Improvements in Calculating Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1894-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Calculating Machines.
I, THOMAS RIGBYE GLOVER, of 31, Park Crescent, Clapham, London, S. W.,
Insurance Accountant, Author, and Patentee (10814-1891) do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Improvements and alterations in and upon an improved calculating apparatus,
for which Letters Patent were granted under Specifications No. 10814 A.D. 1891.
Such improvements are devised to effect the purpose (previously lacking,) of
converting the former apparatus into a self counting and self registering one, in
respect to the additions of the prepared products of multiplications.
In this, the later invention, the exact formation of the "multiplicand strips" used
in the former one will be retained, but the material used in their construction will
be changed, their size enlarged, and a mechanical substitution will take the place of
the "Arabic" numerals previously used for giving the products of multiplication of
various specified numerals.
In the improved machine the "multiplicand strips," as well as the two guide
blanks to be attached to a perfectly levelled steel bed-plate for keeping the
"multiplicand strips" in position, will be cast, cut, or shaped of gun metal or other
suitable material.
"
The central vertical line or place where the Arabic numerals giving multiples had
a position on the "multiplicand strips' of the previous invention, will on the
improved machine, have, what may be termed mechanical numbers substituted, that
is to say, nine teeth or cogs will be substituted for the figure 9, eight teeth or coga
for the figure 8, and so on with respect to the other figures or numerals.
When as formerly, eight, the maximum number of "multiplicand strips" are
fixed in their destined place on the bed of the new machine, sixteen straightly laid
tracks will present themselves, in the form of toothed or cogged racks, upon which
sixteen independent sets of counting wheels and recording discs can be made to
operate simultaneously as placed in a suitable carriage sliding between guides, up
and down the machine.
The mechanism for counting and recording the additions of the prepared
respective multiples as fixed in one carriage, will be uniformly alike throughout the
sixteen sets.
A spur wheel having such a number of teeth as may be most suitable will be
used. On this a comparatively large wheel will be placed, having such a number
of teeth as will form a multiple of ten. On the left side of this wheel near its
periphery, studs or pins will be placed as at every ten teeth that it may contain.
These studs or pins attached to the last, or what may be termed "middle" wheel,
will act upon the extreme points of a star wheel having sixteen points. Attached
to this star wheel, which may be termed the "tenths accumulator," and as forming
a part of it, there will be sixteen rotated steps, corresponding in depth to the pitch
of the teeth in the "multiplicand strips," cut as towards its axis. This star wheel
will have a lever pawl, cut to work either way, and long spring attachment. At
the top of the large "middle" wheel will be placed a ten pinion or wheel having
on its spindle as large a recording disc, as the size of the middle wheel will allow.
The numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 will be placed on the periphery of the disc.
The disc will have a ten point star wheel, double action lever pawl, and spring, or
other attachment calculated to prevent slip.
The carrier of the sixteen sets of counting mechanism will, as to its upper portion,

page_text: slide between guiding frames fixed to the bed of the machine, at one given exact.
distance above and over the machine bed.
The ever varying work destined to be performed by the sets of counters through
changes of multipliers necessitates a simultaneous up and down or vertical motion
being given to the lower section of the carrier. This motion will be obtained by the
lower one being provided with guides passing through the upper section along
with adjusted pressure springs as between the two, or by some other suitable
method.
In the improved machine, in place of the thirty-two "shutters" used in the
previous invention to represent respective multipliers, and expose requisite products
of multiplication to simple columnar additions, there will be thirty-two keys, fitted
with recoil springs, showing on their tops respective multipliers. These keys, set
in a row from top to bottom on the right hand side, will strike against and thrust
to the left corresponding bars passing across and under the bed of the machine.
On the top of the bed there will be two pieces of suitable metal, one on each side,
near to the guide frames, working through slot holes and fixed to the bars passing
underneath. These pieces of metal, prior to any multiplier keys being struck, will
present, except as to the rounded ends of each of the thirty-two sections, two
straight continuous lines of rails, as from top to bottom of the machine. On each
side of the lower section of the carriage, to act on these rails, will be placed two
upright adjusted bars, having pointed or minute roller ends, parallel to the axis of
all the spur wheels of the counting mechanism. Thus, wherever the continuity of
the lines is broken by the action of the multiplier keys, there only will the sets
of counters operate, as adding together the required products of multiplication, as
already prepared on the "multiplicand strips" of respective numerals.
