US1370429A - Computing-machine - Google Patents

Description

vmuren STATES""`PATENT ori-lcs LoUIs Eu GILEs, F NEwfYonmN. Y., Assieme?. vTo UNDERwooD ooiurtrrmo'Y MACHINE- COMPANY, oF NEW YoRx, N. Y., CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Todllwhomtma concern.'

,putations, tiat is, of adding positive and negative numbersl irrespective of their relative magnitudes, and of indicating the correctresult, whether )ositive or negative.

The invention is erein disclosed as an improvement on the device illustrated andA described in my prior application, Serial No. 331,585, filed October 18, 1919, which is, in turn,4 set forth as an improvement on a computing machine of the Underwood- Hanson type, such as the one illustrated and described in the Patent No. 1,278,812, granted September 10, 1918, to Hans Hanson. As in the case o'f my prior invention, however, the4 present invention is adapted for use in connection with any computing inachine having a re 'Ster or totalizer compris ing movable num er wheels or other figurecanrying elements, and means for eiecting either addition or'subtraction by varying the positions of said figure-carrying elements.

In the form in which the invention is herein disclosed, as in my aforesaid improvement, I provide a duplicate4 set of figuresbearing elements or number wheels, coirespondingin number and relative arrangement with the number wheels of the usual totalizer, and Aconnect each wheel of the set,'by means of an idler, with a corre spending totalzer number wheel. Also, as in the aforesaid rior improvement, I provide, for the ad ed set of number wheels, a sight-opening of a width vs'uliicientto expose'two ad'acent rows of figures. The number whe'els of the added set are so geared orfconnected to`those`of the totalizer, and the sight-openin are so disposed relative] to said wheels t at when. a of a. 4tota f' izer numberwheel is coincident with 4the 0" and a 9 of totalizer sight-opening a the correspondingnumber 4wheel of the added set will be in register, vith the double- \vidthsightopening,

Specification of Letters Patent.l Ptented plan 1 192i.-

A'ppncauqn med November 1a, i919,4 serial No. 331,656. Renewed August e?, 1920. serial No. 406,503'.4

In my above-mentioned prior application, 1t was explained that the added set of number wheels and extra sight-opening afford means for indicatingresults of the oppo site character to the character of the re- 60 sults ordinarily read from the usual sightopening, the results of opposite character. being read at the wide sight-opening, partly from one row of figures, and partly from the other.

As a means for facilitating the readings at the duble-width sight-opening, my presont invention includes a variably settable indexing device, herein disclosed as a shield or shutter, which, when set in a position 70 havingr a readily determinable relation with respect to the figures exposed at the usual 'totalizer sight-opening, will conceal all u res of the two rows at the double-width sight-opening except those from `which a 7.5. reading is to be taken. Y

Although the double-width sight-openin has been herein disclosed in connection withthe number wheels of the added set, itis within lthe scope of my invention to transpose the relative positions of the sight-open-- ings in which case the double-width sightopening would be associated with the usual totalizcr number wheel, and theV singlewidth sight-opening with the number wheels of the added set. Obviously, either sight-v opening may be arbitrarily assigned :is-the, one from which positive readings may be taken, the other beingr used in the reading of -nega-tive results. g

From the"foregoing brief descriptiom it will be seen that the desired end is attained without the .use 'of special carrying nicchie,` nism, mechanicallysoporated shutters, or, other compl icatcd mechanism, thus provid, W5? ingr` a vei'y simple and: practical device whic will be inexpensive to produce,and not likely to get out of order'and disable the machine, or cause it to give erroneous results,

Other features and advantages will -here- 10,9 inafter appear. ,-1 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a topf-view of the frontlmrt4 of a computing machine of the Underwood-, Hanson type, showing one embodiment of my invention as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the, front part of the machine 'from frfmt'to rear, including an end view' of the usualtotalizer, the added set of `number wheels 1,1 0

, ment applied thereto for ordinary arit and the idlers by which the wheels of the added set are geared to the corresponding totalizer wheels, and a section through the reading gage or shutter. 4

Fig. 3 is a perspective View ofthe reading ga e or-shutter detached from other parts o the mechanism.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views of the totallzer,V illustrating different positionsof the reading gage or shutter determinative of difierent readings.

