US2174690A - Multiplying machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM 7 0 I MULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 aul/mv 50/ 2 0044 7777 7 6 f moii CIA 'CoLw Wv SKIP y k/ ya .55

ATTORNEY Qct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,

' HULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.1b.

CSR 51 COL UM ill/ Luna INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM 4, IULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5.Sh eets-Sheet 3 Ff RACK Q INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM MULTIRLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wuu Nuu l 36 INVENTOR 4X. ATTORNEY Patented-Oct. 3, i939 PATENT OFFICE 2,174,690 MULTIPLYING mourns James M. Cunningham, Endicott, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,019

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in multiplying machines and more particularly to machines of the record card controlled type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide mechanism for reducing the necessary operations involved in the multiplication of two factors to a minimum.

- A more specific object is to provide mechanism for sensing the magnitude of the factors to be multiplied and selecting the one having the lesser number of significant digits as the multiplier. In the type of multiplying machine to which the invention is applied, a number of multiplying cycles is performed which is equal to the number of significant digits in the multiplier factor regardless of the size of the multiplicand. For example, with a multiplicand of 205 and a multiplier of 67423, five multiplying cycles are required in present machines. In accordance with the present invention, the number 205 is automatically selected to be the multiplier whereby the number of multiplying cycles is reduced to two with a consequent reduction of wear and savin in the time required to perform the multiplying operations. .The machine is provided with two accumulators generally called the Multiplier entry device" and the Multiplicand-entry device" and it is an object of the invention to sense the factors perforated on a record card and automatically enter the lesser factor into the "Multiplier entry device. The'factors appear in two fields 1 of a record-card and eachfieid is normally connected to one of the entry devices.

a If the field connected to the Multiplier entry device" is found to have the greater number of significant digits, the connections are reversed and such factor is entered into the Multiplicand entry device". If the factors both have the same number of significant digits,the connections remain undisturbed even if the multiplier factor has a greater value; I

- Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following ,par-

ticular description of one form of mechanism;

embodying the invention or from an inspection of the "accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and usefulfeaso tures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set ,forth d claimed.

' In thedrawings:

.Figs. la, lb, and lo tal'en together and plac one above the other in the. order named constitute a complete wiring diagram of the electric circuits of the multiplying machine provided with the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the record card feeding and analyzing mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a specimen of a record card showing the manner in which the two factors are perforated in separate fields.

Fig. 4 is a timing diagram of the electrical devices of the machine. m

The machine to which the invention has been applied will first be briefly described and reference may be made to my Patent No. 1,933,714, granted November 7, 1933, for the specific details of construction and operation. Record cards R, such as shown in Fig. 3, which have two fields such asare labelled Quantity and Price are placed in the supply hopper ill of. the machine (Fig. 2). From herea picker ii will advance the cards, one by one, from the bottom of a the stack to feed rollers I! which feed the card to pass a row of brushes l3 and a single brush it. The card is further advanced by and around a contact drum l5 to pass a row of analyzing brushes it which sense and control the-entry of the factors into the multiplier and multiplicand entry receiving devices. The card then proceeds v into the punching unit of the machine where, later, the computed product is punched back in the card as indicated in Fig. 3. 80 While multiplying operations proceed in accordance with the factors on a card the next following card will have been advanced to a position wherein the row of index point positions in which zeros occur lies beneath the row of brushes .l 3 and it is through these brushes that the lesser factor is determined before the card is advanced to pass the brushes It as will be described later. The cards are advanced with the "9 index point positions leading and when the feed mechanism 40 comestorest, the leading margin will be under brushes It, the row of 0 index point positions will be at the row of brushes l3 and the row of X index point positions will be under the brush ll.

Closure of the main line switch SW (Fig. 1c) places the motor M in operation which motor drives the AC-DC generator so labelled (Figs. la and 1c) to supply directcurrent to DC lines Y I! and I8, and alternating current to ground and to a line l9 (Fig. la).

