US1863927A - Calculating device - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES KANE Y. KoNNo, or cIIIcAGo, ILLINOIS VcALcIrLvArINe DEVIE 'l Application led' . Tune 1,2,

l: serving with equal facility for the operations of multiplication and division as for those of addition andsubtraction.

A further object of the invention is to augment the abacus withk an apparatusy of movable ribbons to receive data by inscription, thus furnishing renewalsurfaces for a new problem once the old one has been solved.

A still further-object of the invention is i5 to provide means for offsetting the partial products in multiplication by making one of the ribbon units shiftable.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the actions of analyzing and selecting 53@ values in the abacus byk imparting shading or 'color to groups of counters, common jto such values.

A signiicant object of the invention is tol w provide the same with a simple, mechanically shifting decimal point indicator, in order to adapt the decimalpoint to a"posi-,

tion most convenient for a given problem.

A final, and importantjobject of the in- Vention is toy incorporate my improvement 3@ in a simple structure of light material,

whereby the cost of the device may be main` tained at a low ligure. Y

With the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves in the 35 specilication and claims'to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Y 1 Figure 1 is a plan view of the calculating 4@ device; andv Figs. 2, 3, and 4, are respectively, sections on the lines 2-2, 3 3, and 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5v denotes the frame, 6 the dividing barzand'? t the counters of a typical abacus calculator.

While calculators of this type have been used since time immemorial and are more popular in the Oriental countries, it may be mentioned at this time that the counters are divided into two groups, one eachA side ofthe 192s." serial No. 284,749.

PATE-NT OFFICE dividing bar 6. Thus, the single group shown above the dividing bar is in a series of multiple progression by the constant l0, in bothdirections from a given decimal point 8, such as 5, 50, 500, etc., in one direction' and .5, .05, etc., in the other direction, as shown. While this row of counters deals with the numeral '5 and its multiples, the counters onv the lower side of the dividing bar 6 dealvvith themultiples of the number 1. Consider-v ing the positionV of the decimal point 8 in thev drawing, Va few notations have also been inr` dicated to show the values of the lower counters, such as a vertical row of l value,the next row of 10 value, the next row of 100 value, and soon, withincreasing values and conversely in the opposite direction from the decimal point with decreasing values.

Since theV abacus calculator is operated with speed by those who are experiencedin its use, I'have found it of especial value to incorporate therein means whereby to accomplish multiplication and division. Those familiar with Vdevices for simplifying these methods by `*mechanical means know that multiplication involvesA addition; and that division involves subtraction. Thus, if ya means is provided in conjunction with an abacus calculator whereby to distinguishand record such steps the abacus may be used with great facility'to bring forth the result.

*In carrying lout the above analysis, I pro-- vide as an attachment, a frame extension 9 laterally of the abacus calculator and adjoining thel single series of counters.V The eXtension forms a base for a paper rollk P105 from which a ribbon of paper is extendedl longitudinally. Over the ribbon 10a isa lid Il, spring hinged -at 12, such'lid being perforated with a number of openings 13 regis-k tering with the rows ofcounters 7 The lid l 11 has ya small knob 14 fora finger hold to` swing'baclrthe lid in case any difiiculty is presentedin theslidifng of the ribbon 10a.

the right hand end, according Vtol Figure l, f

and the used portion torn away, leaving a fresh length for the inscription of the desired number of the next problem. Next alongside the arrangement just described, is a similar one in which the ribbon may be denoted by the numeral 15 and the roll by the numeral 16. The base 17 for this arrangement, however, isnot stationary as inthe previous case, but is mounted to slide on the ezgtensionVw frame 9, and be guided by a rod l8'near the extremity of the extensionframe.- Thebasel 17 has depending ears 17 a slidably mounted on the rod 18, as indicated more clearly inA Figure 2, this relation retaining the slidable frame in alinement with the abacus array The V slidable' base 17 is equipped with a; handle 19` vfor the actuation ofthesame, and its@A movement is intended to be in steps corresponding to thesuccession of digits involvedj In orderfthat these steps may be determined, I provide the extension frame 9 with aseries of depressions 20 into any of which a barb 21 carried by the slidable base 17 may fall, as clearlyshown in Figure 3, In order to facilitate the .transfer of the barbs from one depression to the other, I make the approach to each depression from either side inclined, as indicated at 22, so that in the movement of theslidable frame the barb 21, mayireadily drop into a given depression and may be transferred therefrom without diliiculty.v The changing position-s ofthe slidable baseowingto the operation ofthe barb 2L as describedfwill be permitted" bythe pivotal relation of the base to the stationary 1 8, so that no difhculty will beexperienced in .producing the shifting movements from one point t-o another.

lWhen a problem of multiplication is to be'.