At the foot of the improved machine an adjusted barrier will be fixed to its bed.
In this barrier at adjusted distances, what may be termed "tens transferrers "_will
be inserted, all being uniformly alike, to the whole number of fifteen. These
"tens transferrers" will take the form of a two pronged fork as in flat outline.
The shaft of the fork will pass right through a cylindrical receptacle containing an
adjusted spiral spring. The adjusted right prong will be set to meet as facing its
axis, the rotated step of the "tenths accumulator opposite to it. The adjusted
left prong will be rack cut, say, fifteen teeth to like pitch of "multiplicand strips."
As on this left prong the next spur wheel of the counting mechanism on the left
side will operate just so far, and no further, as the "tenths accumulator" acting on
the right prong will allow, the rest of the transferrer being pushed back spring
buffer-wise into its receptacle in the barrier.
"
"
The carrier as brought fully down against the barrier from its place at the top,
will as with one swoop, show through lunettes, the product of multiplication of any
given number of figures set upon the machine, as up to the maximum of eight places
in both multiplicands and multipliers.
The carrier as it impinges against the barrier, will be locked there, by ratchets
and pawls until released.
The necessary return journey of the carrier to the top, will by a reverse count,
put the figures on the discs, as seen through the lunettes at zeros, and the tenths
accumulators also.
•
A rack and pinion or other attachment will be used, to lessen or close up, the
full allotted space as between the guide sides provided to lay the "multiplicand
strips" in position. A bar attachment will also be provided for simultaneously
thrusting back all the bars previously displaced by the multiplier keys.
Dated thin 941 1000

page_text: Improvements in Calculating Machines.
I, THOMAS RIGBYE GLOVER, formerly of 31 Park Crescent Clapham, S.W.
but now of 77 Marchmont Street, Tavistock Square W.C. in the County of
London, Insurance Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
.
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated 25 June 1891
No. 10814, I have described a construction of calculating apparatus whereby the
product of a multiplicand and multiplier can be quickly and easily obtained by the
use of a series of multiplicand strips corresponding to the figures of a multiplicand
and each furnished with groups of figures corresponding to the products of the
index figure of the strip by the multipliers 7, 4, 2, 1, the number of such groups of
products and groups of multiples corresponding with the number of figures in the
highest multiplier the apparatus is designed to deal with, and the tens figures in
each group of products being under the unit figures of the group next above. In
conjunction with such multiplicand strips there was, used a slide provided with
shutters, one opposite each multiple 7, 4, 2, 1, in each group of such multiples, the
arrangement being such that by opening the shutter or shutters corresponding to
each figure in the multiplier, as for example, the two shutters opposite 7 and 2,
for 9, the two shutters opposite 7 and 1 for 8, the shutter opposite 7 for 7, the two
shutters opposite 2 and 4 for 6, the two shutters opposite 4 and 1 for 5, the shutter
opposite 4 for 4, the two shutters opposite 2 and 1 for 3, the shutter opposite
2 for 2, and the shutter opposite 1 for 1 in each group of multiples, and moving
the slide over the multiplicand strips, the figures representing the product of the
several figures in a given multiplier into the index figures of the multiplicand strips
corresponding to a given multiplicand, will be exposed to view in rows so that upon
then adding up the figures in the several rows, a total will be obtained equal to
the product of the given multiplier and multiplicand.
Now my present invention has for object to effect the adding up of the required
numbers of figures to obtain the product of any given multiplicand by any given
multiplier and the registering of such product by mechanical means so as to render
the apparatus self-counting and self-registering, thereby obviating the exercise of
any mental effort on the part of the operator to add up rows of figures.
For this purpose I use multiplicand strips of the peculiar form shown in my
said former Specification, but instead of impressing each of them with groups of
figures corresponding to the products of the index figure of the strip by the
multipliers 7, 4, 2, 1, I provide them with correspondingly arranged groups of
toothed racks, the number of teeth in each of which corresponds to the figure it
replaces, that is nine teeth for the figure 9, eight teeth for the figure 8, and so on,
the racks representing tens in one group of products being arranged below those
representing units in the next group of products above, and in conjunction with
such multiplicand strips there is employed counting and registering mechanism
adapted, when moved over the said strips, to be operated by those racks only that
correspond to products of the figures in the multiplier by the index figure of the
multiplicand strips so that such mechanism will add up and register the number of
teeth in the several rows of such racks.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed
to fully explain the same by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Figs. 1 and 14 show in plan, and Figs. 2 and 2 in side elevation, a calculating
machine constructed according to this invention, the machine being shown divided
transversely in order that it may be represented to a sufficiently large scale to enable
its construction to be clearly understood.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, partly in side elevation;

page_text: Fig. 4 a cross-section, partly in end elevation, and
Fig. 5 a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, showing the counting
mechanism and adjacent parts of the machine.
Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the counters detached.
Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view.
Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive are detail views hereinafter referred to.
a is a bed plate of suitable material, such as steel, having a flat upper surface
upon which are placed the removable multiplicand strips 6 which are held in place
laterally by two side guide blanks or strips c, c', and vertically by two end
strips dd. The multiplicand strips are made of suitable material such as gun
metal, and of the peculiar form shown so that they interlock with each other, and
the end ones with the strips c c. They are provided with an index figure at the
top to correspond with a figure in a multiplicand, and with eight groups of toothed
racks which may conveniently be of steel secured within grooves in the strip so
as to be replaceable when worn. In the example shown the machine is constructed
to hold eight multiplicand strips 6 with sixteen vertical rows of racks and is con-
sequently adapted to deal with a multiplicand containing eight figures. At the
side of the machine are thirty-two keys e in the form of levers arranged in a row
and corresponding to eight groups of multipliers 7, 4, 2, 1 which are marked on
the upper ends of the keys, the eight groups, which are distinguished from each
other by the large numerals 1 to 8 placed at the side of the machine and opposite
them, as shown, adapting the machine for dealing with a multiplier containing
eight figures. The racks 6' are arranged in a zig-zag or diagonal manner on each
multiplicand strip, as indicated more clearly in the enlarged diagrammatic view
Fig. 7, the numbers of teeth in the pair of racks opposite each multiplier 7, 4, 2, 1
being equal to the product of such multiple into the index figure at the top of the
multiplicand strip. Thus in the example shown in Fig. 7, in which the index
figure of the multiplicand strip is 8, the numbers of teeth in the pairs of racks
opposite each multiple 7, 4, 2, 1, in each group, are, 5, ; 3,; 1,; and 0, respectively,
corresponding to the products of 8 × 7 = 56; 8 x 4 = 32; 8 x 2 =
16, and
8 x 108, the racks representing the tens figures in one group of products.
being arranged below the racks representing the units figures of the group of
products above. The counting and registering mechanism comprises sixteen
independent sets of counting and registering wheels mounted in a carrier f. Each
set comprises (Figs. 3 to 6) a pinion g that is adapted to be put in gear with the
racks in the vertical row opposite which it is placed and always in gear with a
comparatively large wheel 9, the number of teeth in which is a multiple of 10.
In the example shown the wheel g¹ has 100 teeth and on its left hand side are
fixed, at equal distances apart, ten pins ✓ one for each ten teeth of the wheel g¹,
these pins being arranged to act upon the extreme points of a star wheel 9 having
sixteen teeth. Attached to or formed in one with this star wheel, which for
distinction is herein termed the "tens accumulator " are sixteen steps arranged
spirally so as to form a snail-wheel g* the depth of each step, in a radial direction,
corresponding to the pitch of the teeth 6' in the multiplicand strips b. The star
wheel 93 is provided with a lever pawl 9, one end of which is adapted to engage
the teeth of the said wheel whilst its other end is acted upon by a spring 9°, the
arrangement being such as to normally hold the star wheel stationary, but
nevertheless to permit of its being rotated in either direction by the pins g³ of the
wheel g', without slip. 9' is a pinion having ten teeth. It is in gear with the
toothed wheel g' and is fixed upon a spindle upon which is also fixed a registering
wheel g, shown in the form of a decagon upon the periphery of which are placed
the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. To this wheel which is arranged to revolve
behind a window f' in the front of the carrier f, is fixed a star wheel 9' having ten
teeth upon which acts a device such as a lever pawl go with spring g" for preventing
slip of the wheels g', gland g but permitting of the several wheels being driven
in either direction by the corresponding racks b¹.
The carrier fin which sixteen sets of counting and registering mechanism such

page_text: as described are arranged side by side as shown, is mounted to slide over the bed a
between guide frames a¹ fixed to the said bed a and parallel with each other.