The start key contacts 20 (Fig. 1c) are now closed by depression of the start key button which completes a circuit from the DC line It, through a relay coil 0, contacts 20, now closed,

upper contacts GI, cam contacts FC2 to line H. The coil 0 establishes a holding circuit through its contacts C2 and cam contacts FCB. The coil C, when energized, also closes a pair of contacts Cl (shown in the upper part 01' Fig. 1a) which will complete a circuit from line It, normally closed contacts Fl, card feed clutch magnet 2|, cam contacts F06, stop key contacts 22, contacts Cl, punch feed rack contacts Pl, to line H.

Energization of clutch magnet 2l will cause withdrawal of a card from the supply magazine Ill (Fig. 2) and will advance it to the analyzing brushes l3 and then to the brushes It to a position where the leading edge is 'just under the brushes l6. During the movement of the card, the card lever is engaged to close card lever contacts 24 (Fig. 10) which complete a circuit from line H, contacts 24, relay magnet H to line l8. In starting up the machine, it is necessary to hold down the start key to maintain contacts closed during the first complete card feeding operation, or, alternatively, to depess the start key a second time. At the beginning of the second card feed cycle, the closure of cam contacts FCll will energize relay magnet G through a circuit including the card lever contacts 24.

Relay magnet G will close its normally open contacts Gl, setting up a holding circuit through cam contacts F02 and will also close contacts G2 to provide a further holding circuit through the card lever contacts 24. These two holding circuits alternate in maintaining relay magnet G energized as long as cards continue to feed from the magazine.

The relay magnet H is also providedwith a holding circuit which extends through card lever contacts 24 or serially through relay contacts G2 and cam. contacts F02. The relay contacts Hl (Fig. 1a) are-shifted to the reverse of the position shown in this figure, thereby supplying cur-.

rent to the impulse distributor 25. The circuit extends from the AC generator through line I! to the now closed contacts HI, cam contacts FC'I, distributor 25, contact drum l5, from which circuits will be completed through the analyzing brushes L6 to efiect entries into the accumulator magnets 26MC and 26M? representing the multiplicand and multiplier accumulators respectively. These circuits extend from the sockets of brushes it through plug connections 21 to sockets 28 and thence through normally closed relay contacts 29a to magnets 26MC and 26MB As shown in Fig. 1a, the four brushes l8 to the left which sense the Quantity' field of the card R are thus normally connected to the magnets -26MC and the four brushes l6 to the right which sense the "Price" field of the card are normally connected to the magnets 26MP. According to the present invention as will be set forth hereinafter, the relay magnet 29 is energized when the value sensed by the right hand set of brushes l6 has a greater number of significant digits than the value sensed by the left hand set of brushes IS.

The resulting shifting of relay contacts 29a will reverse the connections so that through wires 20, the left hand set of brushes will control the entry into the magnets 26M? and the right hand set of brushes will control the entry into the magnets 26MC, thus establishing the value having the lesser number of significant digits as the multiplier.

After the first card has traversed the brushes IE it continues into the tray of the punching unit, and upon its arrival there, it causes closure 01' Punch card lever contacts 3i (Figs. 2 and 10) which cause energization of. relay magnet F. With relay magnet F energized, its contacts Fl will be shifted from the position shown, thus interrupting the circuit to the card feed clutch magnet 2| to suspend card feeding. The closure of normally open contacts Fl establishes a circuit from line It, now closed contacts Fl, cam contacts 002, trip magnet 32 of the punching-unit to call the clutch mechanism of such unit into operation to advance the card therein, the circuit continuing through eject contacts PI and relay contacts Kl which at this time are in position reverse to that shown.