As hereln disclosed, the reference 'character 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) re resents the front part of the casing of an vnderwood-'Hanson combined typewriting and computing machine, including the usual sight-opening 21, through which' readings may be taken from the usual totalizer 22, comprising the usual number `wheels 23 and rack-bars 24. The usual tens-carrying mechanism for the totalizer and theA mechanism for advancing the rack-bars, so as to o erate the number wheels, is fully disclose in the aforesaid Hanson atent, and the machine therein illustrate and described is in common use. The disclosure of the computing mechanism need not therefore Abe set forth in detail herein.

Geared to each of the number wheels 23,'

by means of an idler 25, is a corresponding number wheel' 26, of a secondary or subsidiary set of number wheels 27, the connection between said number wheels being such that .each number4 wheel of the subsidiary set will always rotate concomitantly with, and in exact accordance with, the corresponding number wheel of the totalizer 22. The subsidiary number wheels rotate in the same direction as those of the totalizer, and each is provided, at its periphery, withfa 0. and the di 'ts 1 to 9, as usual, but the digits on t e subsidiary number wheels are arranged in inverse order, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, bythe figures applied conventionally to the sides of .said wheels. A

Instead of the usual narrow sight-opening, there is provided lin the machine casing 20 a sight-o ning 28 for the subsidiary number whee s, said sight-opening being of a width suilicient to expose two adjacent rows of the' figures thereon.

' When using a machine with my im rovelimetical addition and subtraction, in which case 'the results are always positive, the re'adings may invariably be taken from thetotalizer number wheels, through the narrow sightolpening 21, as usual. But, should the mac me be called upon to eii'cct an algebraic computation, that is, if at anytime the aggregate of the 'negative quantities added exceeds the aggregate of the positive quantities, so as to result in an overdraft` or to cause the machine to pass through 0, then the readings may be taken from the subsidiary number wheels through the wide sightopening 28 and will be read partly from one row of figures and partlyfrom the other, the parti-cular figures to be read from the respective rows being determined by a. reading gage or Shutter 29, after properly setting the same .in a manner hereinafter explained. A

The reading gage 29 may be so mounted as to slide between guide-plates 30 secured by rivets'or other fastening devices 31 to the under side of the machine frame 20. The gage 429 may be provided with sightopenings 32, and 33, one in register with the lower row of figures and the other in register with the upper row of `figures of the two rows which register with the doublewidth sight-opening. The openings 32 and 33 extend in opposite direction from the center of the. gage, so as to be ,incapable of exposing two figures-of the same denominalVhen the machine'has been cleared, in

' readiness to commence a series of Computations. the usual totalizeinumber wheels will exhihita row of Ois at the narrow sightopening '21, and theI subsidiary number wheels will'exhibit a row of 0 sthrough the sight-openingi of the reading gage 29, indicated in. its n'ormalposition at the `extreme left in Figs. 1 'and 4, Starting with the, machine in this condition, iet' it he as'- sumed that the number 3,120,760 is to be added to the number 876,421, andthat the lnumber 2,749,541 isA to besubtrac'ted therefrom. As the numbers are successivelyset i up on thekeyboard 'and run intp the totalizer they will be'- accumulated and the suc-` cessive results will appear'. at the upper or narrow sight-opening 21,'the arithmetical total of the three numbers' being the positive quantity 1,247,640, as indicated, (Fig. 4).

