US2709044A - Arvai - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1955 T. ARVA: 2399944 COUNTER TRANSFER MECHNISM Filed Nm .14.8, 1949 4 Shaefcw-Sheet 1 IN VEN TUR, 7/.50/5 VH/ May 24, 1955 T. ARVA: 2,709,044

COUNTER TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 24, 1955 T. ARVAI COUNTER TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Shout 3 T. ARVA: 2,769,044

COUNTER TRANSFER MECHANISM May 24, 1955 Filed Nov. 18. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Il L, A

IN1/EN TOR. 7750/? A?? l// l www United States Patent O COUNTER TRANSFER MECHANISM Tibor Arvai, Leysin, Switzerland Application November 1S, 1949, Serial No. 128,686

Claims priority, application Switzerland November 18, 1948 S Claims. (Cl. 23S- 1.33)

In general, calculating machines are all based on the principle of ten teeth gearing; they only differ one from the other in the position of the more or less complicated mechanical elements which is dependent on the characteristics and capacities of these machines. However, in spite of the very great improvements which have been realized since the Pascal machine and in spite of the ingenuity of technicians, this basic principle has not changed. On the one hand, the use in accordance with this principle of rack and pinion restricts, due to inertia and the noise of the gearing, the performance of the machine. On the other hand, the capacity of totalisators composed of an assembly of pinions having a common axis, and of which each tooth corresponds to a single numeral from to 9 and each pinion respectively represents units', tens, hundreds, etc., is limited by the carry-forward mechanism used to transmit to the higher unit the carry over resulting from the addition of two numerals such as 9 and l.

In the greater number of calculating machines performing the four operations, this carry-forward mechanism of the tens includes a cylinder, the periphery of which is provided with two rows of teeth each one forming a helicoidal and opposed pitch. One of the rows is usedV for positive operations such as addition and multiplication, the other row serving for negative operations such as subtraction and division. It is easy to understand that the diameter of the helicoidal cylinder increases proportionately with the capacity of the totalisator and therefore the resulting increasing inertia compels constructors to limit the capacity of the totalisator. This is why, even in the most modern machines provided with one or more totalisators having a capacity of twenty or twenty-one numerals, the carry-forward of the tens can only take place on eleven to fourteen numerals according to the construction. It is obvious that the result of an addition or of a subtraction cannot be exact if the number of numerals composing this result is higher than the part of the totalisator which may receive the carry-forward. Only a few machines can perform such operations, but their speed is considerably reduced.

The complicated mechanism for the zero setting and for locking the calculating pinions as well as the inaccuracy of the result if the number of numerals comprising this result is higher than the parts of these machines are important disadvantages strongly affecting the cost price of the machines based on the principle of tenth gearing.

The present invention relates to a device for transmitting a selected value from a receiver to a register member for a machine such as a calculator which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. This device is characterized by the fact that it comprises an operating shaft carrying at least one receiving element provided with two cams, one integral with the said shaft and the other rotatably mounted on said shaft, the said two cams being each provided at their periphery with at least one boss,

the said bosses ensuring the movement of a corresponding transmission lever. The latter is operatively connected with an intermediate lever, which lever is in turn operatively connected with a register member freely mounted on a grooved shaft to which a friction member is keyed, said friction member contacting said register member and urging the latter to rotate together therewith upon rotation of the operating shaft. Upon movement of said bosses the transmission lever is pivotally displaced and produces a corresponding pivotal displacement of said intermediate lever, thereby freeing the latter from its operative engagement with said register member.

Upon being so freed the register member rotates together with the friction member keyed to the grooved shaft until the operative engagement of the intermediate lever with the register member is restored. The interval of time during which the transmission lever moves the intermediate lever is determined by the relative position of the bosses of the above-mentioned cams.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Fig. l is a side view of the said device which shows the means for transmitting an impulse from a receiver to a register member.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the device of Fig. l, with the orders thereof increasing in magnitude from top to bottom.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a receiving element for a special position of the bosses of the cams.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a receiving element for another position of the bosses of the cams.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the said device which shows the means for transmitting an impulse from a receiver to a register member in another position than that of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is another side view for yet another position of means adjacent the means shown in Figures l and 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the intermediate levers and of the register member during the return movement to the initial position.

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of a register member assembly.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the element of the register member integral with the grooved shaft.

Fig. 10 is an edge view of this element.

Fig. ll is a partial sectional view of a register member assembly.

Fig. l2 is a front view of a freely mounted element of the register member for one position of the intermediate lever.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the idler element of the register member; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of the device in an operative position similar to Fig. 6 and showing the escapement pawl of an adjacent device.

