Improvements in Calculating Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Calculating Apparatus.
I, ERKES ERIK MATSSON, of Siljansnas, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Managers
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:-
This invention relates to a calculating apparatus for addition and multiplication
and is particularly intended to be used in summing up figures in long columns.
The apparatus is so arranged that it may be handled as a pen or pointer so that
by moving the lower end of the pen-shaped apparatus to every figure in the column
consecutively and actuating the apparatus in a certain manner the total sum of all
the figures in the column can be ascertained and can be read off through an opening
in the casing of the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section and
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are details of the same.
The apparatus consists of a cylinder A upon the circumference of which is formed
a spiral slot B. This cylinder is firmly united at its top with a fluted roller C upon
which wheels D are placed one upon another. Each of these wheels, which I term
registering wheels, has its circumference divided in ten parts and each part is in
succession provided with the figures from 0 to 9. On these wheels the sums or the
totals are to be read when using the appa. atus. The parts of the apparatus above
described are surrounded by a cylinder E in the circumference of which is a
longitudinal opening F. Through this opening only one figure on each registering
wheel D is visible at a time and the slit or opening is therefore not made wider
than a full tenth part of the circumference of the registering wheel.
It is evident that the different sums or totals appearing before the opening F
depend upon the number of turns given to the registering wheels. The turning of
the said wheels is effected in the following manner. Through the bottom of the
cylinder A is passed a rod G which is movable with relation to the cylinder and at
the end which passes into the cylinder it is provided with an arm H, projecting
through the said spiral slot B in the circumference of the cylinder A as well as the
cylinder E. This latter cylinder is continued some distance downwards by the
tube I into the lower end of which another tube K is passed for the greater part of
its length. Through this said tube I, passes the rod G and at its lower end
projecting from the lower end of the tube K it is provided with a circular disc L,
which similarly to the registering wheels has its circumference divided in ten parts
and marked with the figures from 0 to 9 (see Figure 7). The tube K is in the
manner shown in Figure 2 provided at the bottom with two arms passing under the
disc L and forming a bearing or support for the lower end of the rod G.
Below the said arms is fixed a pivoted foot-piece M in the manner shown in
Figures 1 and 2 on which the apparatus is supported, when it is put down near the
figure which is to be recorded in the apparatus. By this movable piece the
apparatus may evidently be inclined in any direction whatever. From the above
description it will be easily understood, that if the apparatus is seized by the
fingers of the one hand clasping the tube I while the foot piece M is put down
against a stationary object and the said tube is pushed down on the tube K, the
cylinder A will be turned round and with it also the registering wheels. The
arm H will at its outer end be supported by the cylinder E, because the latter is
prevented from turning so that the tube I is retained between the fingers..

page_text: Consequently the c linder A must turn, because the arm H projects through the
spiral slot in its circumference. After being passed down a spiral spring N causes
the tube T and the cylinder E to move upwards. The top of the spiral spring
rests against the end of the tube I and the lower end rests against. a shoulder O on
the rod s.
Each calculating wheel consists of a cylinder provided with two ends. Figure 5
represents a calculating wheel with one of the ends removed. On the inner side of
the one end is, pivoted a pawl P, which is caused to engage with the flutes of the
roller C, by the spring Q. This pawl is so arranged that the registering wheel
will partake of the motion of the roller C, when the tube 1 is pressed down (see
Figure 5). When the tube I re-ascends or the roller C moves with the sum the
registering wheel can if resistance is made be brought to a standstill with relation
to the roller C. This resistance can be effected by means of a spring pawl R
(Figures 1 and 4) one end of which passes through the opening F in the cylinder E
and engages with grooves made in the registering wheels. These grooves are
made one for every tenth part of the circumference of the registering wheels. The
pawl R can be adjusted in front of any of the registering wheels, and this is
effected by making it movable along, and pivoted on a bar S fixed on the
cylinder E. In the front of each registering wheel on the cylinder E, is provided
projections T.
