Patent GB-663915-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to a multiplying apparatus
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1947-12-18
Abstract: 663,915. Calculating apparatus ; statistical apparatus. ADDRESSOGRAPH-MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION. Dec. 18, 1947 [Nov. 4, 1944], No. 33437/47 Class 106 (i). A multiplying apparatus comprises a member positionable to represent selectively one of the digits of the multiplicand, representing devices respectively allocated to digits that may appear in an order of the multiplier and arranged to be selectively set to represent the digit in that order of the multiplier and when set to be spaced from the selected position of the positionable member by an amount indicative of the product of the two represented digits. In the Specification many of the reference numerals are accompanied by letters to indicate the denominations to which the parts relate : this practice is followed below. In the embodiment described a three-digit multiplier is represented on a perforated card 53, Fig. 3, carried by the addressograph frame plate D which also carries an embossed printing plate 51 and an index card 52. The frame plates D are contained in a magazine H, Fig. 2, and are fed one by one, as described later, along a guideway G formed by rails 54, 55, Fig. 3, to a sensing position SP in which the number represented on the card is read and then to a printing position above the anvil A in which the product obtained by multiplying as described later the multiplier and a multiplicand is printed on a sheet S, Fig. 1. Reciprocally mounted in rabbets formed in the rails 54, 55 are carrier bars 56, 57, Fig. 3, in the upper surface of which are three pairs of depressible pawls 58 by which the frame plates D are advanced along the guideway G to the sensing position, the printing position and then to a discharge shoot 59, Fig. 1, from which the plates D pass to a drawer 60. The reciprocating movement of the bars 56, 57 is effected upon rotation of the main drive shaft 70 through a crank arm 69, and a bell crank 66 the arm 65 of which has a yoke 64 which embraces a rod 63 extending between brackets secured to the bars 56, 57. Printing. Sheets S to be printed are advanced by rollers 76 through a guideway SG, Fig. 1, to the printing position above the anvil A and the inking ribbons IR. Upon rotation of the main drive shaft 70 a rocking motion is imparted to a shaft 72, Fig. 1, in known manner whereupon the arm 71 carried thereby is rocked and the printing faces 73 of the platen PL strike the printing plate 51, of the frame plate D then at the printing position, the adjacent type faces on the type segments TS, which are set in accordance with the product as described later, the appropriate type characters of the numbering device N, Fig. 3, the dating device DD, and the signature plate SP. The frame plates D are aligned in the sensing and printing positions by the engagement of notches 77 in the plates by spring pressed pawls supported from the rail 55. Sensing mechanism.- Secured to the outer faces of the rails 54, 55, Fig. 7, at the sensing position are guide bearings 80, 81 which support plungers 82, 83 which carry a sensing block 84 urged upwardly by springs 821, 831. The block 84 supports three rows of spring loaded sensing pins 87. A block 91 is secured to and extends between the rails 54, 55 below the block 84 and has three rows, (units, tens and hundreds) of ten openings 92 in which push pins 93 are mounted. The push pins 93 pass through openings 94 in a guide plate 95 and each of them is connected to a Bowden cable 96. The lower ends of the plungers 82, 83 are connected by links 100, 101, Figs. 6 and 7, to a shaft 102 which is journalled in and extends beyond the rails 54, 55. The shaft 102 rockingly supports an arm 103 having a lug 104 which extends over the link 100 and is urged by a spring 105 into engagement therewith. The arm 103 carries an inclined pad 108, Figs. 2 and 6, which lies in the path of movement of a rotatable roller 109 depending from a bracket 61 carried by the bar 56. The arrangement is such that during the return stroke of the bars 56, 57 the roller 109 rides over the upper surface of the pad 108 so rocking the arm 103 clockwise, Fig. 2, whereupon the lug 104 moves the link 100 downwardly thereby depressing the sensing block 84 so that the sensing pins 87 which pass through perforations in the card 53 engage corresponding push pins 93 to transmit movement to the corresponding Bowden cables 96. There are three sets of Bowden cables representing units, tens and hundreds and the ends of these remote from the pins 93 are connected to corresponding pins 121, Figs. 10 and 15, which extend through slots in the side plate 110 and form the means whereby the multiplier is entered into the multiplying mechanism. Multiplying mechanism. The multiplying mechanism is of the type in which partial products are effected and then these products are summed to give the complete product. The partial products are