Normally the carrier is supported at such a height above the bed, that the
pinions g will not gear with the racks 61. In order however that the pinions g may
be caused to gear with the racks b' corresponding to any given multipliers, it is
necessary that the carrier should be able to descend a short distance, at the
required places. For this purpose on the top of the bed a and opposite to the key
levers e, are placed two strips h of suitable metal, arranged one ou each side, of the
bed near to the guide frames a'. These strips are formed with extensions h¹ that
work through slots a' in the bed a (Figs. 4 and 8) and are fixed to a suitably
supported lower cross bar ³, one end of which is connected by a pin and slot
connection h³ to the corresponding key lever e. The strips 7, of which there are in
the example shown thirty-two pairs, one pair for each of the multipliers 7, 4, 2, 1 of
each group, form, when the key levers e are in their raised and normal position,
two straight continuous lines of rails extending, as shown in Figs. 1, 1ª, from
top to bottom of the machine, but which are capable of being displaced laterally
as shown in Fig. 8 by depressing the corresponding key lever e. On each side
of the carrier and connected thereto, are two upright vertical bars or support f³
provided at their lower ends with small antifriction rollers f* having their axes
arranged parallel to the axes of the various wheels in the counting and registering
mechanism, the said rollers * being adapted to run upon the rails formed by the
strips h, when these are in their normal positions Figs. 1 and 14 and support the
carrier with the pinions 9 out of gear with the racks b'. Where, however
the continuity of the lines of rails is broken by lateral displacement of one or more
pairs of strips h by the action of the corresponding key lever or levers e (Fig. 8)
the carrier will be free to descend sufficiently to enable the pinions g to gear
with the racks 6' and cause the counting mechanism to add together the required
products of multiplication already prepared on the multiplicand strips. For
supporting the carrier at this time, the upper end of each vertical support fis
provided with set screws that are arranged to come in. contact with the upper
side of a plate 4, through which the said supports extend, and limit the downward
movement of the carrier when the same ceases to be supported by a pair of strips h
below. The plate f which may be regarded as an upper section of the carrier f
is provided at its sides with upper, lower and lateral anti-friction rollers f" arranged
to work against the inner faces of guide-ways a' in the guide frames a¹ as shown in
the longitudinal sectional elevation Fig. 9 and end elevation Fig. 4, the lateral
rollers serving to prevent any lateral movement of the plate and of the carrier f
connected therewith. f are pins extending from the top of the said carrier and
passing through holes in the plate f, and fare springs encircling the said pins
and serving as buffers between the carrier and plate between which they are placed.
To the foot or front end of the machine is fixed a barrier or stop i carrying
fifteen devices each of which I term, since it acts to transfer the tens added up by
one counter to the next counter to the left, a "tens' transferrer." One of such
tens' transferrers is shown separately in side elevation and plan in Figs. 11 and 12
respectively. Each of them resembles in side view, (Fig. 11) a two pronged fork,
the prongs k k¹ of which are carried by a stem which extends into a cylindrical
receptacle containing an adjusted spiral spring * that acts against a shoulder or
piston on the said stem. The right prong k is set in the same vertical plane as
the snail wheel 9* and opposite the axis of the spindle of the tens accumulator 9³ of
one of the counters. The left prong is formed as a rack k having say fifteen
teeth of the same pitch as the teeth of the racks b' on the "multiplicand strips" b₂
and is arranged in the same vertical plane as the pinion g and toothed wheel g' of
the next counter to the left. The arrangement is such that as the carrier is
moved down from the top of the machine, which is arranged in an inclined position,
the several counters will add up the number of teeth in the several rows or columns
of racks with which the pinions gare allowed to come in contact, by the lateral
displacement of pairs of strips h, and as the carrier nears the end of its stroke, the

page_text: pinion 9 of each counter will engage the corresponding rack k of a tens' transferrer
and will be rotated thereby until the corresponding prong k comes in contact with
the snail wheel g' of the counter to the right, so that assuming the latter counter
has added up say 134, the pinion g, of the counter to the left will be turned through
thirteen teeth by its rack before the prong k will come in contact with the snail
wheel g' of the counter to the right, whereupon further rotation of the said pinion g
by its rack will.cease and the tens' tranferrer will be forced back idly against
the action of its spring k. Each tens' transferrer will act in the same manner to
transfer the tens of one counter to the units of the next one.
