US2558967A - Differentially operable accumulating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1951 E. R. LAWSON DIFFERENTIALLY OPERABLE ACCUMULATING MECHNISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1949 A m. ri m INVENTCR EARL R. LAWSON Madam.

ATI'ORNEY July 3, 1951 E. R. LAwsoN 2,558,967 DIFFERENTIALLY OPERABLE ACCUMULATING MECHANISM Filed May 24, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZSnventor EARL R. LAWSON (Ittorne Patented July 3, 1951 DIFFERENTIALLY OPERABLE ACCUMULAT- ING MECHANISM Earl R. Lawson, Vestal, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 95,032

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to record controlled accounting machines and more particularly to the accumulating devices therein.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simplified control mechanism and circuit connections for the accumulating mechanism. The type of accumulator to which the invention applies is the well known differentially operable accumulator in which the accumulating element or wheel is coupled or clutched to a constantly rotating driving element. A start magnet when energized effects coupling and a stop magnet when energized effects uncoupling, and by controlling the relative times of energization of these magnets the wheel may be advanced to enter any selected digital value.

Heretofore, a single pair of start and stop magnets was provided in each denominational order of the accumulator, and through switching mechanism were controllable during adding operations to enter digits and during resetting operations were effective to advance the wheels to their zero or home positions.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided in each denominational order a second pair of start and stop magnets, and the circuits are reorganized so that one pair of magnets is controlled for adding or subtracting operations, and the otherfor resetting and total taking operations. This enables the elimination of switching devices known as total switch plates whose function was to adjust the circuits between adding and total taking operations, so that the single pair of magnets would respond to diierent current sources.

Other objects of the invention Will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation View of an accumulator assembly showing two accumulator orders. Some of the parts in the lower order are sectioned and other parts are removed to clearly reveal the totalizing mechanism. Y

Fig. 2 is a front and sectional view of the accumulators taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation View of the accumulator taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the tens carry contacts as positioned when the related accumulator wheel is located in the zero position after having passed from 9 to 0.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the tens carry contacts (Cl. 235-6L6) as positioned when the associated accumulator wheel is located in its 9 position.

Fig. 6 is a Wiring diagram of the electrical circuits for controlling the accumulator.

Fig. 7 is a timing diagram showing the period of operation of certain of the electrical and mechanical devices.

A machine of the type to which the invention may be applied is shown and described in detail in the patent of A. W. Mills, No. 2,079,418, granted May 4, 1937, The accumulator thereof, to which the present invention is directed, will first be described as to its structural arrangement and with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

The gear le in each accumulator order is mounted on a bushing 29 (Fig. 2) and keyed to another gear 30 by means of a dowel pin 3l fastened to the bushing. The unit comprising the gears and the bushing is free to rotate constantly on the stud il. The stud is extended by attaching a shouldered sleeve 32 thereon by a screw 33. Between the head of the screw and the shoulder on the sleeve is located a hub 34 carrying an accumulator gear wheel 35 and a tens carry disk 36. Thus, the two separate gear units may rotate independently on the stud Il. The unit containing gear 30 is rotated one-half revolution for each cycle of operation of the machine. The accumulator gear 35 is provided with forty teeth. Therefore, one-quarter revolution of this gear represents a complete adding operation of ten steps.

'The two gears 3i) and 35 are adapted to be clutched together so that the accumulator gear 35 may be driven a differential distance by the drive gear 30. The clutching device includes two pinions 3l and 38 (Figs. 1 and 3) which are held together by a bushing 39 on a stud 4D mounted on a clutching lever 4l pivoted at 42 (Fig. l). The pinion 3| is adapted to engage with the gear 30 but the teeth thereon are normally out of engagement with the gear teeth. The other pinion 38 maintains engagement with the teeth on accumulator gear 35. A spring 43 attached to lever 4| urges the lever counterclockwise to clutch pinion 31 with gear Si) for driving, but the lever is prevented from moving by the contact of the end of a horizontal arm thereon'with the end of an armature 44 pivoted at 46 and associated with the accumulator magnets D and DI the armature being held in such a position against a stop stud 4l by a spring 45. When either of the magnets D or DI is energized, attracting the armature, the lever 4l is released and then the spring 43 rocks the pinion 3l into mesh with the gear 30.