obtained by the use of individual units, Figs. 26 and 28, which comprise a plate 125 having an arcuate flange 126 with a series of ten holes 128 by means of which a bar 130 pivoted to the plate at 140 may be differentially positioned to represent a multiplicand digit. Two pairs of three blocks 142, 143, 145 and 149, 150, 151 are secured to the back of the plate 125 at opposite ends thereof. Ten pins 146-0-146-9 pass through the plate 125 and respective blocks 142, 143, 144 and co-operate with the corresponding pins 121, Fig. 15, as described later. The pins 146. are frictionally gripped by a spring 148 in a groove 147 formed in the inner faces of the blocks 142, 143, 144. Each of the pins 146 is coaxial with a corresponding pin of a further row of ten stop pins which are carried by a member, not shown in Figs. 26, 28, adjacent each plate 125 and one of which is therefore " set " to represent a digit in the multiplier and when so set projects into the path of the bar 130. The arrangement is such that horizontal movement of the member carrying the stop pins relative to the plate 125 will be arrested when the stop pin which has been set to represent a multiplier digit abuts the edge 165 of the rod 130 the position of which represents a multiplicand digit and the amount of such relative movement will be representative of the product of such digits. In the present example in which a three digit multiplicand may be multiplied by a three digit multiplier nine units 125 are provided, Figs. 15, 23 and 35 each of which corresponds to a partial product and each of which has two pairs of rollers 159, 160 and 161, 162, Fig. 26, by means of which it can move horizontally along associated guide rails UR, LR. The units 125 are arranged in transverse rows, Fig. 15, in accordance with the denominations of the multiplier and in longitudinal stepped rows in accordance with the partial product to which they relate. The plate 125 FUXYU, Figs. 15 and 17, deals with the product of multiplicand and multiplier "unit" digits and therefore relates to the "units" order of the final product. This plate 125 is normally stationary and is positioned nearest the wall 110 and co-operates with a head 173-U of a longitudinally movable member 166-U, Figs. 15, 17, 23 and 35. The head 173-U carries the stop pins (mentioned above) 184 which are aligned with corresponding pins 146 on the plate 125FUXVU. In operation the bar 130 is set to represent the units digit of the multiplicand and a pin 184 is set, through a movement of the corresponding pin 121-U, Fig. 10 and 15, by the operation of the sensing means as described above, to represent the units digit of the multiplier. The associated member 166-U is then moved rearwardly, as described later, until arrested when the set pin 184 abuts the bar 130. The movement of the member 166-U is representative of the partial product to which the plate 125FUXVU relates. The member 166 is guided during its rearward movement along rails UR-S-U and LR-S-U along which run rollers 174, 175, Figs. 17 and 23, carried by the head 173-U. A roller 168 carried by a vertical plate 171, Fig. 17, engages a slot 167 in the member 166-U also for guiding purposes. The next row of members 125, Figs. 15 and 18, relates to the " tens order " of the final product and therefore contains two plates 125, Figs. 23 and 35. These plates are longitudinally movable on upper and lower guide rails. The bars 130 are adjusted to represent the tens and units digits of the multiplicand. The first plate 125 (nearest the left, Figs. 15 and 18) has at its rear end a row of ten stop pins 153 each of which is coaxial with a corresponding pin 146 of the second plate 125 and of the plate 125 of the first row and consequently one of those pins 153 is moved, i.e. is set by inward movement of a pin 121 related to the units row of sensing pins 87. The first plate 125 in this row co-operates with the head 173-T of a member 166-T in the same way as the above described cooperation of the head 173-U and the plate 125FUXVU so that upon rearward movement of the member 166-T the pin 184 of the head 173-T which is set to represent the " tens " digit of the multiplier abuts the associated bar 130 whereupon the first plate 125 is moved rearwardly with the member 166-T until its set stop pin 153 abuts the bar 130 of the second plate 125 in this row. The rearward movement of the member 166-T is therefore representative of the sum of the partial products to which the plates 125 of this row relate. The partial products represented by the plates 125 and associated head 173 of the other rows are summed in the same way by rearward movement of members 166-H, 166-TH, 166-TT, and an additional member 166-HT is provided to account for transfers from the " ten thousands order " of the product. The members 166 are urged rearwardly by springs which extend from the sensing heads 173 and the rear wall 177, Fig. 15, but are normally held stationary by the engagement of toe portions 191, Figs. 17 and 18, with a bail 192 which is reciprocated during a machine c