The device shown, more particularly adapted for a calculating machine, comprises an operating shaft 2 carrying several receiving elements or members; each of the latter is provided with a cam 1 integal with the shaft 2 and a cam 3 rotatably mounted on the latter and adapted to be driven in a conventional manner by a key of a lever operating key-board of the machine, whereby the lever transmits the movement of the respective key onto cam 3 and moves the latter to a predetermined position about shaft 2 depending on the selected key. The shaft 2 serves essentially to induce rotation of the cams, i .e., to permit registering of the adding machine and the counter. This shaft is actuated by a handle in a manually-operated machine and by a motor in an electric machine. On their peripheries, the cams 1 and 3 are provided with bosses 11 and 31 respectively, the angular distance separating these bosses corresponding to the value of the respective key ensuring change of the position of the cam 3 on shaft 2. The two cams i and 3 may distance by means of a key-board (not shown) and which does not constitute a part of this invention. The setting of cams 1 and 3 may also be manually adjusted. The number of necessary receiving members is equal to the number of the orders of a factor. For example, in order to register the number 9,853,547, there must be seven members each formed with a cam 1 and a cam 3.

Each of the receiving elements or members is engaged by a roller 14 carried by one end of a transmission lever 13 pivoted to an axle 16, said lever 13 being secured for this purpose to one end of a return spring 15, the other vend of which is secured to a stationary flange 23 forming a part of the frame of the machine shown. rThe lever 13 is provided with an abutment 131 adapted to actuate an intermediate lever bearing an escapement pawl 12 sov as to cause this lever to pivot about an axle lila, and to release the pawl 12 from one of the ten notches 7a provided on the periphery of a numeral wheel 7 associated with the lever 13 under consideration. Each intermediate lever 10 is controlled by a return spring 21 secured to a stationary plate forming a part of the frame of the machine shown.

Each numeral wheel 7 is composed of a register wheel provided with ten notches 7a on its periphery and forms part of an assembly which also includes a steel driving washer 8 provided with a lug 81. The register wheels 7 are idly mounted on a grooved shaft 4 provided with a collar S at one of its ends and with a driving pinion 6 at its other end; the lugs S1 of the washers 3 engaging the groove 41 of the shaft 4. Between the wheels 7, which slip on to the shaft 4, are inserted the washers 8, the assembly being pressed by a spring 9 against the above-mentioned collar 5.

Each of the register wheels 7 is made of Bakelite and trued up lon both faces so as to present a plane surface; with the purpose of facilitating their frictional drive by means of the washers 8.

In addition, the register wheels 7 bear the numerals 0 to 9 inscribed on their peripheries, and an abutmentjl. The abutment permits movement about the axle 10a, when passing from the value 9 to the value 0 or vice versa of each register wheel 7, of a corresponding carry-forward bell-crank arm 11, which is biased by a return spring 22 secured to the strip 20.

Movement of the carry-forward arm 11 of the iirst or units order by its respective abutment 7 produces a corresponding movement of the intermediate lever 10 which bridges the distance between the first (unit) order and the adjacent second (tens) order.

This movement of intermediate lever 1t) serves to disengage escapement pawl 12. of the second order from within one of the notches 7a on idler wheel 7 of the second order so that the idler wheel 7 of the second order is free to rotate until its respective pawl 12 engages another notch 7a thereof. In similar manner the idler wheels 7 of consecutive orders are freed for rotation. This rotation of the idler wheels 7 when disengaged from their respective pawls 12 is ensured by the frictional drive of the corresponding washer 8, which turns with the grooved shaft 4. The pinion 6 of the latter is adapted to be driven rotatably by means of a gear 26 keyed to the operating shaft 2 by means of a transmission gear 27. A transverse bar 19, forming part of the frame of the machine shown, carries the axle 10a and the plate strip 2t).

A locking pawl 17, corresponding to each of the levers 13, is rotatably mounted on the axle 16 and is controlled by a spring 1S mounted between pawl 17 and transmission lever 13 (see Fig. 5); it may engage a cut-out 111 of the carry-forward arm 11 of one idler 7, and a cut-out 121 of the intermediate lever 10 carrying the escapement pawl 12 of the adjacent idler 7 which corresponds to a higher unite, and thus control the rotation of the adjacent idler 7 dependent upon the rotation of said one idler 7.