Should the machine now be operated in an attempt to subtract the number 2,109,614 from. that previously accumulated in the totalizer, the correct algebraic sum, which 'should he -861,974, would not appear in the row Aof figures exposed at the upper sight-opcning as before, but, instead of this result, there would appear, as indicated in Fig. 5, a complementary series of. figures 099,138,026, which, if added to the correct result, ignoring the minus sign, would be represented by a 1 followed by as many 0 sf as; there are :denominational orders'or decimal places in the "tota-limer.` J It' is well known tolthose skilled in thefartl that th is will happen whenever the :number to be added slarger than that previously accumulated in the totalizer and of opposite character, as when a negative number is added to a smaller positive number.

It may be observed that the rst ligure' at the upper sight-opening, after the lastmentionedzal ebraic computation has been 'effected (see gig. 5), is a 9 instead of the usual 0, and this will always be true when a negative number has been added to a smaller positive number previously' accumulated in the totalizer, plOvided the machine isnot used, to add or subtract numbers having as many digits as there are number wheels in the totalizer. In using a machine with my invention applied thereto, I therefore arbitrarily select one having at least one more number wheel in its totalizer than the number of digits of the largest number which it is intended to be capable of adding or subtracting, and assign the highest number whe'el to a special purpose, that is, for use as a signal or warning, to indicate whether the result is positive or negative. Under such circumstances, the highest number wheel of the totalizer will normally exse a 0 at the narrow sight-opening 21.

his 0 can never be changed ,to 9" by adding 'positive numbers, except as a result of a-large number of successive computing o erations, andvn no event could it be c ianged from 0 to 9 by adding positiveA numbers,'except by being first caused to exhibit all of the digits l, 2, 3, etc, in succession up to 9. It is well known, however, that the highest number wheel will be invariably caused to 'immediately expose 9 whenever any negative number is added to a smaller positive number -previously accumulated in th'e totalizer, so as tov result in an overdraft and cause the machineA topass through (l. The appearance of the9? onthe highest number wheel at the upper or narrow sight-opening' 21 may, therefore, serve as a Warning or si n al to the operative that the result indicate by the totalizer is negative, in which case the correct resultA may be obtained by setting the reading gage 29 in a mannerwhich will now be 'described, and then reading the figures exposed at the sight- openings 32 and 33.

Referring again *to- Fig. 5, it'xnaybe ohserved `that the-last ligure exposed at the uppery or narrow sight-opening 21A is' a' significant figure, that is, a digit rather than a (l. W'henever this is found' to be the cas-e, the operative should. slidel the lreading gage to the right until 'the index-35 is in vregister with the last-mentioned digit, Gl i.: `the example illustrated, after which the .to be taken. v

correct negative reading 861,974 will appear at `the'iSight-openings32` and33g` as dicated at Fig. 5', all except the'la'st figure b'ein taken fromtbe lower row.f making-the reading, the operative should restore the reading gage to its normal position to the left. iii

Should the. machine now be 'operated'ih an attempt to add to the sum alread-yfaccumulated in the totalizer another "egaftive quant/ity, as for example, -4.-,836`,Q26"it will be found that the 9 is still exhibited by the highest totalizer number wheel-fat the sight-opening 21, indicating thatthe'flefsult is again negative in character (see-'Fi' 6). It may also be observed-thatitlie' lait significant figure exposed at the sightfopeiijing 21 is now in thousands place, alfl"to\tle right of the 2 of that denominationnb'el ing 0 S. Under such circumstancc`s,'ftlie operative should move the reading gag'eflun"J til the index 35 is in register with thor-2 in thousands place, after which-theiicorL rect -result 5,698,000 may be'takenftfrgm the sight-openings 32 and 33 (Fig-.6)a`sbe fore, the figures 569 appearingatlthelower left-hand opening 32, and the fig 111258,00() at the upper `right-hand opening 33'.

