BE478127A - - Google Patents

Description

       

  Electric register machine.

  
The present invention relates to machines

  
electric registers including computing equipment

  
which comprises a recorder and one or more calculating groups, each of which comprises a certain number of movable recording units corresponding to the maximum number of

  
figures to be recorded by these calculating groups at the same time,

  
each of these recording members being able to be brought (adjusted) into a certain number of different positions corresponding individually to the various cardinal values of the digits, the computer equipment further comprising one or more actuating or maneuvering devices who

  
can be placed far from the rest of the computer equipment and each of which partially comprises a keyboard having a certain number of contacts or key switches

  
whose number corresponds to that of the values of the digits,

  
multiple on the recording devices of the recorder and serving, via a step switch,

  
in controlling the recording members, in a predetermined order, as a function of the number to be recorded in a computer group, other key contacts serving to control the nature of the calculation operations to be performed.

  
In devices of this type already known, the person in charge of the calculating machine and who is at a specific point or station, must ensure that the digits of the numbers entered in the recording device are correctly entered in the latter. according to the order they occupy in the decimal system, in other words according to their ordinal value, a value which, as we know, is determined by the position which the digit occupies in the number considered. It is therefore necessary to be very careful when using the calculating machine, so that the handling

  
of the latter, not only is tiring but also gives rise to frequent errors which are difficult to correct.

  
The object of the present invention is to establish

  
of a calculating machine which is free from the aforementioned drawback of the fact that the digits of the numbers are entered into the recorder, in the same order in which they appear when

  
a number is written, starting with one and the same recording device of the recorder regardless of the order, in the decimal system, to which the first digit belongs. Therefore, the only thing the operator needs to do is hit the keys corresponding to the numbers

  
of a number, in the same order in which the digits follow each other in this number, then to hit then, in a determined order, one or more command keys to produce the calculation operations according to the arithmetic operations to be executed.

  
On the other hand, the invention also aims at the construction of a calculating machine of the aforesaid type so that it is easy to use, not only for performing subtractions, additions, divisions and multiplications. of whole numbers, but also to perform all these arithmetic operations on numbers comprising decimal fractions and also to make it possible to carry out increases to powers and the extraction of square roots.

  
The devices known hitherto and which made it possible to carry out multiplications and divisions with the inscription of the comma in the product and the quotient, respectively, require a long apprenticeship and a great attention on the part of the operator.

  
In a machine according to the invention, the comma is

  
automatically places in the correct position in the product or in the calculated quotient and all that is required of the operator to obtain these results is to actuate a particular key, the key of the comma, when it arrives

  
at the location of the decimal point when typing the digits of the number in question into. their natural order.

  
According to the invention, as said above, the multiple connection between the switches. with keys from the keyboard to the maneuvering station and the recording devices of the recorder, which can for example be made in the form of relay switches or rotary switches of known type, is arranged in such a way that, whatever either the cardinal key pressed first, when entering a number into the recorder, the digit in question is always recorded by a well-determined recording device of the recorder, independently of the ordinal value that this has digit as a result of its position in the number of which it constitutes the first digit.

   When a number entered into the recorder is to be transferred later to a calculating group composed of a number of recorders, each digit must be transmitted to a particular recorder representing the ordinal value of the decimal system. possessed by the digit because of its position in the number, so that the digits of any number, regardless of the value of the latter, which represent units, tens, hundreds, etc. ., or decimal fractions such as tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc., are always entered into a particular recording device of the calculating group representing the ordinal value in question.

  
For this purpose, according to the invention, a certain number of switches, called pulsators or pulse interrupters are used, the number of which corresponds to the number of recording members in the recorder of the computer equipment and of which each can occupy a number of different positions, number which corresponds to that of the cardinal values, the contacts of all:

   these switches being multiplied on a certain number of transmitters of electrical pulses corresponding to the number of different cardinal values, so that each of the pulsators, which are controlled directly or indirectly by the control mechanism of a recording member of the 'recorder associated with each impeller or by a drive mechanism operating in synchronism, is always brought into a position corresponding to the recording member which is associated with it proper, in order to connect a pulse transmitter, which represents

  
the cardinal value corresponding to the position which has been communicated to the recording member, to a connection going from the pulsator to the calculating device, each of these connections going to the mobile cantact of a determined switch forming part of a set of switches, called transverse coupling switches, to which the control circuit of the recording members of the calculating device is interconnected, in such a way that these switches, which are set to advance step by step, when entering the digits of whole numbers in the recorder, in synchronism with the recording devices of the recorder, under the control of the step-by-step switch, extend the connection leaving

  
  <EMI ID = 1.1> positive calculator which represent the ordinal values possessed by the digits of the number entered in any case in the recorder due to their position in the succession of the digits entered in the recorder, that is that is, in such a way that the pulse transmitter of the digit entered first is the first to be connected to the adjuster of the unit registration member in the calculator group and then, when enter the next number,

  
it is automatically transferred to the regulating device of the recording device assigned to the tens in the computer group, following the step-by-step movement of the transverse coupling switch, in synchronism with the step-by-step switch , when entering each whole digit, while, simultaneously, the pulse transmitter assigned to the above-mentioned next digit is automatically connected to the regulating device of the recording device of the units in the computer group, etc. . so that, each time a digit is entered, the connections previously established between the pulse transmitter and the computer group are swapped in an ordinal series until all the whole digits composing the number have been entered in the recorder.

  
It follows that, thanks to the so-called transverse coupling connection, the connections between the recording members of the computer group and the pulse transmitters will always be established automatically in such a way and according to the digits entered that, during the looping of d '' a starting circuit for the pulse transmitters, circuit extended by a determined contact (termination key) located at the control station, the number formed from the aforementioned figures is automatically transferred to the computer group so that each figure is entered in the registration organ of this group, corresponding to the ordinal value (of the decimal system) that the digit possesses as a result of its position in the number.

