. Thus in Fig. 1, if distributors 3D-0 and 2D-2 are energized, a circuit is completed from the reading-out device of counter 3 to the lower contacts 3D-0, sockets TS of counter 3, plug connections 20, sockets R of counter 2, upper contacts 2D-3, upper contacts 2D-2 and counter magnets CT of counter 2 so that the amount in counter 3 is added into counter 2. If distributors 3D-4 and 3D-5 were also energized, the amount in counter 3 would be subtracted from that in counter 2. To zeroize, say, counter 1 its distributors 1D-2, 1D-3, 1D-4, 1D-5 are energized so that the complement of the amount in the counter is added to the positive amount over lower contacts 1D-3 and upper contacts 1D-2. The printing magnets PR control printing mechanism of known kind and are arranged in Bank 2 and Bank 3 associated with distributors 2D-1 and 3D-1, respectively. Distributors DR-3, DR-4, DR-5 are plugged as shown by lines 21, 25, 26, 22 between the various sockets TS and R and to the reading-cut means of counter 3. The distributor DR-4 decides whether the amount in counter 3 is printed by Bank 2 or Bank 3. For a minor group change the contacts Mi change from the position shown ; for an immediate change the contact Mi and I change ; and for a major change the contacts Mi, I and Ma change. The machine has ten cycle relays C10-C1 (not shown) which are energised successively in the order relay C10, relay C9 &c. during the related cycles. Each relay closes a number of pairs of contacts and to energize, say, the distributor coil 1D-0 in a particular cycle at a minor group change, the socket 27 is plug connected to a pair of the contacts of the relay which is energized in that cycle. To energize distributor 1D-0 during a particular cycle for an intermediate or major group change the sockets 28 and 29 are similarly connected to the appropriate relay contacts. This socket and plugging arrangement is repeated for the distributor coil 1D-2, and relays IS and 1R. Relay 1S, 2S or 3S causes counter 1, 2 or 3, respectively,' to transmit an amount subtractively to another counter. Relay 1S, say, closes contacts 1S-a and 1S-b to energize distributor coils 1D-0, 1D-4, 1D-5. Relay 1R, 2R or 3R controls counter zeroizing by closing contacts 1R-a, 1R-b, 1R-c, 2R-a &c., 3R-a &c. to energize distributors 1D-2, 1D-3, 1D-4, 1D-5, 2D-2 &c., 3D-2 &c. On the right of Fig. 2 the contacts are referenced by adding the letter a, b or c to the reference of the cycle relay, e.g., contacts C6-c, C5-c, C4-c are closed by relays C6, C5, C4 in total-taking cycles number 6, 5 and 4, respectively. Rounding-off to a quarter-hour. Assuming it is desired to calculate the total number of hours worked by employees in a week and to round off each employee's total to the next higher quarterhour. The adjustment figure of 15 minutes is entered into counter 1 from the special first card of the run. Cards are prepared showing the time worked by each workman,on each job and these are arranged in minor groups, one for each workman, following the special card. The total time is accumulated on counter 3 and counter 2 is used for differencing. Lower brushes 35 are plugged to sockets BR of counter 1 and the machine is adjusted for major control. Two cycles occur during which 'the adjustment figure is entered positively into counter 1 (see also Fig. 3) and complementarily (coil 1S is energised) in counter 2. The machine is then adjusted for minor control only and lower brushes 36 are plugged to sockets BR of counter 3. The times from the first minor group are then read and entered into counter 3. A minor group change is detected and seven cycles occur. An employee's total of 48 hours 54 minutes is assumed, Fig. 3. During cycle 7 (the first cycle) the distributor coil 2D-2 is energized over circuit C7-a, Fig. 2, 40, 2D-2 to condition counter 2 to accept the lower portion (54 minutes) of the total in counter 3, since only the two lower denominations of counter 3 are connected by lines 20 to counter 2. Distributor 3D-0 is energized in the same cycle. Fifty-four minutes are thus added to the complement 999 44 (equivalent to subtracting 15 from 54) and with the fugitive one, counter 2 registers the figure 39. Cycle relay C7 also closes its contacts C7-c (foot of Fig. 2) to energize the distributor coil 2D-1. Relay DR-4, Fig. 1, is not energized in this cycle so that its contacts are as shown in Fig. 1, but upper contacts 2D-1 are closed. The printing magnets PR of Bank 2 are thus connected over lines 23 to the reading-cut means of counter 3 so that the total 48 hours 54 minutes is printed (see Fig. 3). During cycles 6, 5 and 4 relay 2D-2 is energized and relay 1S is energized; the latter's contacts 1S-a energize coil 1D-0 and contacts 1S-b energize distributors 1D-5 and 1D-4, so that the complement of the adjustment figure (15 minutes) in counter 1 is added to counter 2 over circuit 10, Fig. 1, 11, lower contacts 1D-0, 22, upper contacts 2D-3, upper contacts 2D-2, and CT. In cycle 4 the amount in counter 2 becomes negative (999 53). During cycle 3 the coils 2S, DR-3 and 3D-2, Fig.. 2, are energized. Contacts 2S-a and 2S-b then energize coils 2D-0, 2D-4 and 2D-5. The complement (06) of the amount now in counter 2 is thus added to counter 3 over circuit from the reading-out device of counter 2 to lower contacts 2D-0, Fig. 1, 21, right-hand contacts DR-3, 21, upper contacts 3D-3, upper contacts 3D-2 and CT. Counter 3 now shows the total 48 hours 54 minutes rounded off to the next quarter-hour above, i.e., 49 hours. In cycles 2 and 1 this rounded-off total is printed by Bank 3 by energizing the distributors 3D-1 and DR-4, counters 2 and 3 are zeroized and the complement (999 44) of the adjustment figure is entered into counter 2 ready for operation on the next minor group of workmen's cards. The mathematical steps in five other examples are illustrated, including one, Fig. 7 (not shown), in which a sterling total is rounded off to the nearest ú above. As soon as a negative difference (999 53 in cycle 4, Fig. 3) is reached in counter 2 further subtraction of the adjustment figure is suppressed by the opening of left-hand contracts DR-5, F:g. 1, as follows: Counter 2 has contacts 50, Fig. 2, which are closed as soon as the highest wheel of the counter shows "9." Coil 52 is thus energized and its contacts 52-a (top of Fig. 2) energize coil DR-5. If the total to be rounded off were an exact number of hours, Fig. 5 (not shown), a full quarter-hour would be added to give an incorrect result. This is prevented by the provision of coils TPD1 and TPD2, Fig. 1, which are in parallel with printing magnets PR and which, if the printing magnets for the minutes are not energized, are deenergized and open their contacts TPD1-a, TPD2-a, Fig. 2, to prevent energization of coil DR-3. Contacts DR-3 thus remain as shown in Fig. 1 and prevent the complement of the amount in counter 2 being transmitted to counter 3.