The rule suggested by the above `illlistra-f tive examples'is invariable.4 Soilonglasi 0 is exhibited byV the highest: nuinb'eli wheel of the totalizer, the result isfpositiv and should be4 read from the upper sight# opening 21 inthe usual manner. Whenever a 9 is exhibited by the highest number wheel at the sight-opening 21, the -resultzis negative. The operative may then, #by merely sliding the reading gage'toward'gthe right until the index 35 is in registerwyitli the last significant figure exhibited atthe sight-opening 21, take the negative reading from the sight- openings 32 and 33 of-the reading gage, which will conceal allf-igures in register withithe double-width sight-,opens ingexcept those from which the reading "is The above-stated rule is simple variable in its application, and couldbe readily mastered byfan operative in a negli-- gible space of time, after-which :thenega-f t'r've readings may be taken from the' ma chinel with the-'same degree of ease and eef.4 cnracy as innreadi'ng the positive results-fin' an ordinarytotalizer. i :t-:a3

no im;

and inl l sightiopening'lalid reading gage may be used in connection '-v'yith'eitherfsevofV numberwheels, and that 'either set of Tiguresmay used 4 to 'exhibit' positive' results; the other' being used to exhibit-negative results; 11n-32.'-

If -desired;' the 'figures on the. subsidiary.

cate positive results, and'those othesubf sidiary set red, to indicate negative results. This, however, is in `no manner necessary, since the difference in location and width of the sight-openings may be relied upon as a means for determining from which .number wheels results of either character are to be taken.

Any appropriate means may be substituted for the idlers for causing corresponding wheels of the two sets to be concomitanti rotated. In the form herein `disclose the number wheels of the respective sets rotate in the same direction, and the figures on one set are duplicates of those on the other, except that they are arranged in inverse increasing order of magnitude, that is, rotation, such as to expose figures on one wheel in increasing order of maginitudie,4 causes those of-the other to be exposed in decreasing o rder of magnitude. wheels be so geared or connected as to rotate in opposite directions, the figures should be applied to the number wheels in the same relative order, So aS to be brought to the sight-openings in the inverse order explained above.

Any appropriate form of indexin device ,may be used which includes means or positioning the saine in its proper position relative to the last significant figure exposed at the narrow sight-opening, and which has means for selectively directing attention to the 'figures of. the two rows from which a reading is to be taken at the double-width sight-opening.`

Variations may be 'resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the im rovements may be used without others. {aving thus described my invention, I claim:

Y 1'. In an algebraic computinglmachinc, .in i

combination. a set of 'number wheels having figures by which positive results may be represented, a second set of number wheels having figures by which negative results may be represented, means for causing each wheel of, the second set to rotate concomitantly withl .the corresponding -wheel of the first set, and i'ndexingmeans for directing atten-4 tion to one row4 of figures on the wheels of one of said sets from which a reading of one character may be taken, and for directing attention to fi ires of two adjacent rows on the wheels o. the other set from which a yreading of the opposite character may be taken, said indexing means including a readingga e settable in a position such asto selectively direct attention to the particular figures of the two adjacent rows by which a number to' be readis represented, l

2. In n n algebraic computing machine, .in combination, a setof number wheels having figures by which positive results ma be represented, a second set of number w eels having figures by which negative results Should the.

- taken, said indexing means including a variabl'y settable reading gage having open portions for selectively exposing, when set,

the particular figures of the two adjacent rows by which a number to be read is re resented, and having. portions for concea ing the remaining figures of both of said rows.

3. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, a set of number wheels having figures by which positive results may be represented, indexing means for directing attention to one row of said figures from which a reading may be taken, a second set of number wheels having figures by which negative resillts may be represented, means for causing each wheel of the second set to rotate coucomitantly with the corresponding wheel of the first Set. and indexing means for concomituntly directing attention to figures of two adjacent rows on the wheels of the second set from which a reading may be taken, said' last-mentioned indexing` means including a reading gage settable in u position such as to selectively direct attention to the particular figures of the two adf jacent rows by which a number to be read is represented.