  
When all the digits of a number have been entered into the recorder, the aforementioned special control key (termination key) of the keypad located at the switching station is lowered, whereby the said pulse transmitters start automatically for send control pulses to the recording units of the computer group.

  
As will be understood from the foregoing, the adjustment or positioning of the transverse coupling switches is carried out in synchronism with the step switch, so that each time a whole number and that another recording device of the recorder is thus put into service, the switches

  
transverse coupling are moved forward one step so that the

  
  <EMI ID = 2.1>

  
from a recording device of the calculating group to another recording device representing the next rank or ordinal value in the decimal system. However, when entering decimal fractions, such a permutation of the connections from the pulse transmitter to the computer group does not occur: in other words, when decimal fractional digits are struck, the coupling switches transverse do not change their position with the step switch but remain at rest. For this purpose

  
and in accordance with the invention, the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches is extended by means of a rest contact of a relay called "comma relay", the control circuit of which is extended by the intermediary of a determined switch contact located at the

  
  <EMI ID = 3.1>

  
when the latter is lowered, it activates the decimal point relay and thus forces the latter to open the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches, so that, when the digit keys are subsequently lowered, the switches of transverse coupling are not advanced but

  
  <EMI ID = 4.1>

  
connections established beforehand between the pulse transmitters, and the regulators of the recording devices of the computer group, nor the new connections established, by such successive keystrokes, between the pulse transmitters and the regulators of the control devices. 'recording of the decimal fractional digit of the calculator group.

  
In calculating machines of the type in question in which, in addition to the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, also a multiplication with numbers comprising decimal fractions, the calculating machine must, in addition to the aforementioned recording group , in which a factor is recorded, and of the group, namely the calculating group, in which the sum is to be recorded, to be provided with another calculating or recording group, namely the multiplier group in which the other factor is recorded . Said multiplier group comprises a certain number of recording members such as switches, the number of which corresponds to the maximum number of digits of the factor mentioned last.

   This factor is transferred to the multiplier group after having been entered into said recorder and to make this transfer possible, the calculating machine is, according to the invention, provided with a device such as a relay or a switch established for be controlled from the switching station and by means of which the recorder and the said termination key located at the switching station can be switched to the multiplier group, following which, when the button is pressed termination, a number entered in the recorder is reported in the multiplier group, for example in the same way and through the intermediary of electrical coupling devices similar to those through which the number would have been reported in the calculator group if the aforementioned permutation had not taken place.

  
To carry out a multiplication in a calculating machine of the type described, a: the actor entered into the recorder, <EMI ID = 5.1>

  
In a known manner, the recorder is transferred from the recorder to the recording member of the calculating group a number of times corresponding to the value of the individual digits of the factor recorded in the multiplier group. The same operating mode is adopted if the said factor comprises decimal fractional digits but in the case, and in accordance with the invention, the transverse coupling switches are automatically switched in such a way that the number to be transferred from the recorder to the organs of The record of the calculator group is downgraded by an ordinal series for each fractional decimal digit present in the multiplier.

   According to the invention, to automatically produce the aforementioned demotion of the number, the recording members of the multiplier group in which the decimal fractional digits are recorded are established and arranged in such a way that each of them, when placed in action, following the lowering of the termination button, automatically closes a link contact provided in the control circuit of the device driving the switches of the transverse coupling group connected to the computer group, so that after having been previously adjusted according to the other factor in the multiplication, that is to say when the latter has been entered into the recorder,

   the transverse coupling group is advanced one step for each decimal fraction recording member which has been activated in the multiplier switches, whereby the transverse coupling switches interchange the connection established through the multiplier switches to the computer group, so that all these connections are downgraded. of an ordinal position in the calculator group of each decimal fraction registration switch activated in the multiplier group, demotion by which the position of the decimal point is fixed, in the product of two factors, in the calculator group .

  
As already mentioned, the multiplication is carried out by the number entered into the recorder and carried over to the calculator group a number of times corresponding to the value of the individual digits of the factor entered in the multiplier group. During this report which is in fact an addition of the number entered into the recorder, addition made a number of times equal to the value of the individual digits of the other factor, the link between the recorder and the organs of record of the calculator group must be moved when passing from one digit of the factor entered in the multiplier group to the next digit of this factor, the fundamental principle of multiplication by addition consisting in a displacement of the cardinal values of the multiplicand when passing to a new digit of the multiplier.

   The reestablishment of the connections between the recorder and the computer group, reestablishment which is necessary for this purpose, is, in accordance with the invention, automatically controlled by the switches of the multiplier group and, for this purpose, each of these switches is organized to control, directly or indirectly, a contact in the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches, so that said contact is closed at the end of the control of the pulse transmitters by the multiplier switch in question and that it thus causes the advancement, by one step, of the transverse coupling group, which means that the number which is transferred to the computer group is advanced by an ordinary category.

  
  <EMI ID = 6.1>

  
The operator assumes control of the pulse transmitters.

  
To make divisions with decimal mixed numbers in the calculating machine of the type described, one of the numbers, namely the dividend, is entered in the calculator group and the digits of this number must be advanced one ordinal category for each decimal fractional digit present in the divisor which, when the calculation is performed, entered into the recorder after the dividend was entered in the calculator group.

   The re-establishment of the setting of the transverse coupling switch group corresponding to such an advance of the number entered in the computer group can, in accordance with the invention, be carried out automatically by means of a coupling member such as a relay , hereinafter called "divider relay", through which the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches of the computer group, circuit which was opened by the comma relay, when indicating a comma in the divider entered into the recorder, is terminated by a derivation of the, said connection interrupted by the comma relay during the operation of a key, the divider key, located at the switching station. This has for

  
effect that, when entering new digits, for example fractional decimal digits of the divisor, the recording devices of the calculating group are automatically reconnected in such a way that the number entered therein is advanced by a value corresponding to a multiplication by 10, each time a decimal fractional digit of the divisor is struck.

