Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
I, HEINRICH WICHTERICH, of 182, Westwall, Krefeld, Prussia, Teacher, 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:-
The annexed drawings show an automatic machine which, on a calculation,-
with figures of several places, varied each time,-being correctly executed, and
on the apparatus being set in accordance with the correct solution of the problem,
will yield as a reward an object such as a chocolate or sugar ball, or the like.
Fig. 1, shows a general view of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, a horizontal cross-section (in the line of section I-II in Fig. 3).
Fig. 3, is a vertical section through the apparatus.
Fig. 4, is a horizontal cross-section through the apparatus near its bottom.
Fig. 5, is a part of Fig. 3, in another position of the apparatus.
Fig. 6, is a part of a horizontal cross-section taken at the lower margin of the
magazine of the apparatus.
The arrangement is as follows:-
6"
On
On a cylinder A, two rings A1, A2, are arranged with liberty to revolve, which
rings are externally finished off in exactly the same style as the lower part A³,
of the cylinder A. A second cylinder B, is inserted from above in the cylinder A.
This cylinder B, is finished externally in its upper part B', in exactly the same
style as the rings A1, A2, A3. On the rings A1, A2, two rows each of figures, with
the "plus" or minus" sign preceding them, are arranged so that the sum total
of the figures superposed to each other on one ring will always be the same.
the other hand, the totals of the superposed figures on the fixed ring A3, are vary-
ing, but at the same time they correspond with the figures on ring B', of the inner
cylinder B, so that if the total of the rings A1, A2, is added to the total of the
figures of ring A³, the result will be indicated on ring B¹, when the
latter is placed in a certain position. In this position, which is indi-
cated in the drawing, the result of addition of the sums of all the super-
posed figures will be the uppermost figure. In whatever position the rings A¹,
and A, may be adjusted on cylinder A, the result will always tally
as soon as the ring B, is placed in a corresponding position with
regard to ring A³. Whenever the ring B¹, has been accurately placed
in this position over ring A³, the cylinder B, can be raised a little
within the cylinder A³, by means of the following arrangement. Cylinder A,
has inside a ledge or protuberance a¹, intersected by incisions or slots a², at two
places which are not placed diametrically opposite each other, that is to say, they
are placed otherwise than at an angle of 180 degrees (see Fig. 6). The inner
cylinder B, is fitted with two shoulders or catches 6', which projects behind the
ledge a¹, and, if the ring B', is set in a correct position with regard to ring A³,
D .
073

page_text: will correspond with the slots a², in the ledge a¹. These catches b' will there-
fore prevent the cylinder B, from being raised within the cylinder A, as long as
ring B, is not in a position corresponding to A³. The catches or shoulders b,
are fitted with stops, which prevent a complete withdrawal of the cylinder B.
At the lower surface of the ledge a¹, knobs a³, are arranged, which preclude the
possibility of raising the cylinder B, until the catches b¹, are brought into contact
with the ledge a¹, and then turning it round until the catch, coincides with
the slot a².
The arrangement described above may be applied so that the correct mutual
position of rings B₁, and A³, and the mutual motion of the two parts A and B-
which motion is rendered possible except in this position of 131, and A³,--is utilised
for effecting a mechanical release of some delivery apparatus.
The delivery apparatus has the following arrangement. The cylinder B, is
provided with a funnel-shaped extension E, which terminates below in a slot tube
of rectangular section e!. This rectangular section has a length equalling little
more than two diameters, and a width equal to one diameter, of a (sugared) ball,
which diameter will have to be in accordance with the entrance aperture 6³, of
the cylinder B.
A socket F¹, intended for the reception of the balls delivered and which is
arranged so that it can revolve on the centre of the apparatus f', projects from
below into the funnel-shaped extension E. In the slot-tube e¹, a pin e², is
arranged so that between it and the back e³, a ball can pass, while the interstice
between e2, and the side f³, of the socket or tube F, is too small to pass a ball when
the slot-tube e¹, is at its lowest position. If, on the other hand, the latter is raised
as shown in Fig. 5, the interstice between pin e2, and the upper edge of the side f*,
of the socket or tube F, will be large enough to let a ball pass into F. If now
slot tube e¹, is lowered again the next following ball will be prevented from pass-
ing by pin e, and the upper edge of f2. In order to let the ball drop from the
tube F, cylinder B, must be turned by nearly 180 degrees, in which position the
tube F, which is open at the bottom will coincide with the aperture f³, in
the bottom of the apparatus thus allowing the ball to drop out. But by turning the
cylinder the figures are displaced and it will again be necessary to calculate the
correct result and set cylinder B, accordingly with regard to cylinder A, before
another ball is delivered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An appliance for teaching arithmetic, characterised by the co-operation of two
homogeneous parts which can be displaced with regard to each other (A and B)
(cylinders, discs, plates, and the like) one of which shows the figures of the sum
set and the other those of the corresponding results, in conjunction with an auto-
matic apparatus arranged so that a correct adjustment only of the parts, so that
the correct solution is indicated over the figures for the sum in question, will
bring out such a position of the mechanism as will set the automatic delivery in
action.
2. A form of execution of the appliance protected by Claim 1, characterised by
having the part which bears the figures constituting the problems, divided into
several parts which can be displaced as regards their relative position to each
other, each again containing special problems, in the case of one part such as
will yield different results, while the figures on the other are selected so as to
give one identical result for each part in whatever position, for the purpose of
affording greater multiplicity of the problems put.
3. A form of execution of the appliance protected by Claims 1 and 2 respectively,
arranged so as to yield rewards for correct solutions,-characterised by having
the parts A, B, arranged in the form of two cylinders revolving in each other and
provided with a "bayonet-socket
<<
or locking-ring and catch fastening, so
"
"

page_text: that on the inner cylinder (B) being raised in the correct position, (in which the
fastening is released through the catch being brought opposite to a slot in the
locking-ring,) one of the rewards contained in the interior is emitted into a tube
from which it is delivered on the cylinder being lowered again and further
turned.
Dated this 11th 1...
T..1.. 1000