. solved, the ribbon 15 is inscribed withthe multiplicand andthe ribbon 10a with the multiplier. Starting with the right-hand end of each of these numbers the process isto multiplymentally4 the first or extreme righthand digit of the multiplier by the first and succeeding digits of the multiplicand.v Thus, the product of the first' single nniltiplicationy would probably be a number of two digits such as 63, 49 or the like, andthis number is recorded in the first tworows of the abacus: proper, thedecimal point being ignored for the moment.v The product of the first multiplier digit by the second multiplicand digit would be a similar number of two digits which is recorded in the abacus by adding the' first digit in to the value of the secomd row ofcounters, and recording the second .new digit directly in the third row.- This process continues until all the digits of the multiplicand have been multiplied by the first i digit of the multiplier, so that'the abacus is now-.arranged in a series of condensed preliminary products.

The process must now be repeated by the use. of the second digit1 of the l multiplier .as

incase? against all the digits of the multiplicand; but a move must be made, this being to shift the multiplicand bodily by moving the slidable base 17 one point to the left. This move registers the rst digit of the multiplicand with the second row of the abacus as a source or. origin. The multiplicationof f the second multiplierdigit with the, digits offthe multinow enuses as before, but each step is of course read into the abacus, so that while thefirst'row-l-ofl the abacus remains set and unchanged, all the succeeding rows have secure'dtnew'values. The process just outlined isrepeatedfuntil the multiplier is exhausted, at which time' the" resulting condition of the abacusrspellsfthe, product or. result of' the problem.v It isthus seen that the only writingV necessary for; the problemvof multiplicationn was Athatv offv in scribing. the multiplier and V5493423 y i The stepsoffthe above method are (1) that one must carr-y figures. while working outA each preliminary product, in order to saveexcessiyewriting (2) that effortand facilities are.I 4 I uecessary to: write the preliminary and naL productsyand that, thev preliminary products arel arranged .inlstepped relation,

beingv consecutiyely moved the space ofv onev di g it. In my process the c'arrying and writing are not' utilized,.the working-out of the first preliminary ,productbeingv as follows;

g '7 VFirst digxt'of multiplierV 3` 7 4' 4 Not noted second step 5 3 4 V9 Multiplicaud 2 Secondidgit of multiplier shifted-once; y

8 Added intov 6 abacus 1 o` e 9 s`f Nq's'nted Thir'qstep f 5 3 4 9 Multlplie'and` 1 Fo'urth digit-of multiplier shifted twice, 'due to zerolin 9 vthemultiplier 3er Addedinw' 5; abacus inallproduct 64 9' 3 412 3' Aggregateir'eading in abacus ory division, y theribbon V15 is inscribed 306 M La 0 The above problem is laid out on my calculator thus Diviser 1 5 3 Inscribed well to the left on ribbon 15.

Trial quotient i 6 Inscribed on ribbon 10a.

Dividend 9 3 7 5 8 4 Recorded in abacus.

The trial-quotient is now multiplied by the consecutive digits of the divisor, and the product shifted and subtracted each time into the abacus, thus First step 15?s 19,584 Reading on abacus at end of rst step. Second step The divisor (153) is now shifted one point to the right, thus:

Diviser 153 Quotient 6 Remainder of dividend 19584 The divisor is then tried into the dividend remainder, thus:

and the process repeated as before.