  
In order to indicate the position of the decimal point in the quotient resulting from a division, one uses, in accordance with the invention, a determined recording device, called a decimal point indication switch, the control circuit of which is extended by a contact. of the comma relay and of a contact of the division relay, in such a way that, when the latter relay has been actuated by a command from the; switching station and the decimal point relay is then actuated, said control circuit is connected to the control circuit of the coupling magnet of the recorder so that, when the number keys at the station are subsequently lowered maneuver, that is to say when entering fractional decimal digits of the divider into the recorder, the said circuit

  
is automatically advanced one step each time a decimal fractional digit of the divider is entered. It follows that the position of said comma switch indicates the number of decimal fractional digits

  
divider and is used to control a comma indicating relay of the quotient recording devices, through the contact of the recording devices of the computer group or of some of them, to indicate the position of the comma in the quotient.

  
When making a division, the first digit of the divisor entered in the recorder is to be transferred to the first digit of the dividend entered in the calculator group. Under these conditions, if the two numbers do not have the same number of digits, the cross coupling switches set according to the divisor must be set again in order to obtain the carry in question.

   For this purpose and in accordance with a characteristic of the invention, each of the recording members of the computer group comprises a contact interposed in a control circuit of the member driving the transverse coupling switches of the computer group and adapted to be closed by the recording device when the latter comes into action, whereby a contact of the divider relay is connected to a contact of a determined group of contacts of the transverse coupling switch operating in synchronism with it, relay whose contact mobile is connected to a de-energizing circuit of the transverse coupling switch, the said contacts, associated with the recording members of the computer group, and the aforementioned contact of the relay.

   divider being interconnected in such a way that, when a recording device comes into action, the contact associated with it interrupts a connection, previously established between the corresponding contact associated with a recording device, previously set, of the lower decimal order previous and the divider relay contact, but that it remains in connection with the contact mentioned last to thus connect it to an individual contact of a group of contacts which belongs to it in

  
  <EMI ID = 7.1> instantaneously, the divider relay loops a starting circuit of the transverse coupling switches and of the determined switch in question, whereby these switches advance step by step until the last mentioned switch meets the group contact which, through a recording device, is connected to the last mentioned contact of the divider relay.

   The transverse coupling switch is then adjusted or set in such a way that the first digit of the divider is opposite the first dividend digit and that, as soon as the transverse coupling switch is stopped by a determined switch which closes the circuit of de-energization of the latter via a selected contact, the division can be carried out in a known manner and begins when the termination key is lowered mentioned above.

  
Several calculating devices can be connected

  
to one and the same maneuvering station or to several of these by means of a switch controlled from the maneuvering station (s), switch by means of which any one of the calculating devices can be chosen or taken to carry out control operations calculation from the switching station in question or from any of the switching stations.

  
At the station from which the calculating machine is operated or at any other desired point, it is possible, in accordance with the invention to provide a device such as a sign, a printing device, a perforating device or a

  
another recording device to which the setting of the recording devices of the calculating unit can be reported, setting corresponding to the number calculated in the calculating device, this reporting being effected by means of electrical pulses automatically controlled by the devices. recording of the computer group and produced by the operation of a determined key called "feedback key", whereby the adjustment of the calculating machine is automatically signaled or reported in, a device placed at the operating station (or at any other desired location) and controlled by said pulses, for example an ordinary signaling device or a printing device starting to operate automatically to record the number or a punch device recording the number by

  
punching a pattern of holes in, a card, a strip of paper or other recording medium.

  
In addition to the recorder, calculator groups and

  
transverse coupling devices used to connect

  
these groups, a particular group can be provided (the totalizer group) in which are reported: the sums calculated in the computer group, this transfer being carried out either by means of a pulse emitted automatically by the computer group, during the completion of the calculation operation, or by means of a pulse emitted from the maneuvering station. The recording devices of the totalizing group can either be connected directly to the recording devices of the computing group so as to be adjusted simultaneously with the latter, or they can be organized to be adjusted: after the recording devices of the computing group have themselves been settled.

  
Adjustment of organs; register of the totalizing group can, in exactly the same way as for the adjustment of the recording units of the calculating group, be indicated in a suitable signaling device, in a punching device or in a printing device. located at the maneuvering station or at another point, by means of pulses produced when a control key is pressed at the maneuvering station and controlled by the recording devices of the totalizing group.

  
In large-size machines of the type in question here, i.e. those intended for use by insurance companies, by paperwork verification companies, etc. it may be desirable for any one of several computing devices to be accessible from one and the same operating station;

   for this purpose and in accordance with the invention, a machine of the type in question can be fitted with several calculating devices and means such as switches or relays by means of which one or more of the switching stations can search for and reach any one of the aforementioned calculating devices or any group thereof, while some of the calculating devices may be reserved for certain switching stations, for example in the case where they are intended to be used to solve special problems.

  
If a machine of the type in question comprises several devices-

  
computers, this machine can be provided with a totalizing group common to these calculating devices and with means of known type by means of which any one of the calculating devices can be connected to the totalizing group by means of an electric pulse coming from the maneuvering station , so that the numbers entered into the calculating devices in question are thus added automatically in the totalizing group which can, for example, consist of recording equipment controlled by switches or by relays and which can, if desired, be established as a punching device in which the resulting numbers can be recorded, in a known manner, by punching recording cards or continuous webs of paper, etc.

  
If desired, the recorder may, in accordance with the invention, be provided with means for recording the numbers entered therein, for example by punching a card or a cardboard or cardboard strip. paper, these means being controlled either by pulses supplied automatically by switches of the recorder when the recording of a number is completed, or by special pulses transmitted from a switching station, as soon as the latter completes the transmission of a series of numbers.

