US2008135A - Calculating machine - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1935. c. M. F. FRIDEN CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1930 A TTOR NE Y INVENTOR Lar/ M- l? Eva en m mmm r mHr n m mHBH Patented 'July '16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,003,135 CALCULATING MACHINE Carl M. F. Friden,

Piedmont, Califi, assignor to Mai-chant Calculating Machine Company, a corporation of California Application January 15, 1330, Serial No. 420,898 5Claims. (or. 175-337) The present invention relates to calculating machines, and particularly to an improved mechanism for entering the factors of the computation therein. Such machines having been developed to the point where their performance of the computation is fully automatic, require only that the operator set up the factors of the problem to be performed upon the keyboard or other controlling instrumentality. Since the only purpose of this physical act on the part of the operator is to effect a control over the subsequent'operations of the machine, obviously, as little physical work should be involved in the operation as is possible. Hitherto, however, the

depression of the. keys has been utilized to actually set a portion of the mechanism to a controllingposition, and as this setting involved the moving of a more or less complicated linkage system, it required the expenditure of considerable force, and made the key'action of such keys very difiicult.

The present invention contemplates relieving the controlling instrumentalities of all work, and effecting the setting ofthe controlling elements by a source of power independent of the key motion and only controlled thereby.

I An object of the invention is to provide a setting mechanism in, which the controlling instrumentalities are relievedof all the physical .work of the setting and act only to control it, Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical setting mechanism in which the setting operation is performed by electrical power,

' talities.

acting under the control of settable instrumen- Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an electrical setting mechanism which may be set from a representation of any digit to a representation' of another digit without passing through-zero..

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical setting mechanism'for a calculating machine which may be controlled from a point remote-therefrom.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a section through the machine showing theactuator. and setting means therefor.

Figure -2 is a ure 1. v v

The invention is here disclosed as incorporated in a calculating ,machine'of the type disclosed in" the patent to -Friden, 1,643,710, issued September'2'7th 1,927, and reference is hereby made to that patent for a disclosure of all portions section anda line 2. 2 of Figof the mechanism not specifically described here- 1n.

The drum 300 of said machine, comprises a controlling selector adapted to be differentially oscillated to a desired setting by a corresponding 5 differential movement of a member controlled by the keyboard setting. According to the present invention, the means for effecting this differential setting comprises nine individual solenoids 350, the circuits of which are individually controlled by the separate keys of the keyboard. These solenoids are arranged in end to end relation,

and energization of any one of them serves to position the high point 35lof a core 352v within the energized coil, thereby effecting a differential setting of the core 352, according to which of the solenoids has been selected for energization.- This core is rigidly connected at its rear end to'a slide 353, provided with a diagonal cammi-ng slot 354 in which a pin 355 carried by the bell crank selector arm 356, rides. This selector arm is substantially the same in form as that shown in the above-mentioned patent and functions to control the selector segment in the same manner. The core 352 and its slide 353 are normally held in their extreme forward position by a spring 351 tensioned between the-slide and a stud on the forward portion of the base, thus holding the' selector segment in a zero position; but upon energization ofany of the solenoids 350, the core 352 will be differentially positioned,

positioning the selector segment differentially in accordance with the assigned value of the energiz'ed solenoid. 7

Core 352 is, preferably, of a rhombic longitudiu nal section, portions of said core extending to all points where the magnetic field may be set up, so asto provide a purchase on which the field may act to move the enlarged portion of the core to central position in the field.

Individual circuits are provided for each solenoid whereby it may be controlled by a key in a keyboard of substantially the form disclosed in the abovementioned patent.

, Nine keys 360 are mounted in slots in the face plate 36 i, and are supported at their lower end by slots formed in a strap member 362. Spring 363 compressed between the strap member and lug formed on the keys, serves to normally maintain the keys in their raised position; but upon depression, they are latched in their depressed position by a locking slide 364 normally held in its foreward position on the bottom of strap member 362 by a..spring 365 compressed between the forward key.

forward portion of the locking slide.

, Wedge-shaped members on each key stem cam the locking slide 364 to the rear upon depresion of any key, and upon passage of the wedge-shaped member the locking slide steps forward, engaging the rear face thereof and preventing rise of the Contacts 366 and 361 are supported upon a bar of insulated material 368 mounted upon cross bars 369 in a position below each' bank of keys. These contacts are connected in series. with each solenoid, and with the sourceof power, so that depres-. sion of a key will effect closure of one pair ofco'n tacts and individually energize the solenoid in series therewith, positioning the core 352 and selector segment, as hereinbefore set forth.

However, this keyboard form of control for the difierential mechanism is purely optional, since it is obvious that any circuit-closing mechanism will serve the purpose, and may, if desired, be positioned at a control point remote from the entire machine.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein described, it is understood that it is capable of modification 'within the scope of the following claims:

l. Electromagnetic mechanism for difierentially positioning a mechanical element, comprising a series of alined solenoids, a common core therefor having a rhombic longitudinal section, and'means for selectively energizing said solenoids comprising a switch for controlling each of said solenoids, a depressible key for controlling each of said switches, latching mechanism for retaining said keys in depressed-position, and means controlled by the depression of a key for releasinga previously' latched key.

2. Electromagnetic mechanism for differentially positioning a mechanical element comprising a and means controlled by the depression of a key l for releasing a previously latched key.

3. Electromagnetic mechanism for difierentially positioning a mechanical element, comprising a series of alined solenoids, a common core therefor, means for selectively energizing said solenoids comprising a switch for completing each solenoid circuitindividually, depressible keys for controlling each of said switches, latching mechanism for retaining one of said keys in' depressed position,

means controlled by the depression of another of said keys for releasing the previously latched key, and means for directly resetting the mechanisms controlled by said keys to a value corresponding to that of the last depressed key.

a. Eectromagnetic mechanism for difierential ly positioning an adjustable element adapted to register a-value in a machine comprising a core operatively-associated with said element and having an enlarged intermediate portion, a series of electrically independent coils surrounding said core, and means for energizing any .one of said coils individually.

- 5.- Electromagnetic mechanism for difierential ly positioning an adjustable element adapted to register a value in-a machine comprising a core operatively associated with said element and having an enlarged intermediate portion, a series of electrically independent coils surrounding said core, means for energizing any one of said coils "individually, and means automatically operated upon such energization of a coil for deenergizing any previously energized coil.

Y-CARL M. F. FRmEN.

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