The contacts K1 are controlled by relay magnet K which is energized through contacts 34 inthe punching unit. These are the so-called last card column contacts, closed whenever the card advancing carriage of the punching unit is in last column punching position, which position it occupies when the operation of the entire machine is first started so that upon starting, relay magnet K is energized and its contacts Kl are in shifted position. The. cards are handled in the card punching unit in the customary manner as set forth in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,933,714. I

As the analyzed card is advanced to the punching mechanism, a circuit is completed upon closure of cam contacts C02 (Fig. 1a) from line ll, contacts C02, contacts K2, (now closed) contacts L2, contacts F2 (now closed) to magnet LH and thence to ground. Magnet lfLH causes resetting of the so-called LH accumu ator which receives the left hand components of the partial products as will be explained later. During the resetting operation contacts 26 and 31 (Fig. 1c) are closed, establishing a circuit from line H, upper contacts 26, contacts 31, wire 28 (Figs. lb and la), relay magnet M, wire 39 to line ll. A further circuit branches from wire 28 (Fig. 1c) through relay magnet L to line l8 and the consequent closure of contacts Ll will provide a holding circuit from line H, wire 40, punch feed rack contact, wire 42, contacts Ll, magnet L to line ll, branching also through wire 38, relay magnet M, wire ll, to line ll. Relay magnet M closes its contacts M2 to provide a further holding circuit for the relays, extending from line It, wire 29, relay M, contacts M2, wire 43 (Figs. 1b and 1c)v to the normally closed contacts 44 and thence to line H. Contacts 44 are open during the subsequent operation wherein the MC accumulator is reset and until such time, relay magnet M willv remain energized.

Magnet M is the so-called master relay magnet of cycle controlling unit and it calls the cycle controller into operation to determine the location of the significant figures in the multiplier. The circuit through the wire 38 also extends to the zero segments of the MPRO readout. If any of the brushes of this MPRO readout stand at zero, selected ones of the magnets Yu, Yt, etc., will be energized according to which denominational orders of the multiplier contain zeros.

The magnets Yu, Yt, etc. control contacts Yu-a, Yt--2, etc. through which circuits are completed to the column shift relay magnets 081:, 0st, etc and to the multiplying relay magnets 41. In those positions in which the multiplier digit is zero, the associated magnet Yu, Yt, etc. will be energized and the related contacts Yu-2, Yt2,'etc. will be shifted from the position shown in the diagram so that the related magnet CSu, CSt, etc. will be disconnected from the circuit which is traceable irom line ll, cam

. zeros occur. With magnet 41 energized (for example the X magnet 41), the related contacts shown in the center of Fig. la will become closed and with the emitter 48 in operation, impulses will be emitted through the contacts of the times 5 multiplier, through the MCRO readout and thence through the column shift relay contacts CSL and CSR shown at the top of Fig. 1b and partial product entries will be directed into the LH and RH accumulators accordingly. The- CSL and CSR relay contacts are controlled by the relay magnets CSu, CSt, etc. and serve to effect the proper denominational allocation of the partlal products entries. Thus, when multiplying is being effected by the units digit of the multiplier, the units magnet CSu is energized and the units set of contacts CSL and CSR. are closed.

- Energization of a relay magnet (38a, (38%, etc.

will also close a pair of contacts CSw-3, CSt3, etc. (Fig; la) which will cause energization of the relay magnet Yu, Yt, etc. in the order in which multiplying is taking place. This in turn will shift the related pair of. contacts l5a. so that when cam contacts C02 again close, the aforetraced circuit will be directed through the'hcagnet 0811, CSt, etc. in the order containing the next higher significant figure and will skip the magnets CSu, CSt, etc. in positions in which zeros are present.

The machine continues multiplying operations during which the partial products are entered in succession into the LH- and RH accumulators.

After a multiplying cycle has been effected for each significant multiplier digit, all of the magnets Yu, Yt, etc. will have been energized and all of the contacts Yu--2. Yt-2 will be in their shifted positions so that on the next following cycle the closure of cam contacts 002 will complete the circuit which extends through all of the now closed contacts Yu-2, Yt-Z to the relay magnet 49 and reset magnet SGMC. A parallel circuit also extends through cam contacts FCIO and reset magnets SUMP. The latter magnets connect the MC and MP accumulators for resetting operations which take place during the next cycle to zeroize these accumulators.

Relay magnet 49 closes its contacts 49a (Fig.