For ordinary or simple use, a much shorter embodiment of the calculator than shown necessary to secure a quotient to an infinite extent, such as the'familiar pi-3.14159.

which is a good reason for giving the Working section of the ribbon'lOa a considerable length. f v I For-the purpose of the decimal point, and the commas 23 ordinarily used to separate the hundreds .in long numbers, I

find it of benefit to equip the dividing bar 6 with a slide 24. This slide is preferably dovetailedwinto the dividingy bar as indicated in Figures 2 and/1, and its ends are received inthe yend piecesv of the frame 5,

these being perforated asindicated at 5a for.`

this purpose and also to permit the passage of the end portions of the slide when the lat-` 'if ter is shifted. The slide thushasia long shifting range and the decimal point may, therefore, bepositioned at any point between two rows of counters that maysuit a particularl problem involving decimal points. Thus, in the case of a multiplication problem, the decimalpoints in the multiplier and multiplicand may be' ignored during the working of the problem as inthe case of arithmetical multiplication; however, when the problem is ber of steps-representing the sum of the decimals/in -the [multiplier kand multiplicand,-

l finished the decimal may beshifted a numn again as is done in arithmetical multiplica-f l tion,` in order to ascertain the number of deci,- mals in the product. In the .case of division, the decimal indicator is used in accordance with the -f established rules relating to decimals. For facility in operation, I provide y' the slide 24 with a small `finger knob or screw 24a coincident with the decimal point.

It is thus seen that I have provided a compactlapparatus whereby the terms of problems Vin multiplication and division maybe setl andthe problems solved rapidly by those familiar with the use of the time honoredl abacus, saving the need of writing many numbers,vand'holding numbers over as in the case of ordinary multiplication or division. For facility in operating the abacus, the same may be shaded or colored in groups as indicated so that one may more easily find a selected value which is common to a certain group, avoiding the selection of the value 'in a row which may not belong to the proper group. lAlso, it willbenoted' that the lower series in. the improved abacus havebeen reduced from the customary five to four for the reason that the` equivalent can vbe produced without the need of the bottom series; For example, 4 plus 1 will be represented by the upper counter 5, without the need of moving a iifth'counter to :the-'first four lower counters in order to make five; or, in the case of 9 plus 1, instead of having the array of theshifted upper counter'with the five shifted lower counters,fthe counters in my case,`

lis

iso

mental addition .materialized by shitingfrthe,y

y `val11e in thenextfrow.-

crease ,theeost of the device unreasonablyv 65,; said frame land pivoted onsaidrod, and a spurf v In conclusion, jitr'willlV be apparent` that my addition to the abacus is both simple inconstruction and in operation, and does not; in-

when the benefits of the improvement are considered;v c

Iclaimzl Y K y L1?. Thecombinati'onfwith an abacusformed. with laterally-spacedirows of. counters ofeanY entryfribbon carried .by the abacus, saidf rib.-

bon sheet extending ina lateral direction, andV means'spacing the entry ribbon od int-o divi-Y sions registeringwith;` the rows'. f

2. The structure of claim 1, said entry ribf bon being shiftable in a lateral course.

3. The structure of claim l, said entry rib.- bon beingvshiftable in a lateral course, and

` means tov divide. the shifting movement into stepsspaced as the rows.

4. The structure of claim l, and a Jurtlier entry ribbon in parallelism to the first-meuf tioned one and longitudinally-shiftableY rela-- K tive-thereto. f

5,; The combination with an abacus formed with laterally-spaced rows ofcounters; of

entry ribbons carried by the abacus for. the.V

original numbers of abacus problems, vsaid entry ribbons extending in a lateral direction, means for spacingthe Ventryuibbons off' into divisions ortbe digits of said numbers, such divisions registering with said counter rows, supports for the maintenance of the ribbons in; substantially flat position, andV supply rolls from which the ribbons may-be drawn'as required.. i i

6. The struct-ure ofclai'm 5, said means comprising lids carried-by the supports to cover the ribbonsv and perforated to define said divisions. Y

7. The structure of claim 5, said means comprising lids carriedV byl the supports.

to cover the ribbons and perforated to definesaid divisions and springfhingedconnections of the lids with the supports to keeep the lids in contact with the ribbons. f

formed with laterally-spaced rowsv said depressions as the slide is moved.'Y

9. A The combinationwith an abacus formed withlaterally-spaced rows of counters; of an. entrysheet frame extended from the abacus and formedr with a lateral'series of depresisions spaced. as the counter rows, a rod carried by the frame in parallelism `with the depression series,an entry sheet slide associated with carri'edfzbyl the slide' and adaptedfto dropginto saidfde-pressions as the slide-ismoved.

10. The structure of claim 5, one of saidI` supports being slidable into'steps spaced as.-

thecoun'ter rows.

In testimony-whereof I aflixv my. signature.

' KANE Y. ONNO.

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