The operation of the device when shafts 2 and 4 are rotated by gears 26, 27 and 6 is described by referring to the mechanism which includes a single pair of cams 1, 3, an intermediate lever means 13, a lirst idler 7, an outer idler, an intermediate arm 11, an intermediate lever 12, an intermediate washer 8 located between said idlers, and an outer washer located adjacent tirst idler 7.

When the roller 14 of intermediate lever 13 abuts the portions of cams 1 and 3 having the smallest radius (reference may be had to Fig. 5), the portion 13 of intermediate lever 13 abuts intermediate lever 10 and disengages pawl 12 from within notch 7a to permit rotation of first idler 7 due to the engagement of the latter with rotating outer washer 8. Intermediate arm 11 is then urged by spring 22 to the position wherein it abuis on the surface of rotating intermediate washer 8 and, therefore, on boss 7 thereof. Thus, intermediate arm 11 is effective to control the position of another lever 10 which forms a part of another mechanism actuated by another cam (which mechanism and cam are similar to the mechanism described above) and which engages outer idler 7. Thus, the first idler 7 which is controlled by intermediate lever 10 rotates due to the frictional engagement therewith of outer washer 8.

In the meanwhile, pawl 17 is guided against the undersurface of the extremity of intermediate arm 11 and intermediate lever 10 until it may slide within cut-outs 11 and 12 on said arm and lever, and thus hold intermediate arm 11 so that it no longer abuts the surface of intermediate washer 8 while simultaneously maintaining pawl 12 of intermediate lever 10 disengaged from outer idler so that first idler 7 may rotate together with the outer idler due to the frictional engagement thereof with outer Washer S and the intermediate washer S, respectively.

Upon continuing rotation of cams 1 and 3, roller 14 eventually engages the portion of the cams 1 and 3 which is of intermediate diameter (reference may behad to Fig. 6). Intermediate lever 13 is pivoted clockwise and portion 13' is disengaged from intermediate lever 10, while pawl 17 remains engaged within both cut-outs 11 and 12'; thereby holding pawl 12 of intermediate lever 10 disengaged from first idler 7 to permit rotation of the first idler 7 by means of outer washer 8, and thereby also holding intermediate arm 11 spaced from the surface of intermediate washer 8 in order that another lever 1 0 which forms a part of another mechanism is disengaged from outer idler 7 and permits the rotation of the latter.

Thus, it is seen that intermediate arm 11 which is actuated by intermediate lug '7' of its respective numeral wheel 7 controls another lever 10 connected to the outer numeral wheel 7 by controlling the disengagement of another pawl 12 from one of the notches in said outer idler.

Further control of said another lever 10 is obtained by the other mechanism including cam means similar to that described above.

When roller 14 engages the portions of cams 1 and 3 which have the largest radius (reference may be had to Fig. 1), lever 13 is pivoted clockwise an additional amount until locking pawl 17 is disengaged from cut-outs 11 and 12 on intermediate lever 10 and intermediate arm 11, respectively. Then, the springs 21 and 22 return intermediate lever 1i) and intermediate arm 11 to the position wherein the pawl 12 of intermediate lever 10 engages one of the notches 7a on iirst idler 7, and arm 11 is in the path of abutment of intermediate lug 7 so that first idler 7 is held in xed position while the outer idler is controlled by the position of intermediate arm 11 and also by another mechanism including cam means similar to that described above.

The device shown is operated as follows:

The setting to zero is accomplished when opening the escapement pawls 12 by causing a transverse bar 24 to pivot, by locking the carry-forward arms 11 through the shifting of a transverse bar 25, and by turning the register wheels 7 in the positive direction until all the projections 71 abut the carry-forward arms 11. Subsequently, by returning to its initial position, the transverse bar 24 releases the levers carrying the escapement pawls 12, and these levers are then actuated by their respective springs 21. Thus, the pawls 12 engage the Zero notches of the register wheels 7. Then, the transverse bar 25 resumes its initial position, thus permitting subsequent motion of carry-forward arms 11. All these movements are controlled by a cam, not shown on the accompanying drawings.

