US2072449A - Accounting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1937. Q L, HAYES ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I KXQmnmtoz We 7 a March 2, 1937. c. L. HAYES ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 9 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I awventoz 25M K /Z a 35 a GHQ 01401;;

March 2, 1937.

C. L. HAYES ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1923 Hun,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 COMPLE MENT ooooooo lllllll Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCOUNTING MACHINE poration of New York Application May 9, 1928, Serial No. 276,214

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of. accounting and more particularly is concerned with a novel method and apparatus for effecting subtraction.

5 In accordance with the usual method of per forming subtracting operations numbers to be subtracted are entered in the accumulators as the complemental or co-digital equivalent, usually the nines complement of the number to be subtracted 10 and then the fugitive unit? is added to obtain the tens or true complement.

By the present method it is proposed to obtain the nines complement of-all figures and then enter the corrective unit or the fugitive unit au- 35 tomatically and without attention of the operator to provide the tens or true complement.

In carrying out the present invention a special accumulator wheel is connected for simultaneous movement with one 01! the driving wheels which receives an operation corresponding to the highest registration, which, in the present machine is 9", but the ratio of gearing between the wheels is so selected that the special wheel receives a greater movement to effect the entry or the unit 25 in the required accumulator wheel by the regular transfer mechanism. Suitable connections are provided whereby the control for the driving wheel may be selected at will to enter the fugitive unit in the accumulator wheel of the units 30 order to thereby correct the wheel of the first significant figure of the subtrahend.

The general object then resides in the new and improved means of entering the fugitive unit" in the desired accumulator wheel automatically 35 in combination with selecting means whereby the proper entry operations may be effected for each of the subtracting operations.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter pointed out in the following description 40 which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings hereto annexed:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 45 accumulator to which the present improvements are applied;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of. the same, the upper side of the casing being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of. the preferred 50 system showing the use of a plurality of accumulators for accumulating items and the plug connection for one of the accumulators when it is used for subtracting operations for automatically entering the fugitive unit;

55 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of a regular Hollerith tabulating card showing one of the card fields punched to represent the nines complement of a number;

Fig. 5 discloses the special wheel and the connections for operating the latch of the transfer mechanism provided for the units wheel. The latch is shown in the position necessary prior to the transfer operation which is effected under control of the special wheel disclosed in this flglllB;

Fig. 6 discloses the units wheel, its operating ratchet wheel and the related transfer mechanism which is shown set for a transfer operation,

Referring to Fig. 3, this diagram illustrates two accumulators A and B each associated in a. single instrument, accumulator A being shown as having eight accumulator magnets, denoted generally by reference character I. Each of the instruments designated by the letters A and B is assumed to be such an instrument as is shown in Fig. 1 and upon which the improvements hereinafter to be set forth are to be based.

The perforated cards are passed between a series of individual brushes 2 (Fig. 3) and common contact 3 and when any card is passed into position under the brushes it is assumed to engage a lever 4 and bring together two contacts 5.

Assuming that the machine is started in operation and supplied with cards which are moved in series under the brushes, then at a time when a card is just starting its movement a cam 6 cperated by the machine closes. contacts 1 and thus the circuit from the right terminal of the supply current C is made through closed contacts I, contacts 5 which are now together, the motor control relay magnet ID, the accumulator control relay 9, the control circuit Ii to the left terminal of the current supply C.

When any brush 2 comes over a hole punched in the card, a path for the current is established 40 from the source of current C through its corresponding accumulator magnet I and through the circuit I2 by means of contacts 9a which have been closed by the accumulator control relay 9, through the closed contacts I and to the opposite terminal of the source of supply C.

The above description covers, it is assumed, all that is necessary to an understanding of the motor control circuits and accumulator control circuits and as the above described portions of the apparatus are well known in the prior art, it is believed that no further description is necessary.

The particular mechanisms or devices which control the entering of the items into the accumulators as controlled by the index point perfora- 5 tions are wall known in the art but in order to afford a better understanding of the present improvements. a general statement of the operation and the particular mechanisms utilized will be described generally but for a more complete understanding, reference may be had to the patent of C. D. Lake No. 1,307,740, patented June 24, 1919.

As a general statement of operation it may be said that two shafts 21 and 30 (Fig. 1) make one revolution for each cycle or revolution of the tabulator or index wheel of the card manipulating device. The instant in each cycle therefore that a perforation indicating a given number comes under a brush the perforation will determine the point in the revolution that a clutch will be thrown into gear with its indicating character or accumulator wheel and this will determine the number of steps or spaces that that wheel will be turned corresponding to such number.

As more fully explained in the patent to C. D. Lake above referred to, the control circuit throws into operative condition and there locks it the means which causes the corresponding accumulator registering wheel to move through an are proportional to the number represented by the position of the perforation in the card and breaks the accumulator magnet circuit at the contacts l3 (Fig. 3) before the brush leaves the perforation and thus sparking at the brush is avoided. The control circuit, however, remains closed until broken by a cam H.