The carrier may be held in each of its extreme positions by spring stop a
(Figs. 1, 14, 9 & 10) arranged at the ends of the guide frames a' and each adapted
to automatically enter a hole f in the upper plate of the carrier f, the ends of
which are inclined to facilitate the entry of the stops into such holes.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
=
Assuming it is required to multiply 82374569 by 96543281, then multiplicand
strips bearing the respective index figures 8, 2, 3, 7, 4, 5, 6, 9, are secured on the
bed a of the machine, and the following multiple key levers e are depressed viz. 1 in
the first group; 7 & 1
8 in the 2nd group; 2 in the third group; 2 & 1 = 3 in
the fourth group; 4 in the fifth group; 4 & 15 in the sixth group; 4 & 2 =
in the seventh group; and 7 & 29 in the eighth group so as to displace laterally
the corresponding pairs of supporting strip h. These operations can be effected in
a rapid manner with very little practice.
= 6
The relative positions of the racks and the number of teeth in each of them that
will by this means be rendered effective for actuating the counters, is indicated by
the following table of figures.

page_text: Upon then moving the carrier f from its upper or initial position, in which all
the registering wheels 98 stand at zero, to the bottom or front end of the
machine, the counters will, at one stroke of the carrier, add up the rows of teeth.
representing the products of the several figures of the multiplier into the multi-
plicand and show the total product 7952711162220889 on the wheels through the
sixteen openings f¹ in the carrier. Upon returning the carrier to its initial.
position, the counters will be operated in the reverse direction so as to return the
registering wheels and tens accumulators g to the zero position, this return.
movement thus serving to check the product obtained by the first movement.
The machine is provided with eight complete sets of multiplicaud strips & with.
racks 6' corresponding to the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. To admit of ready
insertion in the machine and removal therefrom of such strips, one of the lateral
guide strips, viz. c', is made movable and is provided with screw threaded
extensions each of which passes through a slot at in the bed a as shown in cross
section in Fig. 13, and fits like a nut on a screw that is mounted to rotate but
The
not to move end ways, in bearing a on the underside of the bed plate a.
outer ends of the screws are provided with crank discs coupled together by a.
connecting rod l, so that all the screws will be operated simultaneously, to move
the strip laterally to fix or release the multiplicand strips b, by rotating one of
them. One of the holding down end strips, viz., d', is for a like purpose mounted
to be slidden horizontally to quickly fix or release the lower ends of the multiplicand
strips, the upper ends of which are simply slipped under the fixed end strip d.
Cams or eccentrics m fixed .upon a shaft m and arranged behind the key levers e,.
serve as a convenient means for returning all the depressed key levers e and
attached strips h, quickly and simultaneously to their original position by a partial
rotation of the said shaft.
The front end of the machine may be hinged at n to the box in which it is.
placed, and its rear end be provided with a curved rack o with which is geared
a pinion journalled in the said box and whereby the machine can be slightly
tilted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
-
1. A calculating machine having multiplicand strips constructed with racks the
teeth of which are so arranged that they will afford an indication of the product of
a multiplicand by a multiplier each strip being for this purpose provided with
groups of such racks, and having in the respective racks or pairs of racks.
in each group, teeth corresponding in number to the figures representing the
products of the index figure of the strip by a series of multipliers such as (for
example) 7, 4, 2, 1, and the racks representing tens in each group being arranged.
below those representing units in the group next above it, substantially as herein.
described.
2. In a calculating machine, the combination with a series of multiplicand strips
each provided with groups of toothed racks such as referred to in the preceding
claim, of counting and registering mechanism that is adapted when moved over the
multiplicand strips to add up and register the number of teeth in the rows of racks
that give the product of a given multiplicand by a given multiplier, substantially
as herein described.
of
3. A calculating machine comprising a bed plate, a series of multiplicand strips
secured thereon and provided with groups of toothed racks as set forth, groups
keys corresponding to a series of multipliers such as for example 7, 4, 2, 1, pairs of
movable supports connected to said keys, and counting and registering mechanism
comprising a series of independent counters with tens accumulators supported in
a carrier adapted to be moved over the multiplicand strips and to be lowered when
passing over a pair of displaced supports so that the sets of counters can be then
operated by the corresponding racks of the multiplicand strips, and a series of tens"

page_text: transferrers adapted to transfer the tens added up by one counter to the next
adjacent counter substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. Counting and registering mechanism comprising a series of independent
counters with tens' accumulators, and a series of tens' transferrers substantially as
described and shown for the purpose specified.
5. My improved calculating machine constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 8th day of Tune 1901
THOS. R. GLOVER.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.