4. ln an algebraic computing machine, in combination, a set of number wheels having figures by which posit-ive results 'may be represented, indexing means for directing attention to one row of said figures from which a reading may be taken, u second set of number wheels having figures hy which negative results may be represented, means for causf ing each wheel of the second set to rotate conconiitantly with the corresponding wheel of the first set. und indexing means for concomitantly directing attention to figures of two adjacent rows on the wheels of the second set from which a reading may be taken, said last-mentioned indcxin means including a variably settuhie reading gage having open portions for selectively exposing, when set, the particular figures of the two adjacent rows by which a number to bc read -is represented, and having portions for concealing the remaining figures of both of said rows.

5. ln an algebraic computing machine, in combination, a set of number wheels having figures by which positive results mav be represented, a second set of number wheels having figures by which negative results may be represented, means for 'causing each nam-12o wheel of the second set to rotate coneomtantly with the corresponding wheel of the first set, a fixed index having a sight-opening for exposing one-row only of the figures on the wheels of one of said sets, and a variably postionable index havin sightopeni'n s for selectivel ex using res of two adjacent rows on the wiieels of t e other of said sets by which a number to be read is represented and having closed portions for concealing all other figures of both of ysaid 6. In a computing machine, in combination, a set of number wheels having figures by which positive' results may be represented, an index for said wheels comprising a sight-openin for exposing one row only of the figures t ereon, a second set of number wheels having figures by which negative resuits may be represented, means for caus- 1n cocomitantly with the corresponding wheel iof the first set, and a'variably settable in-4 dex for the wheels of said second set having sight-openings for selectively exposing figures of two adjacent rows thereon' by which a number to be read is represented, and having closed portions for concealing all other figures of both of said rows.

7. In a computing machine, in combination, a totalizer having two sets of number Wheels, each having figures comprising a 0 and the digits 1% to 9, indexing means for directing attention to one row of figures on the wheels of one of' said sets, and indexing means for directing attention to fi ures of two adjacent rows on the wheels o? the other of said sets, said secondmen tioned indexing means comprising a movable reading gage having openin rs for selectively exposing the particular gures of the two adjacent rows by which a number to be readis represented to the exclusion of others.

8. In a computing machine, in combination, a totalizer having two sets of number wheels, each having figures comprising a 0 and the digits l to 9, an index for directing attention to one row only of the figures on the wheels of one of said sets, and a variably settabi'e index for selectively directing attention to one or more figures of one row, and to other figures of an adjacent row o'n the wheels of the other set.

9. In a computing machine, in combinaeach wheel of the second setto rotate also having a proj tion, a-totalzer having two sets of number wheels, each havinglfigures comprising figures of two adjacent rows on the wheels l.

of the other of said sets, said second-mentioned indexing means comprising a movable reading age having openings out of alinernent wit each other and extending in opposite directions from a center line for selectively exposing the particular figures of the two adjacent rows by which a'. number to be read is represented, said reading gage also having a projecting index pointer 1n line with the inner end portion of the righthand opening and capable of being moved during a setting of said gage along the single row of figures to a point determinative of a reading position.

10. In a computing-machine, in combination, a set of number wheels having figures thereon, a sight-o ening of a width sufficient to expose: two adjacent rows of said figures,

anda variably movable readincr gage having two openings, each of' a widt sufficient to expose one row only of said figures, said openings being respectively in registration with the two adjacent rows of figures on said wheels which 'rire in register with said double-width sight-opening and extending in opposite directions from a centerline.

11. A. reading gage for a computing machine, said gage having two sight-openings, each of a width sufficient to expose but one row of figures, said openings being out of alincinent and extending in opposite directions from the center of the gage.

12. A reading gage for a computing machine, said gage having two sight-openings,

each of a width sufficient to expose but one row of figures, said openings being out of 'alinement and extending in opposite directions froin the center of the gage, said gage 'eating index element in line with the left end portion of the righthand sight-opening by means of which said gage may be positioned for the taking of a reading.

LOUIS E. GIM-GS.

Witnesses:

EDITH B. Lumix, CATHERINE A. Niiwnnx..

Images