An adding operation in the accumulator is effected by the sensing of an amount perforation in one of the data columns of the record card (Fig. 6) by the respective sensing brush 5 to cause energization of magnet D. The pinion 31 is then thrown into mesh with the gear Si) while the latter is rotating. Through the connections between pinions 31 and 38 and gear 35 the accumulator gear is caused to rotate until the zero position on the card reaches the brush. at which time the pinion 31 is thrown out of mesh by a cam 50 (Figs. 1 and 2) which cooperates with the clutching lever 4|. This cam is xed with respect to gears l and 3|! and thus is constantly rotating with them. As shownI in Fig. l, two cam projections 5| and two projections 52 are provided on the cam 5i) because the cam is timed to turn a half revolution for each accumulator cycle. After the pinion 31 is thrown into mesh with gear 3i] and commences to rotate gear 35,7as soon as the cam projection 5| reaches an arm 52 extending from lever 4|, the cam rocks the lever clockwise about the pivot e2 to move the pinion 31 out of mesh with gear 3e, so that the accumulating gear 35 is declutched from the Vdriving means and ceases to rotate. The lever 4| is latche'd in the declutched position by the armature 44.

When the clutching lever 4| is moved counterclockwise to clutching position, an extension on the top of the lever engages a shoulder on a plate 54 which is located properly to stop the lever. An impositive latch or pawl 55 is pivoted at 42 and connected to lever 4| by a pin and slot connection 56. When the lever holds the clutching pinions out of engagement, pawl 55 engages the teeth on gear 35. The pawl also prevents overthrow of the gear as it is declutched. The pinion 38 is provided with an impositive latch l51 pivoted on lplate 1.

If it is desired to subtract an amount from the accumulator, the complement 'of the amount is added to the accumulator. In adding the complement, accumulator magnets D are energized automatically at the nine index position (the units order at the ten position) to mesh pinions 31 with gears 30 and start the wheels rotating. Each wheel continues torotate until a perforation is sensed, then the 'gears inthe accumulator receiving the complement are declutched. The connections for operating the lever 4| to secure the desired relationship between the clutching of one accumulator and the declutching of the other accumulator will now be described.

A subtraction and cancellation control magnet S (Fig. 1)l is energized under control of the record card perforation sensed by the brush 5. A magnet S is provided for each accumulator order and is associated with devices for operating clutching lever 4| todeclutch gear 35. A long lever 58 is pivoted at 59 on plate 1 and has one end cooperating with the bottom of an armaturey 60 associated with magnet S. The armature is pivoted at 6| and held normally against a stop stud 62 by a spring 63. When the magnet is energized, releasing the end of the lever 58, a spring 64 urges the lever in a c'ounterclockwise direction against stop 65 and a pin 56 on the lever is pushed against a latch 61 pivoted at 68. The latch 61 normally engages a shoulder 69 on an arm 10 pivoted at 1|.

Another shoulder 12 on the arm 10 is urged towards the horizontal arm on a lever 4| by means of the spring 43 attached to a stud on the arm. The sudden release of the arm 10 after the pin 66 pushes the latch 61 away from shoulder 69 causes the two parts 10 and 4| to rock clockwise under the urging of the spring 43 connecting the two, thereby swinging the lever 4| in a clockwise direction to declutch the gears. This action is accomplished because spring 43 tends to fold together and shorten. lt can shorten only when member 19 and frame il are rocked in a clockwise direction. Therefore, when the latch 61 releases the spring, it moves the frame to declutch the gears. The parts 51 and 10 delay declutching a moment after magnet S is energized. The lever 4| is latched in normal position by the armature 44.

At the end of each machine cycle the lever 53 is restored by one of a pair of rollers 13 mounted on a flange of the bushing 29 (Fig. 2). The roller strikes the lower side of the left end of the lever (Fig. l), rocking it clockwise and latching the right end under armature Eil. 'While restoring, a pin 14 on lever 58 strikes the lower edge of arm 1 and restores the arm,placing shoulder 69 above the latching face on latch 51 and tensioning spring 43 to urge lever 4| in the proper direction for clutching the gears. The parts 61 and 1D provide means for controlling the declutching time, so that a uniform disengagement of the gears is secured during the operation of the machine.

From the foregoing section of the description, it is clear that the accumulator wheels are clutched to the driving gears by means under control of the accumulator magnets D, and they are declutched by the magnets S at differential times during a cycle or by cam 5| at the end of a cycle. During ordinary adding operations, the magnets S are not used, the accumulator wheels being clutched at the differential times by the magnets D and declutched at the zero position by cams 5|.

When the machine is set for subtraction conl trol, the magnets D are energized early in the cycle to clutch the Vaccumulator wheels to begin adding the complement of the amount. Then, when a certain amount perforation in the card is sensed, the related accumulator magnet S is energized to declutch the wheel at the differential point.