  
The maneuvering stations can also be orga-nized in such a way that the calculation pulses are transmitted from these stations by means of cards or punched tapes. In such cards or strips, the numbers in question are represented by a pattern of holes consisting of different numbers of holes for each digit or of holes occupying different positions corresponding to the position that the digits must occupy in the calculator group, so that, in this case, the carryover of a number from a calculator group should not. necessarily be done through the recorder. It is therefore possible, in this case, to build the machine with means

  
  <EMI ID = 8.1>

  
via which the recorder can be eliminated from the calculating circuits, the connection of the operating device to the calculating device being made directly with the calculating group in which the numbers in question are then recorded directly. In this form of the machine, it can, for example, be used for pointing or checking. records of the punched cards, ensuring that the calculating device, in which these recordings are entered, reproduces their correct numerical value which can, if desired, be transferred, as described above, to a table of signaling placed at the switching station so that the said values can be read directly at the switching station.

  
For the clarity of the invention, it will now be described with reference to the appended drawing in which:

  
figs. I and 2 represent a circuit diagram

  
of an example of a calculating machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

  
fig. 3 is a general diagram of a registering machine provided with a totalizing group;

  
figs. 4 and 5 show an example of a

  
  <EMI ID = 9.1>

  
registration and fig. 6 is a circuit diagram showing how the setting is transferred from one recording group to another.

  
  <EMI ID = 10.1>

  
place the numbers on which we must operate and a group cal-

  
  <EMI ID = 11.1>

  
the apparatus is also intended to make multiplications it comprises a second calculator group M or multiplier.

  
  <EMI ID = 12.1>

  
any number to be entered into the calculating device. The recording units are shown in the form of selectors constituted by rotary switches. It has not been shown in FIG. I only eight registration bodies, but this number may be higher or smaller depending on the case. Each of the recording members can be brought into a number of different positions corresponding to the number of different cardinal values 0 - 9 of the digits in the decimal system as well as preferably in an additional position or rest position.

   The way in which these switches are made has nothing to do with the present invention but, for the sake of simplicity, it has been admitted that these selectors (as indicated above), as well as other selectors which will be discussed later, consist of rotary switches of ordinary construction having groups of contacts and brushes cooperating with the latter. This embodiment of the selectors is in no way essential for the implementation of the invention and the selectors in question can be implemented in any other way and consist, for example, of relay selectors or of groups of relays.

  
A number on which the computer equipment must

  
operate is first entered and recorded in the recorder a. This is achieved by means of a row of button switches I, 2 ... 0 arranged in the control unit (or

  
  <EMI ID = 13.1>

  
which can be located remotely from the calculating device. Several control stations can be fitted to actuate one and the same computer device. The key switches I, 2 ... 0 are multiplied on the contact groups of all recording switches SVa ... SVb of the recorder and, in addition, each of the key switches, when activated, is inserted directly, or indirectly, via a conductor e in the excitation circuit of the control relay ST of a switch STV which will be discussed later under the name of "step switch" , which serves to successively complete or loop the excitation circuits of the control relays SV of the recording switches one after the other in a predetermined order, so that, when the key switches

  
I ... 0, each of which corresponds to one of the cardinal values of the digits of the decimal system, are actuated in any order, each of these key switches closes a circuit going to a separate pad forming part of the pads of each of the switches SVa, SVb ... SVh corresponding to the cardinal value in question and at the same time closes a circuit via the conductor !. and the ST relay. As a result, the step-by-step switch STV advances one step each time one of the push-button switches 1, 2 ... 0 closes.

   As a result, when the digits of a number are struck successively, the step-by-step switch STV activates separately and successively the number recording switches corresponding to the number of digits and each recording switch activated. in this way, starts to discover the individual contact group of the switch in question, to which the switch has been connected

  
button pressed and which is the cause of the switching on, by the step switch, of the recording switch in question. When the record switch meets

  
said individual contact, it energizes a relay IN and the latter stops, in a manner known per se, the recording switch by stopping the energization of its control relay SV.

  
If, for example, the key switch 5 is pressed,

  
leaving

  
a circuit / of this key switch is established and goes to the fifth group of the row of pins SVa ... SVh of the recorder or to the sixth group of contacts if there is a separate normally-open contact in each of the switches d 'recording, while at the same time the control circuit of the relay ST of the step-by-step switch STV closes on the source of the current supply, as has been observed.

  
  <EMI ID = 14.1>

  
step by step forward one step to complete the control circuit of the relay SV activating the first switch SVa of the recorder, which activates the brush Va of this switch until it meets the contact to which key switch 5 has been connected. When this has been found, the following circuit is established. Earth via key switch 5, group of contacts of row SVa connected to this switch, Va brushes cooperating with the latter, cut-off relay IN, source f and Earth.

  
The first switch SVa is thus caused to remain on the group of contacts corresponding to the cardinal value 5.

  
In addition to the contact groups SVa, SVb .. multiplied on the pushbutton switches I ... 0, each of the recording switches has a second group of

  
  <EMI ID = 15.1>

  
pes of pads SVa ... SVh, so that each pair or pair of brushes conjugated in this way is always brought simultaneously into determined positions corresponding to the cardinal value of the pressed key. Each of the groups of contacts SA ... SH has a number of contacts corresponding to the number of cardinal values 0 ... 9 and these contacts are multi-

  
  <EMI ID = 16.1>

  
ons are realized has nothing to do with the invention and one can adopt any type of pulse transmitter such as the type in which the pulse transmitters, when turning for example 3600 under the action of a common tree la; driven by a motor magnet Im, which will be discussed later, mutually supply different pulse trains or else pulses of different durations which each correspond to one of the cardinal values of the numbers in the decimal system.