U
At the top of the tube K within the tube I there are ten longitudinal grooves U
of different lengths increasing equally in length from the first to the tenth. On
the inside of the tube I is provided a pin or projection V which, when the tube L
is pushed down enters into one of the said grooves. Each of the said grooves
corresponds to a figure on the wheel L the shortest groove corresponding to the
figure 1, the next one to the figure 2 and so on. The longest groove corresponds
to the cipher 0 and is of such a length that the arm H, when the tube I is pushed
down has time enough to pass the entire spiral slot in the cylinder A. Thus it is
evident that if the tube I is pushed down so that the pin or projection V enters into
the groove corresponding to the Figure 5, the arm H will only pass through the
half of the spiral slot, or in other words the cylinder A and the roller C with the
registering wheels will only make half a revolution. If the projection V enters
into the groove corresponding to the figure 2, the registering wheels make two
tenths and if it enters into the groove corresponding to the figure 3 they make
three tenths of a revolution and so on. In this way it will be possible, to bring
opposite the opening F the figures or number required.
Thus, if the figures 5 and 3 are to be added together, the apparatus is first
adjusted to zero, that is so that the zero point on all the registering wheels will be
visible through the opening F, and the apparatus is then rested upon the foot
piece M after which the tube I is turned so that the figure 5 on the disc L comes
opposite a hand or pointer X, the pin V at the same time coming in front of the
groove corresponding to the figure just mentioned. On pressing down the tube I
all the registering wheels turn and the hook R glides over the grooves of the wheel
in front of which it is standing, because the pawl P in the wheel overcomes the
power of the hook R and compels the wheel to partake in the motion of the
roller C, but when the tube I is caused to move up again by the power of the spiral
spring N, all the wheels are turned back except the one upon which the hook R is
acting as the latter now overcomes the power of the pawl P, inasmuch as the latter
glides over the grooves in the roller C and on the registering wheel in question the
figure 5 becomes visible. The tube I is now turned so that the figure 3 comes in
front of the hand or pointer after which the same operations as before are
repeated and the figure 8 can then be seen on the latter registering wheel.
When the sum of the numbers required to be added together exceeds ten, a
transfer of tens must evidently take place from the wheel actuated by the hook R,
to the next one below it. The device for effecting this is arranged in the following
On the inside of the end of the registering wheels, which is removed
manner.

page_text: Figure 5 and which is shown in three different positions in Figure 6, is fixed on
one side an annular spring Y located a little from the end. On the under side of
this spring is fixed a bent piece Z the one part of which projects through a hole
in the said end a little on the other side and the other part of which forms an
elevation on the interior side of the spring. Moreover below the spring is arranged
a ring a resting on the lower end which on its inner side is provided with teeth;
adapted to engage with the grooves in the roller C. This ring can thus partake
of the motion of the roller. The ring a is of such a thickness as to reach almost
to the side of the spring Y, but for a tenth part of its circumference it is made
thinner so as not to reach up to that part of the bent piece Z which is located
under the spring Y. From this it will be easily understood, that as long as the
recess in the ring a stands in front of the bent piece, the part of the same passing
through the end will project from the other side of the same, but in all other
positions the bent piece is kept back because the ring a is of such a thickness as to
force the bent piece up to the spring Y.
The end of the registering wheel above described is the lower one of every
registering wheel and is perfectly even on the outer side. Each of the upper ends
on the contrary, which will evidently rest against the lower one of the next wheel
above is on the outside provided with ten notches of small size (see Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4) into which the bent pieces Z can engage, when they project from the lower
ends. When this latter has taken place at one registering wheel, the subjacent one
must, according to what has been above stated, partake of the motion of the
registering wheel located next above when turned.