"1b) to connect the readout section RHRO to the entering magnets 26LH of the LH accumulator to permit the transfer of the sum ofthe vrlghthand partial products into the LH accumulator to produce the complete product.

The circuits involved in this transferring operation extend from the emitter 48 (Fig. la) through a group of. wires 5| iFig. lb)- to the RHRO readout device from whence the circuits will continue through contacts 49a to adding magnets IBLH. During this cycle in which the MC and MP accumulators are reset concurrently with the RH to LH'transfer operation, the "normally closed contacts 44 (Fig. which are operated by .a cam on the MC reset shaft, will open to interrupt the circuit to the cycle controlling-relay magnets Yu,-Yt, etc., thus causing deenergization of all these magnets and the interruption of their related contacts.

When the contacts 44 are shifted from the position shown in Fig. 10, a' circuit is completed through relay magnet D which sets up a holding circuit through its contacts D2 and cam contacts CCI. The relay magnet D also closes a pair of relay contacts DI which serves to connect the emitter 52 to line I 9 so that during the next cycle impulses are emitted therethrough to the LHRO readout section and circuits are completed to the plug sockets 53 from whence, through suitable plug connections such as 54 to sockets 55, the

. amount standing in the LHRO section will be entered in magnets 26SP of the summary products accumulator.

During the RH to LH transfer cycle, closure of a pair of contacts 4% (Fig. 1a) permits the completion of a circuit near the end of the cycle extending from emitter 48 through relay contacts 49b and reset magnets SORH to efiect resetting of the RH accumulator. Also during the cycle in which the MC accumulator is reset, contacts 56 (Fig. 1c) are closed to complete a circuit through relay magnet C whose contacts hold the circuit through cam contacts F08.

Contacts CI are also closed at this time to energize the card feed clutch magnet 2i to feed the next card to pass the analyzing brushes i5 and during such passage the factors are entered into the appropriate MC and MP accumulators.

Closure of cam contacts F04, due to operation of the card feed mechanism, will complete a circuit through relay magnet B which closes its contacts B2 to provide a holding circuit through contacts 36. Magnet B controls the punching operation which takes place concurrently with card feeding. The detailed operation of the punching mechanism is set forth in the patent referred.

to and the same will be but briefly described herein to explain the circuits involved in the operation.

- Energization of relay magnet B effects closure of its associated contacts Bl (Fig. 10) which complete a circuit from line H, through contacts Bl, normally closed contacts 5'5, switch 5t, wire 59 (Fig. 1b) to the common strip 60 of the column selector of the punching unit. As the punched card carriage advances, the brush 61 connects the strip 60 to segments 62 in succession as corresponding columns of the record card are in punching position. From the segments 62 which are connected to plug sockets 63 connections 64 are made to the readout sockets B5 of the LHRO readout device in the orders in which it is desired to have the product punched. The circuits continue through the wires 66 to punch selecting magnets 61 and thence to line i8. Energization of any magnet 61 will cause closure of a pair'of contacts 68 (Fig. 10) to complete a circuit to the punch magnet 69 which efi'ects a perforation in the appropriate index point position of the card column and also efiects an operation of theescapement mechanism to advance the card to the next column to receive punching.

After all the selected columns have been perforated in accordance with the controlling prodnot, the card carriage escapes to the so-called last column position in which contacts 34 are closed, energizing relay magnet K. This relay closes its contacts K2 to .effect resetting of the LH accumulator and also shifts its contacts Kl to energize the ejectm'agnet 85 (Fig. 10) to eject the punched card, following which trip magnet 32 is energized to advance the next card to the punches.

The foregoing described briefly the general operation of a commercial multiplying punch whose sequence of operations may be summarized as follows:

its in the multiplier Seventh cycle-Reset MP and MC accumulators,

transfer RH to LH.

The improvements of the present invention will now be set forth and the operation of this mechanism takes place during the card feeding cycles for which the timing of the electrical devices is shown in Fig. 4. v The brushes I3 which sense the zero index point position of the card fields containing the factors are connected to plug sockets 70 from which plug connections ll are made to sockets 12 which are connected to segments of emitters 13 and i4.