In order to add l to the number 999,999, one proceeds as follows: First the number is registered by six elements in such a way that the cams 1 and 3 are locked on the operating shaft 2, at the moment when the latter is rotatably actuated in the positive direction by means of a mechanism, not shown, which does not constitute part of this invention or by manual adjustment of the cams. Thereafter the operating shaft 2 moves the grooved shaft 4 through the intermediary of the gears 26, 27 and 6 (Figs. l and 2). The driving washers 8, which are keyed to the grooved shaft 4 and compressed by the spring 9, tend to drive the register wheels 7 which are being held locked by the escapement pawls 12 until the rollers 14 of the levers 13 fall into the openings of the cams 1 and 3 and open these pawls 12 which permit the rotation of the register wheels through the effect of friction exerted by the driving washers 8 on their sides. Rotation thus continues until the bosses 31 of the cams (Fig. 5) push back the levers 13 to their initial positions. The levers 10 carrying the escapement pawls 12 are then actuated by their respective springs 21 and the pawls 12 engage the notches 7a of the wheels 7, each representing the value 9. This results because when wheels 7 are stopped the escapement pawls 12 have fallen into the notch having the value 9, whereas the washers 8 continue to rotate until the operating shaft 2 has resumed its initial position. In order to add the numeral l, only the two cams 1 and 3 of the cam element representing unity eifect an opening between the bosses 11 and 31 corresponding to the numeral 1. The cams 1 and 3 of the element representing unity are locked with the operating shaft 2 which starts to rotate driving with it the grooved shaft 4. The roller 14 of the corresponding lever 13 falls into the abovementioned opening andimmediately resumes its initial position; however, its displacement has suiced to permit the operation of the corresponding escapement pawl 12, and ensure the rotation of a wheel 7 through an angle representing the unit; this wheel 7 is now stopped at the point 0, but the friction exerted by the driving washers 8 continues until the operating shaft 2 resumes its initial position. Due to its passage from the value 9 to the value 0, the projection 71 has raised the carry-forward arm 11 (Fig. 12). The latter, actuating the escapement pawl 12 of the higher value (Fig. 8), opens it and allows the wheel 7, representing the tens, to rotate one value. The latter, due to its passage from the value 9 to the value 0, effects the same movements and allows the wheel 7, representing the hundreds, to rotate one value. This same carry-forward movement continues up to the wheel which represents the millions; to begin with, the latter had the value 0, and now indicates the value l, thus allowing the addition of 999,999 and 1 which equals 1,000,000. This method of carrying forward permits a very large number of register wheels in a register member.

The carrying forward must also be possible when the escapement pawls 12 are already opened by the corresponding levers 13; the pawls 17 ensure the carrying forward in such a case, as shown by the following example: Referring to Fig. 5, the device nearly terminates the registering of the number 99, the bosses 31 are on the point of pushing back the levers 13 to their position of rest. The escapement pawls 12 are open. The two register wheels 7, actuated for this purpose, have not completed a full turn, the projections 71 have therefore not disturbed the carry-forward arms 11 kfrom their initial positions. The corresponding pawls 17 are about to enter the notches or cut-outs 111 of the carry-forward arms 11. The operating shaft 2 completes its rotation and resumes its initial position, the wheels 7 representing the units and the tens have registered the number 99. If the operating shaft 2 is once more rotated in order to add this same number, the levers 13 fall into the opening of the cams and ensure the opening of the pawls 12, the two corresponding wheels 7 rotate, but due to their passage from the value 9 to the value 0 the projections 71 raise the carry-forward arms 11. The carry-forward arm 11 of the tens actuates the escapement pawl 12 of the higher order and thus transmits a value t0 the wheel indicating the hundreds. The carryforward arm 11 of the register wheel is also moved by the projection 71, but it cannot act on the pawl 12 of the 'tens because the latter is already open. At that moment, the pawl 17 takes advantage of this movement in order to engage the notch 111 of the carry-forward arm of the units order and the notch 121 of the lever carrying the escapement pawl of the hundreds. Fig. 6 shows this position of the group of the tens with respect to the carry-forward arm 11 of the units order. The boss 31 has raised the lever 13 and the corresponding escapement pawl 12 would close if it were not held by means of the pawl 17. Each cam 3 is also provided with a boss 32 so that the distance between the bosses 3 and 32 corresponds to a unit value on the register wheel 7. The boss 32 forces a further movement of the corresponding lever 13 thus allowing lip 132 on the lever 13 to release the carry-forward arm 11 and the corresponding escapement pawl 12 by actuating the pawl 17 in order to disengage it.

Multiplication is a succession of additions; the operation is the same as for the addition except that, Vin order to avoid rotating the axis 2 too great a number of times, it is sufiicient to shift the receiving elements (formed of the two cams 1 and 3) in front of the wheels of the register member or vice versa according to the characteristics of the machine and to turn them as many times in each position as indicated by the multiplier. In order to multiply 948 by 326, the operation is as follows: since the number 948 is indicated on the cams by different openings, the element representing 8 is placed opposite the unity wheel 7, the element representing 4 opposite the tens wheel 7 and the element representing 9 opposite the hundreds wheel 7. In order to carry out the multiplication, it is then sulcient to rotate the axis 2 six times in the unity position, to shift the three receiving elements so that the receiving element of S is opposite the tens wheel 7 and to rotate the axis 2 twice in this position; thereupon, the three receiving elements must be shifted in order that the 8 be opposite the hundreds wheel 7 and to turn the axis 2 three times. The resultant number 309,048 will be reached after l1 turns of the axis 2 instead of 326. A subtraction is carried out in the same way as an addition, but by reversing the direction of rotation of the register member by means of a mechanism not shown.