The accumulator mechanism of each unit, A or B, is contained in a casing l5 and is shown for accumulator A as having eight accumulator magnets I and a suitable corresponding number of index or register wheels it. For each magnet there is a vertical bar or rod I'I (Fig. 1) pivoted in the frame and carrying an armature l8 facing the magnet poles so that on the energization of any magnet I its corresponding rod I! will be partially rotated against the force of a spring I9. This movement of the armature l8 releases a clutch lever 20 which is normally latched but when released is free to be moved sidewise about its pivotal point 23 by fiat springs 24 which bear upon insulating stops 25 on said lever.

The levers 20 at their forward ends engage with the grooves of sliding clutches 26 mounted on and turning with shaft 21 which is driven by means of a gear wheel 28 in gear with a spur gear 29 on the driven shaft 30. These clutches 26 at one side have teeth that are carried into engagement by the shifting of the levers 20 with corresponding teeth 3! on gear wheels 32 free on the shaft 21 and in gear with wheels 33 attached to the index wheels Hi.

When subtraction of amounts is desired on a tabulating machine of the type shown in the Lake Patent 1,307,740, it is customary in machines of the type shown in this patent to add the tens complement of the number to be subtracted. This sometimes necessitates punching a card with the tens complement of a given number. In arriving at the tens complement of a given number in the decimal systems of notation, only herein involved, it is necessary to complement the first right hand significant figure (a whole number, other than zero) to 10 and all other figures except the zeros to the right thereof to 9. As the first right hand significant figure is not always in the units position but is sometimes in the tens, hundreds, thousands or other positions, this is confusing to the operator of the card perforating machine who must not only remember to make the subtraction of the first significant figure from 10 and then to change to 9 for all others, except the zeros to the right thereof, but must observe carefully in what position the first significant figure is.

For example, in designating the number 32,284 as the tens complement it will be observed that 4 in this number is the first significant figure, and where the corrective unit is automatically inserted by the present invention the card in a seven column field is punched 9967715 otherwise to correct it by the operator, it would have to be punched as 9967716.

Now if the number should be 32,200, without automatic correction, punching in a seven column field is as follows: 9967800, and here in effect only the 2 is changed to the tens complement as it is the first significant figure. When automatic correction is supplied by means now to be explained all digits are punched as the nines complement of 32,200 or 9967799. The diflerence is a unit in the units order in parallel examples. In using the nines complement the deficiency in the present machine is made up under control of a wheel receiving a 9 entry for each subtraction operation.

To obviate this source ,of confusion previously mentioned, it is proposed to have the operator complement every figure to 9 thus punching a nines complement on the card which, as stated, will be one unit less than the tens complement. To compensate for the loss of the unit it is proposed to have the present transfer mechanism automatically add the additional one to the units order, to change in effect, the nines complement of the first right significant figure of the subtrahend to a tens complement, which additional one is termed the fugitive unit." Thus if the number 322 is to be subtracted, the nines complement is 9999677, of a seven column card field (see Fig. 4), and the fugitive unit must be added to the latter number to obtain the tens complement 9999678.

In carrying out a subtracting operation of the example cited the tabulating card 40 (Fig. 4) is perforated to represent 9999677 one less than the tens complement. As the card passes into the machine the number represented by the card perforations will be entered on the seven accumulator wheels Ilia-I69, the sub-script "a" representing the units wheel, b" the tens, etc., the wheel l6h at'the extreme left representing an overflow wheel which is not associated with any card controlling column. By plug connections 4| the brushes 2 are associated with the seven card controlling columns designated "Complement to control the magnets la to lg corresponding to accumulator wheels I6a to I6g.

To enter the fugitive unit, the present machine, as will now be described in detail, includes an accumulator wheel "is which is connected for operation in such a manner that it receives sufiicient movement during each subtracting operation by the complemental method to set for operation the transfer mechanism of the units order wheel l6a which effects the entry of the desired unit to the units wheel and, if necessary, effects successive transfers to enter the unit in the wheel of the order related to the first significant figure of the subtrahend.

From the card shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted that all of the four extreme left columns are punched to cause the entry of 9 in each order. One of such columns, preferably the extreme left column of the controlling card field, is so selected that its related accumulator wheel l6g turns nine steps for each complemental subtracting operation. This column, by reason of the proper capacity of the accumulator, is of such a denomination that the result of an additive entry is not represented on the related accumulator wheel I 69. Hence, for each subtraction operation, as the related column is punched 9, the related wheel 16g turns nine steps.

To carry out the invention one of the card columns (not used in the additive entry) must be selected to control the entry of the nine registration for each subtraction operation and as there is already appropriated in the accumulator unit an accumulator wheel it for such column, such wheel is turned nine steps each time if plugged by plug connection 4| for control thereof. This explanation is merely made so as to understand that there is a nine entry under control of the brush 2 related to the card column of the extreme left and when such column is 9 punched. Now, by means of a plug connection 42 the analyzing brush 2 related to the selected card column (of the card columns not used in the additive entry) is plugged to cause energization of the adding magnet is (Fig. 3). Magnet is is adapted to control a clutch like the accumulator control clutches so that a gear Sis, rotatable by one of the clutch elements will turn nine steps, equivalent to the extent of rotation of wheel ifig.