  
The switches formed by the groups of pads SA, SB ..... SH and by the brushes Sa, Sb ... Sh will be referred to hereafter under the name of "pulse interrupters".

  
In the example above, the first pulse switch SA - Sa will be set to the one of its contacts which

  
  <EMI ID = 17.1>

  
recorder switch SVa - Va will be set to that of its contacts which also corresponds to the cardinal value 5. The brush Sa is, as has been described, moved in synchronism with the brush Va and, for this purpose, the brushes and the Contact groups of the two switches can actually be designed to represent different parts of one and the same rotary switch; the same applies to the other Va - Sb brushes,

  
  <EMI ID = 18.1>

  
pairs, but it should be noted that the pulse switches can, in a variant, constitute separate switches which are independent of the switches formed

  
  <EMI ID = 19.1> .. Vh, but also in this case the pulse switches must be set in synchronism with the other respective switches.

  
It has been admitted above that the button 5 has been lowered and that the brushes Va and Sa have been brought into a position corresponding to this lowering, whereby the pulse transmitter 15 has been connected to the brush Sa. now that the same contact to key or another contact to

  
  <EMI ID = 20.1>

  
touch button corresponding to the cardinal value 3, is actuated, a circuit is again looped through the control relay ST of the step-by-step switch STV and the latter is advanced a new step to complete the circuit of

  
  <EMI ID = 21.1>

  
then that of its contact pads connected to button contact 3. The relay IN is then energized by means of the switch.

  
  <EMI ID = 22.1>

  
stop the latter, with the SB pulse switch which is part of it, in the position corresponding to their cardinal value.

  
  <EMI ID = 23.1>

  
entered into the recording switches by continuous operation of the key contacts at the switching station, while, simultaneously, the pulse transmitters corresponding to the digits of the number are connected to the brushes of the respective pulse switches.

  
  <EMI ID = 24.1>

  
are each connected to the corresponding brushes of a number of selector switches A, B, C ... H which will be discussed later as transverse coupling switches, which switches have their contacts &#65533; multiple

  
  <EMI ID = 25.1>

  
TiT, HT, M and TM are arranged to record the digits of a number representing thousandths, hundredths, tenths, ones, tens, hundreds, thousand, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions and tens of millions respectively.

  
From the foregoing, it can be seen that, for each recording switch put into action for recording a number, a connection is established between a pulse transmitter and the regulator RK of a recording device of the calculator group. The order and the succession in which these recording devices are connected to the pulse interrupters:

   are determined by the multiple connection of the cross coupling switches with these recording devices and by the setting of the cross coupling switches which takes place in synchronism with that of the recording switches and the STV step switch, when the whole digits of a number, i.e. all digits before the decimal point are struck at the switching station, while the cross coupling switches are at rest when entering decimal fractions, i.e. - say the digits following the decimal point, as will be described in detail below.

  
The transverse coupling switches have a common drive shaft and the control circuit of the operating magnet KV of the transverse coupling switches is normally connected in parallel with the control circuit of the running relay of the stepping switch, by the 'intermediary of a

  
  <EMI ID = 26.1>

  
question below) and of the conductor e which is earthed by any of the key contacts mentioned above when this key is pressed. It follows that, each time a key contact located at the maneuvering station E, is commanded, the transverse coupling switches (which are all mechanically connected to one another so that their brushes are placed simultaneously) move forward by one. not, and this happens every time a new digit is hit and a new record switch is activated thereafter.

  
  <EMI ID = 27.1>

  
has been recorded, during the first phase, in the recording switches must be recorded in a well-determined recording device E, Ti, H ... etc ... respectively, corresponding to the ordinal position in the decimal system to which belongs the cardinal value in question due to its decimal position in the number in question; in other words, if a three-digit number is entered into the recorder, this means, as will be apparent from the foregoing description, that the units of the number are recorded.

  
  <EMI ID = 28.1>

  
that these figures are transferred to the calculating group, they are to be transferred to well-determined recording units, that is to say to units E, Ti and H respectively, these recording units always representing, whatever the magnitude of the number, units, tens and hundreds, respectively, in the calculator group, which is different from the conditions that occur in the recorder in which the ordinal value to, which belongs the digit registered in a certain switch d The recording depends on the number of digits typed. To take these considerations into account, the transverse coupling connection between the transverse coupling switches and the adjustment members provided for the recording members E, Ti, H, T, TiT, HT and M etc. of the computer group is arranged in such a way that, when

  
  <EMI ID = 29.1>

  
the transverse coupling switch A establishes a connection between the brush Sa of the pulse switch and the regulating device RKE provided for the recording device E of the computer group in which the figures representing the units are to be recorded ; it can thus be seen that the first digit entered must be interpreted as a unit digit as long as no other digit has been entered. A second number is struck and

  
  <EMI ID = 30.1>

  
the transverse coupling switches are again advanced by one step, whereby the transverse coupling switch A connects (as seen in fig. 2) the brush

  
  <EMI ID = 31.1> provided for the recording device Ti of the computer group while at the same time, the transverse coupling switch B connects the brush Sb of the pulse switch SB to the regulating device RKE provided for the recording unit E of the computer group. When the third digit is entered and%: the transverse coupling switches are again advanced by one step, the connections between the transverse coupling switches and the computer group just described are changed so that the brush Sa of the pulse switch SA is connected to the feedback device.

  
  <EMI ID = 32.1>

  
recording Ti and that the brush Se of the pulse switch SC is connected to the regulator RKE provided for the or-

  
  <EMI ID = 33.1>

  
the digits of the number in question have been struck successively and that the recording switches and the transverse coupling switches have thus been brought into the position corresponding to the number, the latter to be entered into the recording members of the computer group; for this purpose all pulse transmitters are activated.

  
For this purpose, a special TS key is struck, hereinafter referred to as "termination key" and placed at the control station.