Since a division is a repetition of a subtraction, such an operation may be eiected merely by rotating the axis 2 into each position from left to right until the partial number indicated on the register member is smaller than the divisor indicated on the cams.

The device shown permits the eliminating from the calculating machine of the helicoidal cylinder of the carry-forward of the tens; it presents the possibility of carrying out astronomical computations in view of the practically unlimited capacity of the register member; it permits a great reduction in the dimensions of high capacity machines and thus considerably reduces their cost price. The device shown may be employed in calculating machines of any model; it may be used for driving the type bars in writing and calculating machines; the device may also be used for revolution counters, electricity and uid counters, telecounters and teletypers; and, in general, in all reckoning machines fithe other cam being rotatably movable for actuation 1 on said shaft, said two cams being each provided on their periphery with at least one boss, a transmission lever carrying means selectively engaging said bosses, an intermediate lever carrying holding means selectively engageable with said register member, said bosses ensuring the movement of said transmission lever for urging said means on said intermediate lever into engagement with said register member, said register member cornprising a grooved shaft and at least two elements mount-v ed on said grooved shaft and adapted to be rotatably actuated by said operating shaft, one of said elements being integral with the grooved shaft and adapted to drive by friction the other element, said other element being idly mounted on said grooved shaft and selectively engaged by said holding means, the interval of time during which the bosses on the operating shaft urge said holding means on the intermediate lever into engagement with said other element being determined by the relative position of the bosses of said cams.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission lever carries at one of its ends a roller adapted to ride on the cams of the corresponding receiving element, said transmission lever pivoting on an axis and being subjected to the action of a return spring.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said idle element of said register member is provided with notches on its periphery, said transmission lever having an abutment adapted to actuate said intermediate lever, said intermediate lever being provided with an escapement pawl adapted to engage and release one of said notches provided on the periphery of said idle element of the corresponding register member, said intermediate lever being spring-biased and pivoted to a shaft.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said register member is mounted on said grooved shaft and provided with a collar at one of the ends of said shaft and with a driving pinion at the other end, said elements of said register member being pressed against said collar by means of a spring.

5. A device according to claim l, wherein said register member further comprises a washer provided with a lug engaging the groove of said grooved shaft.

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6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said idle element of said register member is provided with notches in its periphery, said intermediate lever carrying an escapement pawl normally engaging one of said notches, said idle element of said register member having an abutment adapted to actuate means for moving said intermediate lever and said escapement pawl in order to release said pawl from engagement with said idle element, and to allow the latter to rotate by friction, said means being pivoted on an axis and having a return spring.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate lever is provided with a notch, a bell crank lever pivoting on an axis and having a notch therein, a spring-biased locking pawl pivoting on an axis and adapted to engage and disengage said notches of said bell crank lever and said intermediate lever.

8. A device for transmitting an impulse from a receiver member to a register member in calculating and like machines; comprising a first operating shaft carrying at least one receiving member provided with two cams, one cam being fixed to said shaft and the other cam being rotatably movable for actuation on said shaft, said two cams being each provided on their periphery with at least one boss, holding means actuated by said bosses for selectively engaging said register member, said register member comprising a second shaft adapted to be rotatably actuated by said first shaft, and at least two elements mounted on said second shaft and adapted to be rotatably actuated by said first shaft, one of said elements being adapted to drive by friction the other element, said other element being idly mounted on said second shaft and selectively engaged by said holding means, the interval of time during which the first operating shaft urges said holding means into engagement with said other element being determined by the relative position of the bosses of said cams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,528 Grant Aug. 16, 1887 852,016 Ellis Apr. 30, 1907 866,162 Richards Sept. 17, 1907 1,695,663 Rodanet Dec. 18, 1928 2,093,731 La Boiteaux Sept. 21, 1937 2,171,477 La Boiteaux Aug. 29, 1939 2,185,260 Lasker Ian. 2, 1940 2,191,877 Bugg Feb. 27, 1940 2,198,063 Seignol et al. Apr. 23, 1940

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