For effecting carrying or transferring from one order to the next order in an accumulator, a frame 'i pivoted at 18 is adapted to cooperate with the cam 'faces on the tens carry disk Sii which is attached to the accumulator gear wheel 35 as described hereinbe'fore. An insulation block 1s vsecured to frame 11 cooperates with the center blade B5 of a set of Contact blades 8i), 8| and 5'?. lA finger t@ extending from the frame 11 cooperates with the periphery of the transfer' disk 3S.

When the accumulator wheel is located in the nine position (Fig. 5),` a notch e4 in the disk is in line with linger its and allows vframe 'i1 to rock in a countercloclcwise direction, permitting the center spring contact blade Se to rise, closing the contacts 35 between the two upper blades.

If the accumulator wheel passes `from the `nine to the zero position during an adding operation (Fig. li), a projection 86 on disk v3G strikes the finger 33 and rocks the frame 11 'in a, clockwise direction. The block 1g then depresses the `cen-- ter blade below the normal position and closes contacts 81 between the two lower blades. A latch 88 pivoted at 59 cooperates with a'shoulder 90 to hold lthe frame in shifted position after the wheel passes the camming position. A'spring,r 9| holds the latch in position until the end` of the ladding cycle when one of the rollers 13 strikes the latch and releases frame 11 for movement counterclockwise into normal position as urged by blade 80.

After accumulating, the Wheels are restored to the normal zero position, finger 83 rests on the concentric edge of the disk, and frame 11 holds the center blade 80 with both contacts 85 and 81 opened.

Each lower contact 81 is wired in series with the next higher order accumulator magnet D in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter with reference to the wiring diagram.

The upper contacts 85 are also wired to connect to higher order magnets so that, if a carry impulse is directed to the magnet associated with closed contacts 85, the impulse is carried through them to the next higher magnet. The carry impulses through the contacts S5 and 81 are timed to occur after the cam projection 5| passes the extension 53, so that if a carry is desired the magnet D is energized, releasing lever 4| and clutching the accumulator gear for one step of movement, after which the clutch lever is again thrown out by the engagement of the cam projection 52 with extension 53.

The energizaticn of the units order magnet at the ten rather than the nine position during complement addition has been mentioned before in this specification. The extra unit thus gained lls out the complement to the true tens complen ment of the number being subtracted. If the number represented on a record card contains a zero in the units column, the rotation of the units order wheel through ten steps of movement will actuate the carry mechanism to induce a carry into the higher order Awheel, thus automatically carrying the extra unit to the higher orders to ll out the complement.

Referring now to the circuit diagram (Fig. 6), the card sensing devices are diagrammatically represented and the circuitV arrangement is presented in simplied form. When an amount is to be added, the switch |80 is closed to energize the Plus relay Rl and, when an amount is to be subtracted, the switch lill is closed to energize the Minus relay R2. It will be assumed that the cards l are fed past brushes 5 through suitable devices, so that the index point positions 9, 8, '7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, l, (l pass and are sensed in succession in the usual manner.

With switch closed and relay Rl energized, an adding circuit Will be completed when a hole in card is sensed, which is traceable from line |03, card lever contacts CL, contact roller 220, hole in the card, brush 5, plug connection |04, a contacts of relay Ri (shifted), circuit breaker contacts and add magnet D to ground. At the 0 time in the cycle (see Fig. '7), the mechanical knockout cam 5| will declutch the adding wheel, leaving itradvanced an amount represented by the Value of the hole sensed.

The circuit from brush 5 also extends through connection |04, b contacts of relay Ri and connection |01 to print magnet PM and ground. This magnet positions a type bar, as explained, in the patent referred to, so that the amount added will also be printed on a suitable record sheet.

At the tens carry time, contacts CBM close and, if for example the units wheel had passed through ten steps and closed its contacts 81, the circuit would be completed from line |03, cont-acts CBI4, contacts 81 in the units order, contacts |06 (now shifted) in the tens order and 6 magnet D to ground. This effects clutching i'n the tens order and, after one step of advance, cam 52 effects mechanical declutching.

For subtracting an amount, switch |0| is closed to energize relay R2 which closes its a and b contacts. Accordingly, contacts 0F22 will complete a circuit one point in advance of the 9 sensing time, through the b contacts of relay R2 in the emitter order and contacts |05 to the D magnet in such order. In remaining orders, contacts CF23 will energize the D magnets through similar circuits at the 9 time. Later, when the hole in the card is encountered, a circuit is completed in the units order, for example, from brush 5, connection |04, a contacts of relay RI (normal) and magnet S to ground to declutch the wheel after advancing an amount representing the 10s complement of the hole value. In other orders this will be the 9s complement.