  
  <EMI ID = 34.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 35.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 36.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 37.1>

  
turn to ground. The pulse transmitters thus begin to function to supply, via the transverse coupling switches, pulses to the intended regulating members. for the recording members of the calculator group connected to the switches, respective pulses, so that said recording members are adjusted according to the pulses in question and, therefore, according to the corresponding figures.

  
When the calculating machine is used for an addition or subtraction operation, the numbers in question are first entered one after the other into the registering group and then transferred from the latter to the calculating group, as as indicated above, whereby an addition or a subtraction is carried out in a manner well known in the calculating group considered, the recording members of this calculating group being arranged with transfer members of the kind of those described, for example

  
  <EMI ID = 38.1>

  
electric to be calculated ".

  
From the above, it is understood that the switches

  
cross coupling ensure a continuous permutation of the connections of the computer group, which permutation is necessary due to the fact that the digits of the number are entered, in the recorder, in the order in which they are written and must be interpreted as representing a value which gradually varies as an increasing number of digits are typed ,, since typing each new digit moves all previously typed digits to a higher decimal position in the decimal system However, if the number to be entered contains fractional decimal digits and when the so-called fractional digits are typed, it does not take place, as mentioned above, of the transposition of the digits previously entered in the calculator group, that is to say of the digits finding before the comma,

   because the value of these digits is not changed by adding fractional decimal digits. As a result, the stepping of the cross-coupling switches should stop when the decimal fractional digits are to be registered.

  
For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, the aforementioned contact [pound] of the relay Dm, hereinafter referred to as “comma relay” is interposed in the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches. This relay is controlled by

  
a determined contact called "comma key" DR at the control station. This "comma key" is hit when the units digit of the number in question has itself been hit. When the DR key is pressed, the relay control circuit Dm

  
  <EMI ID = 39.1>

  
that it activates the contact g at the same time, which makes that the control circuit of the relay .. KV is open. During the subsequent operation of the button contacts at the operating station, the transverse coupling switches therefore remain at rest and do not participate in the adjustment of the step switch; in other words, the connections to the adjustment members of the recording members of the computer group, connections already established by means of the transverse coupling switches, will not be modified.

  
As can be seen in fig. 2, the connections between the transverse coupling switches and the regulating members

  
  <EMI ID = 40.1>

  
fractional decimal digits in the calculator group, are arranged in such a way that, whatever the switches, recorders (with the pulsators: which correspond to them and the transverse coupling switches connected to these) which happens to be used first when entering the first decimal fractional digit, the connection starting from the pulse transmitters and ending, via the transverse coupling switch, at the computer group is always extended up to the control unit of l 'recorder used to enter the first fractional decimal digit in the group calcula-

  
  <EMI ID = 41.1>

  
decimal, the connection from the pulse transmitter which is then put into action is made directly through the transverse coupling switch cooperating with said transmitter to the control circuit of the recording unit of the computer group in which the second decimal fractional digit is entered, etc.

  
When carrying out multiplications, a factor is first entered into the recording member a in the manner described above, after which a key contact is actuated.

  
  <EMI ID = 42.1>

  
contact mk, in each of the connections 1 arranged between the pulsator brushes and the brushes of the transverse coupling switches, thanks to which the aforementioned connections are interrupted, while the brushes Sa, Sb ... Sh, are then connected (by l 'intermediate conductors 4 shown in dotted lines in figs.I and 2) to another set

  
  <EMI ID = 43.1>

  
subsequently switched as the multiplier group) in the same way as the transverse coupling switches A, B, C, D, ... EH are connected to the regulators RK of the computer group.

  
For the simplification of the drawing, the multiple connection

  
  <EMI ID = 44.1>

  
and the recording units of the multiplier group M has not been shown in the drawing. The arrangement of this multiple connection will be easily understood if we remember that it is arranged exactly according to the same principles as the multiple connection between the switches.

  
transverse coupling A, B ... H and the recording units of the computer group.

  
For the sake of simplification of the drawing, only four recording members have been shown in the multiplier group, but it is understood that any number of such multiplier members can be provided.

  
When the termination key TS is hit after pressing the MET key, the number entered in recording device A is transferred, through the pulsators of the recorder to the recording devices. of the multiplier group, which registration bodies are designated

  
  <EMI ID = 45.1>

  
mentervent &#65533; record hundredths, tenths, ones and tens respectively.

  
When the first factor has been transferred, in the manner described, to the multiplier group M, the second factor is entered into the recorder a, the switches of which are automatically put to rest when the pulse transmitters have carried out the transfer of a number from the recorder to the calculator group or to the multiplier group.

  
If now we carry out the multiplication of two numbers entered in the recorder and in the multiplier group respectively, we first strike a contact key MT, or multiplication key, arranged at the switching station, whereby an MR relay, hereinafter referred to as a multiplier relay, is energized via conductor 17 and

  
  <EMI ID = 46.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 47.1>

  
pulse sender control) and the driver!
(resulting in the TS termination key), whereby this

  
  <EMI ID = 48.1>

  
then actuates the TS termination key, the MAR relay is energized to establish a connection from a transmit-

  
  <EMI ID = 49.1>

  
tor M, represent fractional decimal digits. These contacts are arranged in such a way, with respect to the movable brushes of these recording members, that when a number is entered into any one of these recording members, that is to say if the factor registered in the multiplier group consists of one or more fractional digits

  
  <EMI ID = 50.1>

  
analogous tacts of other organs possibly intended for recording decimal fractions and used in the multiplier group, are brought into their operating position, which has the effect that the transmitter

  
  <EMI ID = 51.1>

  
through these contacts, to the control relay KV of the transverse coupling switches A, B, C, D ... H. A circuit comprising the winding of the KV relay is looped, for example

  
  <EMI ID = 52.1>

  
such that it first transmits a pulse to the relay

  
  <EMI ID = 53.1>

  
decimals

  
two fraction / multiplier recording units have been activated, it transmits another impulse