Eight brushes l3 are provided for each factor and where all eight columns of the card are used the eight sockets 72 of each 'emitter are plug connected. The brushes of the emitters l3, 14 are in constant rotation and they engage their respective segments as indicated on .the timing diagram. Near the end of the card feeding operation, as a card comes to rest with its zero index point positions beneath brushes I3,

cam contacts FCI'I close, causing energization of relay magnet Z which in turn closes its contacts Zl to provide a holding circuit through cam contacts CC5. This circuit is maintained during the next cycle throughout the period that the emitter brushes make contact with their segments and is then opened. The magnet Z also closes its contacts Z2 and Z3 so that circuits may be completed to stepping magnets l5, 16. If a zero is present in the column connected to the 9 emitter segment, a circuit will be completed which is traceable from line H, cam contacts F05, brush common, zero hole in the card, brush l3, socket 10, connection ll, socket 12, 9 emitter segment, contacts Z2 or Z3, magnets I5 or 16 to line |8. When the emitter brush has advanced to the "8 segment, the circuit will be again completed if a zero is present in the associated column and magnet 15 or 16 will again be energized. Thus, for each zero sensed by brushes l3, a magnet 75 or 18 will receive one impulse.

The magnets 15 and 16 control so-called stepping or counting relays and each energization will actuate a pawl and lever 11 to advance a ratchet 18 one step or tooth. Integral with one of the ratchets I8 is a brush 19 which progressively contacts with fixed commutator segments 80 and integral with the other ratchet is 'a group of electrically connected brushes 0| which contact with fixed commutator segments 82.

The segments 80 iiid 82 are interconnected by wires 88 as shown and control the energize.- tion of relay magnet 28 in such manner that the magnet becomes energized when the factor sensed by the brush I9 has advanced more steps than the brushes 8| and remains deenetgized when the brush I9 has advanced the same number of or fewer steps than the brushes 8|.

-The operation of the device may best be explained by reference to particular examples. Let it first be assumed that neither factor contains zero. Neither magnet 15 nor 16 will be energized and the brushes 19, 8| remain in the positions shown. During the next following card feeding cycle as the presensed card is advanced to the brushes I5, cam contacts FCIB close and complete a connection from line I! to brushes 3| and wires 83. Since none of the segments 88 is in contact with brush 19 no circuit is completed to magnet 29. If brush 19 had been advanced one step to contact the first segment 88, the circuit would be completed through the lowermost wire 83, first segment 80, brush 1!, magnet 29, to line l8. This circuit is continued. by contacts FCIG as the card passes the sensing brushes l6 and since contacts 29a (Fig. 1a) are shifted by the energization of magnet 29 the factors are entered reversely into the multiplisand and multiplier receiving accumulators.

Consider now the amounts shown in the card of Fig. 3 with the brushes |3 labelled Quantity and Price sensing the zero index point positions of the similarly designated card fields.

The Price field is normally arranged to enter into the MP accumulator and the Quantity" field into the MC accumulator so that the Price" would ordinarily control the number of multiplying cycles which would be five for the value 67423. It may be mentioned here that for certain types of work the field set aside to receive items of a designated kind are filled out with zeros to the left of the first significant figure and these are also sensed.- by the brushes i3.

Thus for the Price 67423, punched in the eight-column field as 00067423, the related magnet 15 is energized three times and for the Quantity 205, punched in the other eight-column field as 00000205, the related magnet 16 is energized six times, so positioning the brushes i9 and 8| that the subsequently completed circuit for energizing magnet 29 will be completed through the third wire 83 from the top (emphasized by a heavy line), the brush 79 in contact with the sixth segment 80 and the third brush 8| from the left which is now in contact with the segment 82 at the terminal of the heavy-line wire 83. Consequently the entering connections are reversed and the "Quantity value 205 is entered as the multiplier.