A parallel printing circuit extends from brush 5, connection |04, a contacts of relay R2 (shifted) connection Iil and print magnet PM to print the true value sensed. Thus, amounts are entered additively or subtractively.

In the foregoing manner, amounts are added or subtracted accordingly as switch |00 or |0| is closed, and it will be assumed that the aggregate of plus items is greater than the minus items, so that the total standing in the accumulator will have a plus value.

In order to read out such total and also to reset the accumulator, switches |09', |10 are closed and switch l ii is shifted to its dotted line position. With switch ||0 closed, contacts CB23 will complete a circuit from line |03 and plug connections I2 to all the DI magnets in parallel, and as a result the adding Wheels will all be coupled for rotation ten steps in advance of the zero point in the cycle.

Just before the 9 point, contacts CBSB close to energize relay R3, shift its a contacts and hold them shifted for the period indicated in Fig. 7. Contacts CB'IS will transmit a series of impulses at each digit entering time, as indicated, to the 10s carry contacts 81.

Assuming that, for example, the units order stood at 4. the initial energization of its magnet DI Would have coupled the Wheel for rotation and six steps or points of advance would cause it to pass from 9 to 0 setting, incidentally closing contacts 81. This closure of contacts S1 would be concurrent with the closure of contacts CBI3 at the 4 time and a circuit is then traceable from line |03, through contacts CBI3, switch (shifted), contacts 81 in the units order, a contacts of relay R3 in the units order, and stop magnet SI to ground. Magnet Si causes uncoupling of the adding wheel leaving it at its 0 or home position. At the same time, there is a circuit from line |03, contacts CB|3, switch I||, contacts 81 in the units order, connection ||3 to print magnet PM to interrupt the type carrier With its 4 type in printing position.

Similar parallel circuits occur in all other orders, with interruption of rotation of such wheels occurring when they reach 0 with accompanying print of the total.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modication, 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 invena assess? 7 tion. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A denominational order of an accumulator comprising a driving element, a driven element, coupling mechanism therebetween, a pair of mag nets, each separaten7 eii'ective upon energization to cause the coupling mechanism to connect the driven element for operation by the driving eiement, a second pair oi magnets each separately effective upon energization to cause the coupling mechanism to disconnect said driven and driving elements, entry control means for causing energization of one of each pair of magnets in succession to enter a digital value into the driven element, and reset control means for causing energization of the other of each pair of magnets in succession to reset the driven element.

2. A denominational order of an accumulator comprising a driving element, a driven element, coupling mechanism therebetween, a pair of magnets, each separately effective upon energization to cause the coupling mechanism to connect the driven element for operation by the driving element, a second pair of magnets, each separately effective upon energization to cause the coupling mechanism to disconnect said driven and driving elements, entry control means 'for causing energization of one of said pairs of magnets to cause coupling oi the driven element, means controlled by the driving element for rendering the coupling mechanism subsequently ineiective, reset control vmeans for causing energization ci the other of said pair of magnets to cause coupling of the driven element, and means controlled by the driven element when it reaches a reset position for rendering the coupling mechanism ineffective.

3. A denominational order of an accumulator comprising a driving element, a driven element, coupling mechanism therebetween, a tens carry deviceya pair of magnets, each separately effective upon energization to cause the coupling mechanism to effect a driving connection between said elements, means coordinated with the driving element for eiecting uncoupling at a predetermined point in the operation of the driving element, a rst control means for causing energization of one of said magnets at differential times in advance of said uncoupling op eration, whereby the driven element will be advanced differential amounts, a second control means for causing energization of the other of said magnets at a second predetermined point in the operation of the driving element, and means controlled by the tens carry device for eifecting uncoupling when the driven element passes through a zero position, and means for selecting either of said control means for operation.

4. In a cyclically operable accumulating mechanism of the type wherein the digit entry in an accumulator element is initiated by an impulse transmitted to a start magnet and is terminated by an impulse transmitted to a stop magnet, the combination therewith of a second start mag net and a second stop magnet for initiating and terminating an entry by impulses transmitted thereto, respectively, a rst impulse source for energizing the rst pair of magnets, a second impulse source for energizing the second pair of magnets, and devices for selectively rendering either impuise source effective.

EARL R. LAWSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,079,418 Mills May 4, 1937 2,224,770 Mills Dec. 10, 1940

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