  
  <EMI ID = 54.1>

  
see two steps back. All connections from pulsators. SA ... SH to end in the RK regulating members of the calculator group C are thus interchanged, which means that for each fractional decimal digit present in the factor recorded in the multiplier group, the said connections are swapped on the setting of the recording member representing the next ordinal series, that is, the number is downgraded according to a division by 10, by the factor registered in the recording switches for each decimal fractional digit in the multiplier group. This is to fix the position

  
the decimal point in the product of two factors which is then calculated automatically in the computer group, namely when the termination key TS is released at the switching station and this opens the control circuit of the Mar relay, thanks to which the latter cuts the connections by the

  
  <EMI ID = 55.1>

  
connection starting from the mass and terminating at the IR adjustment member of the recording member 01 'in the multiplier group, so that this recording member is at rest and that, during this rest, each time that its brush moves from one contact position to the next, the recording device opens and closes a circuit starting from the earth

  
and including the brush y, the group of contacts scanned by this

  
  <EMI ID = 56.1>

  
be the group contacts and contact o, conductor II and the control relay Im of the pulse transmitters

  
  <EMI ID = 57.1>

  
have already been connected to the cross coupling switches A, B, ... of group b, (while the number in-

  
  <EMI ID = 58.1>

  
corresponding to the value of the number by which the brush was originally set there. As a result, the number entered into the recorder is transferred to the computer group a number of times corresponding to the value of the figure in question; in other words, it is transferred to the calculating group as if it were multiplied by said digit as a multiplier.

  
When the brush is at rest there (in the manner indicated above) it de-energizes, in a known manner, the control unit IR of the unit 01 for recording hundredths but, simultaneously, it loops, by a contact Z, a circuit including the IR control relay of the component!. recording

  
  <EMI ID = 59.1>

  
this recording device is then automatically put to rest and ,. during this rest, it generates pulses, exactly in the same way as that described for the recording member 01 whose pulses are sent to the

  
  <EMI ID = 60.1> <EMI ID = 61.1>

  
in order to supply, exactly as is the case for recording devices 1 and 01, pulses to the control relay I. In this way, the recording devices of the multiplier group are automatically put to rest one after the others by thus delivering control pulses in number corresponding to the cardinal value of their original setting, to the control relays of the pulse transmitter so that, for each of these pulses, said relays transfer to the recording group [ pound] the number entered into the logger.

  
It is understood that, in order to carry out the multiplication, the number entered into the recorder is multiplied by each of the digits of the number entered in the multiplier group. When one passes from the multiplication, by one of these digits, to the multiplication by the digit immediately superior, the product resulting from the last multiplication must, as we know, be added to the product resulting from the multiplication by the preceding digit, as if it were increased by one

  
  <EMI ID = 62.1>

  
obtain this result, the transverse coupling switches A, B ... H are automatically advanced by one step each time

  
  <EMI ID = 63.1>

  
shown a connection leading to said contact that as regards the recording member T. Once established,

  
  <EMI ID = 64.1>

  
Cross-coupling group receives an impulse which advances all cross-coupling switches by one step.

  
When the multiplication is completed, all the switches of the recorder and the transverse coupling group b are automatically released and occupy their rest position.

  
In the case of a division, the dividend is entered into the recorder and a specific key DT is struck, the division key, located at the switching station. A relay, the division relay Div, is thus activated by means of the said key and a contact di of the division relay, which relay locks itself by the

  
  <EMI ID = 65.1>

  
cross coupling b and the recording switches return to their rest position. When the divide key is released, the Div relay remains in action via its latch circuit.

  
The divider is then entered into the recorder !!:. By

  
  <EMI ID = 66.1>

  
work. If the divisor includes decimal fractional digits, the comma key DT is actuated when the last digit preceding the decimal point has been entered, whereby the comma relay Dm actuates the 0 contact, and causes a

  
  <EMI ID = 67.1>

  
then hits a key contact I, 2 ... 0, which causes the entry of a fractional decimal digit into the divider, this not only produces the usual loopback, via one of the key contacts in question, of a control circuit of the step-by-step switch (so that the latter advances one step to operate a new

  
  <EMI ID = 68.1>

  
cer with one step the quotient switch AND ?. This is repeated each time a decimal fractional digit is transferred to the divisor, which means that the KIV quotient switch is set according to the number of decimal fractional digits of the divisor.

  
The moving contact ki of the quotient switch is

  
  <EMI ID = 69.1>

  
computer group, these latter contacts being open when

  
  <EMI ID = 70.1>

  
in the rest position. Counter-contacts kl who cooperate

  
  <EMI ID = 71.1>

  
one and the same terminal of a supply current source f, via the winding of a relay Q serving to indicate the position of the decimal point in the quotient calculated by the calculating device, as well as will describe it in this

  
following.

  
When dividing in a known manner, by subtracting the divisor from the dividend a number of times corresponding to the quotient, the highest ordinal digit of the divisor must first be transferred to the registrar

  
of the calculating group in which the highest significant figure of the dividend is recorded. Cross-coupling switches which, when entering the divider into the recorder, had been advanced one step for each digit of the divisor (except for the decimal fractional digit of the latter), must therefore, if this number of digits is different from the number of whole digits recorded in the computer group, being moved forward or backward by a number of steps corresponding to the difference between the two numbers of digits in question.

   To this end, each recording device or control device of the computer group [pound] which is assigned to it comprises a transfer contact r controlled by said recording device, which contact, when the control device recording in question is in the idle position (that is to say is not in action) touches a contact rI connected to the report contact r of the recording device of the computer group representing the decimal group immediately below in the decimal system, so that, when all the recording devices are in their rest position, all the transfer contacts r are connected in series, as seen in fig. 2.