In the example of Fig. 3, the amounts in fields which control the reversing magnet 29 are also entered into the MP and MC accumulators but it will be appreciated that the fields from which entries are so made may be two different fields. Thus, one pair of fields may determine whether connections for another pair of fields are to be reversed or not, or by omitting one set of entering connections such as those to the MC accumulator, the device will determine simply whether the amount in one field is to be entered or not entered.

In cases where the same number of card columns are not allotted to the two factors it is necessary to effect further plug connections 81 between sockets 88 (Fig. 1c) and sockets 12 so that the same number of sockets 12 are connected for each factor. The reason for this arrangement will be apparent if for example it be considered that a two column field designates Prlce." Thus with a- Quantity" of 25 and a Price" 01425, ifonly these five columns were connected to their respective emitters H and I 13, no impulses would be transmitted to either magnet 16 or and the "Price would remain connected to the MP accumulator. If a. plug connection 81 is made between a socket 86 and the "7? socket 12,the magnet 16 will receive one impulse through a circuit extending from line l1, cam contacts F05, socket 86, connection 81, "7 socket I2, relay contacts Z3, magnet 16 to line it and the connections would accordingly be reversed to enter the Quantity 25 as the multiplier.

During the cycle following the one in which the factors are read from the card, cam contacts FCI5 close during the period indicated in Fig. 4

to complete a circuit from line l1, contacts FCl 5,

and resetting magnets 90 of the stepping relays,

to line. Ill. The magnets in the usual manner move the stepping pawls out of engagement with the ratchets I8 so that they may be returned to starting position by the usual springs (not shown).

While there has been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Itis the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Ina record controlled multiplying machine, means for feeding a record card having a pair of fields, each field comprising a plurality of columns and eachcolumn containing a perforation representing a-digit or zero, means for sensing the perforations in said fields, entry receiving devices controlled thereby, connections between said sensing means and said devices, further sensing means and means controlled thereby for counting the number of zero representing perforations in each field and means controlled by said counting means for modifying the connections between said first named sensing means and said entry receiving devices.

2. In a machine of theclass described, means forsensing a multi-columnar field of a record card for desigiations representing an amount, means for sensing a second 'multi-columnar field of said record card for designations representing another amount, each colunm of said fields containing a designation representing'either a significant digit or zero and each field containing the same number of columns, an entry receiving device, alternative connections between said device and both of said sensing means, further sensing means responsive to certain of the desigby said ascertaining means for rendering said alternative connections effective to connect the sensing means related to the field'having the lesser number of significant digits to said entry receiving device.

3. In a record controlled multiplying machine, a pair of entry receiving devices, entering means for each, means for analyzing a pair of fields of a record card for perforations representing two factors, means normally connecting the entering means of one device with the analyzing means of one of said fields, means normally connecting the entering means of the second device with the analyzing means of the second field, further analyzing means, means controlled thereby for counting the number of zeros present in each factor and means controlled by said last means for causing a reversal of said connecting means to connecttheentering means of the first device to the analyzing means of the second field and the entering means of the second device to the analyzing means of the first 4. In a multiplying machine, a presensing means, a main sensing means, means for advancing a record card to both said means in succession, said card having two fields'of the same number of columns and each column containing a designation representing a significant digit or zero, means controlled by said presensing means for ascertaining the relative numbers of signifimeans.

5. In a multiplying machine, .a presensing means, a main sensing means, means for advancing a record card to both said means in succession, said card having two fields of the same number of columns and each column containing a designation representing a significant digit or zero, means controlled by said presensing means in response to the sensing of zero representing designations for counting the number of zero designations in each of said fields, an entry receiving device, connections between said device and said main sensing means normally connecting the same, and means controlled by said counting means when a predetermined one of said fields contains a greater number. of zero designations for interrupting said connections to disconnect said device from said main sensing means.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5 in which said advancing means isarranged to bring the card to rest at said presensing means for sensing of the zero designations while at rest and to move the card to pass the main sensing means'for analysis of all digit representing designations while in motion and in which the means controlled by the counting means is arranged to maintain said connections interrupted while the card passes said main sensing means.

' JAWS M. CUNNINGHAM.

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