It is pointed out that by the plug connection 42 any card column selected can effect the desired rotation of nine units to gear 3ls, but in every case the card column selected should be of such a denomination that its related accumulator wheel does not represent the result of an additive entry. The selection is dependent upon'the magnitude of the additive entries.

Gear 3ls meshes with a pinion 33s which is rotatable with the wheel I58. The ratio of gearing 3 I s-33s is such that nine-tenths of a revolution of gear Sis will drive pinion 33s a complete revolution.

As wheel lfis completes its revolution, under the conditions just described, the high tooth 43 (Fig. of a ratchet wheel 8 connected to wheel He will engage the cam surface of a pawl 45s rocking pawl 45s on its pivot a sufficient distance so that a pin 46 carried thereby will press a latch member 41 to release a notch formed therein from engagement with a lug 48 integral with the arm 49 (Fig. 6) which carries the pawl 45a. for operating the ratchet wheel 44a attached to the units order wheel 3a.

This releasing action causes a spring 50 (Fig. 6) to rock the arm 49 to bring it adjacent a common operating bar 52 which, when actuated, will cause pawl 45a engaging the ratchet wheel a of the units order wheel to turn such wheel one step or a units amount to enter the fugitive unit. The above described transfer mechanism is fully described in the Hollerith Patent 974,272, and therefore, only generally described herein.

As stated, it will be obvious that wheel its may be plugged for movement under control of any of the other card columns punched 9 when subtracting by shifting plug connection 42.

If the units or other orders of the subtrahend do not comprise significant figures as in the number 32200, punched as the nines complement 9967799 the units order will receive a unit correction and as the units order wheel passes through zero it will efiect a transfer to the tens order, and the latter in turn, will control a transfer to the hundreds order. The usual transfer mechanism described in Patent 974,272 accomplishes such transfers by transfers. Hence the correction is ultimately made in the order in which the first significant figure of the subtrahend resides, which in the example discussed would be the hundreds order.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a machine for accumulating data, a series of accumulating elements of different denominational orders, corresponding denominationally ordered entry controlling devices, means for causing the latter to eifect an entry of a nines complement in said accumulating elements, and means whereby a device of the highest efiective order when it controls the entry of a digit of highest value causes the entry of an additional unit into the accumulating element of the units denominational order for each complement entry.

2. In a machine of the class described, a series of denominationally ordered accumulator elements, corresponding denominationally ordered entry controlling devices, m'eans for causing the latter to effect the entry of a nines complement in said accumulator elements, means controlled by a device of the highest eflective order when it controls the entry of a digit of highest value for efiecting an additional entry in the units accumulator element for each complement entry, and means for selectively and operatively associating any device of the highest effective order with the last-named means for control thereby.

3. In a machine of the class described, a series of denominationally ordered accumulator elements, transfer mechanism for each element, corresponding denominationally ordered entry controlling devices, means for causing the latter to eflect the entry of a nines complement in said accumulator elements, and means operated under control of a device of the highest effective order when it controls the entry of a digit of highest value for adjusting the transfer mechanism for the units order whereby a unit entry is made into the units order accumulator element for each entry of a complement.

4. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator comprising a series of denominationally ordered accumulator elements, corresponding denominationally ordered entry controlling devices, means under control of the latter for effecting the entry of a nines complement in said elements, a supplemental element, means under control of a device of the highest effective order when it controls the entry of a digit of highest value for causing the latter to be operated for each entry of a complement, and means whereby said supplemental element when operated causes the entry of a unit into the units order element of said accumulator.

5. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator comprising a plurality of elements, a set of entry controlling devices, means for causing the latter to effect the entry of a nines complement in said elements, means under control of a device of the highest eifective order when it controls the entry of a digit of highest value for causing a supplemental element to be operated for each entry of a complement, means whereby the operation of said supplemental element causes the entry of a unit into the units order element of said accumulator, and means for selectively and operatively associating the second-named means with any device of highest effective order controlling the highest entry.

6. In a machine of the class described, a series of accumulator elements, devices for controlling entries 01' a nines complement in said elements, a special element, means for causing the latter to be operated under control or a device of highest efl'ective order when a complement is entered, and means whereby said special element effects the entry 01' a unit into the units order accumulator adapted to control the entering of a corrective unit into the units order accumulator element, and means whereby the last-named means causes the entering of said corrective unit.

8. In a machine oi! the class described, a registering element, a corrective unit entry element, an operating means for said corrective unit entry element, means for causing the latter to be operated a definite amount for a complement entry operation, means to effect an operation of the corrective unit entry element by said operating means to an amount in excess of the amount imparted to the operating means, and means whereby the operation of the corrective unit entry element causes a unit entry in said registering element.

CLARKE L' HAYES.

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