If therefore the numbers 5 and 7 are to be added, it is effected in the manner
above described, until the figure 5 becomes visible in the opening F of one of the
registering wheels. The operation is then effected in a similar manner with the
cipher 7, but it is clear, that the wheel, which presented the cipher 5, will, from
this position, have to be turned seven tenths of the circumference in the same
direction the hook R will therefore have to pass the groove for the figure 10 or ()
in order to engage with the groove for the figure 2. The recess in the ring a must
therefore pass the bent piece Z while the registering wheel stands still with relation
to the other ones the ring a turns with the roller C. The recess in the ring a passes
by the bent piece Z in front of the cipher 0 on the registering wheel, and at this
moment the bent piece Z, will thus project from the lower end of the wheel and
engage the notch for the figure 1 on the end of the next subjacent registering
wheel. This wheel must thus stand still during a tenth of its circumference and
opposite the opening F the number 12 will then be seen.
The device for adjusting the apparatus to zero is arranged in the following
manner. At the same point of the eircumference of each registering wheel, is
fitted a small pin b. The cylinder E has a longitudinal slot e into which engages
a series of pins f secured in a row on the plated located on the outside of the
cylinder E and movable in its longitudinal direction. The plate d is retained by
means of a screw e' for which there is a slot in the said plate. When calculating
with the apparatus the plate is pushed down so that all the pins 6 are clear of the
pins but when the apparatus is to be adjusted to zero, the plate is pushed up so
that the pins 6 engage with the said pins f, when turning the registering wheel.
The disc is now turned, so that the hand or pointer will be at zero, the hook R
is then prevented from acting upon any registering wheel and the cylinder E and
the tube J are pushed downwards. The zero point will then show through the
opening F on all the registering wheels because the pins and the shoulders ƒ have
caused all the registering wheels to stop at the same point. When the apparatus
is to be employed for multiplication it must be operated in the following manner.
If for instance the multiplication of 28 × 34 is to be performed the disc L is
adjusted to eight after which the apparatus is pressed down 4 times the hook R is
then moved to the next subjacent registering wheel, and the figure 2 is adjusted to
the disc L, after which the apparatus is pressed down 3 times.

page_text: 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 -
First. A calculating apparatus consisting of a number of registering wheels (D)
arranged close to each other upon a fluted roller (6) and of a screw cylinder (A)
with the roller and actuated by an arm (H) projecting from a rod (G) guided and
retained in any suitable manner with the object, that when the rod (G) and the
cylinder (A) are displaced along each other the cylinder (A) may be actuated
so that the registering wheels will be turned in the one or the other direction.
Second. In a calculating apparatus as above described a device for causing
either of the registering wheels (D) to partake of the motion of the roller (C) in
the one direction and to remain stationary in the other, consisting of a pawl (P)
pivoted in each registering wheel and actuated by a spring (Q) which pawl can
engage with the flutes of the roller, and of a hook (R) movable on the outside of the
casing of the apparatus and engaging into the grooves on the circumference of
the registering wheels.
Third. In a calculating apparatus as above described a device for transferring a
ten from one registering wheel to another, consisting of a spring (Y) fixed inside
of the wheel, under which spring there is fixed a bent piece (Z) which by the
spring can be pushed out of the one end of the registering wheel, and of a ring (a)
located under the spring (Y) and which ring can move with the roller (C) and
actuate the spring (Y) and the bent, piece (%) and further of notches made in the
opposite end of the next registering wheels.
Fourth. In a calculating apparatus as above described a device for effecting the
required turning of the registering wheels consisting of ten grooves (U) of
successively increasing length made in the guides of the bar (G) which cause the
registering wheels (D) to move, and of a pin or projection (V) fixed in the movable
casing of the apparatus and which pins can enter into the different grooves, and a
disc (1) divided in ten parts and fixed at the lower end of the rod, which disc
conjointly with the rod ((+) can be turned so, that any tenth part will be in front of
a hand or pointer (1) fixed at the side of the disc (L).
Fifth. In a calculating apparatus as above described a device for adjusting the
apparatus to zero, consisting of a pin (6) fixed at the same point on each registering
wheel and of a plate (d) movable on the outside of the casing of the apparatus
from which plate pins (f) project towards the registering wheels which pins, can
by adjusting the plate, be caused, when turning the registering wheels to catch the
pins (6) or to allow the said pins to pass.
Dated this 20th day of Apr 1001.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.