   The report contact r, associated with the registration unit TM in which must be entered the highest ordinal digit that can be registered in the calculator group (in this case, the registration unit corresponding to the digit 10 million ),

  
  <EMI ID = 72.1>

  
closed by the division relay Div when the latter is in the operating position.

  
If the recording device of the calculating group is used for recording a digit, the corresponding transfer contact r is switched so as to touch a counter-

  
  <EMI ID = 73.1>

  
recording units of the computer group is connected, via conductors Pr (only one of which is shown in fig. 2), to one of the contacts of a determined group of contacts P of the group of switches of transverse coupling b, the brushes of this group being adjusted in synchronism with the brushes of the transverse coupling switches A ... H and connected to earth by the winding of a relay RP and by the source f.

  
  <EMI ID = 74.1>

  
Dividing relay, by contact group P, conductor Pr and contact r of a recording device (when the latter is in action) in the computer group. When the next recording relay in the computer group is in action, said link circuit is automatically switched <EMI ID = 75.1>

  
mentioned last, so that the said link circuit is

  
  <EMI ID = 76.1>

  
associated with the registration body of the calculating group in which is registered, at a given time, the highest ordinal number of the dividend. It follows that when the division relay is actuated and the dividend has entered the calculating group, there is in the group P a certain contact which corresponds to the highest ordinal digit of the dividend and which is ground pax through contact r and

  
  <EMI ID = 77.1>

  
of the transverse coupling switches is actuated when operating the division button DT, due to the fact that the

  
  <EMI ID = 78.1>

  
transverse advance step by step until the broom meets, in the group P, the contact which, through

  
  <EMI ID = 79.1>

  
hence to the earth. This causes the RP relay to de-energize

  
  <EMI ID = 80.1>

  
thus stops the transverse coupling switches which, during this step-by-step advance, have exactly set the transverse coupling switches in a position causing the switching of the pulse transmitter of the first digit entered in the recorder on the device of 'record of the computer group in which the highest ordinal digit has been recorded.

  
When the termination key ST is actuated, the division takes place, in the usual manner, by subtracting the divisor of the dividend a number of times corresponding to the quotient. The way in which this operation is carried out is well known to those skilled in the art and the equipment necessary for this function

  
and the recording of the quotient is, therefore, not shown in the drawing. This equipment is not, in itself, part of the invention.

  
However, as regards the indication of the decimal point in the quotient, it should be noted that normally, that is to say when the divisor does not include fractional digits

  
  <EMI ID = 81.1>

  
of the recording unit E of the units of the calculating group, so that, when the division is concluded, this unit is put into action and thus closes its contact link

  
  <EMI ID = 82.1>

  
current flow through said link,

  
  <EMI ID = 83.1>

  
indicates the position of the decimal point in the quotient recording group (not shown).

  
If the divisor includes mixed decimal numbers, which, as mentioned above, advances

  
  <EMI ID = 84.1>

  
decimal, said comma indication is not provided to the quotient recorders as long as, for-

  
  <EMI ID = 85.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 86.1>

  
holds is moved according to the number of fractional decimal digits of the divisor, the link between the different

  
  <EMI ID = 87.1>

  
switch is advanced by one. not according to a decimal fractional digit in the divider it is set, on the contact of groups associated with individual contacts, with the organ

  
  <EMI ID = 88.1>

  
while, if there are two decimal fractional digits,

  
  <EMI ID = 89.1>

  
corresponding to the registration body for thousandths.

  
Fig. 3 represents an overall diagram of a calculating machine produced according to figs. I and 2 and to which it is possible to connect individually, by means of a switch VR, control devices d located in several maneuvering stations. If desired, one or more of these control stations can be provided with a printing device in which can be recorded, if desired, the

  
  <EMI ID = 90.1>

  
arrangements are made so that upon completion of a computing operation an electrical impulse is transmitted, either automatically or when a key is struck

  
  <EMI ID = 91.1>

  
recording ganes of the computer group then automatically causes the transmission of a pulse (which corresponds to the setting of the recording device in question) to the printing device, as will be described below at support of fig.6 and in accordance with the Belgian patent requested under N [deg.] 369,689 for a calculating machine; a number, corresponding to the number entered in the computer group, is thus stored in the printing device.

  
Instead of or in addition to transferring the number stored in the computer group to a printing device located at the switching station, this number can be transferred

  
to a determined group of recording devices called "totalizer group", namely group h in fig.3, in which the number is then recorded, or by a 1RS relay energized for example by a key at the switching station ( see the relay
122 and the recording group 19 in fig. 5), or automatically by the adjustment pulses of the recording members of the computer group which also cause the operation of corresponding recording members in the group h. The totalizer group can be aged in a manner substantially analogous to that of a calculator group and <EMI ID = 92.1>

  
The printing device i can be replaced by any other suitable recording device such as a punch device for recording the numbers in question by means of holes punched in cards or in a continuous strip of paper (see group 17 in fig. 5) or simply by a signaling panel on which you can read the number reported there from the computer group.

  
A calculating machine according to the invention may comprise several calculating equipment items of the type described and these may all be arranged to perform the four arithmetic rules, or else some of them may be set up to perform additions and additions. subtractions

  
  <EMI ID = 93.1>

  
tiplications: or both kinds of operations with or without fractional decimal digits. In this case, the above-mentioned computing equipment; can be actuated individually from one or more switching stations by means of switches (see switch RG indicated in dotted lines in figs. I and 2), which switches are interposed in the conductors between the switching station and the computer equipment recorders. In an analogous manner, it is possible to use several: switches to connect any one of several control stations to any one of several items of equipment, computers ;.

  
Figs. 4 and 5 show an example of a circuit diagram of a calculating machine according to the invention, a machine equipped, in addition to the actual calculating units
14-15, other recording groups 16-19 for recording numbers for printing and other similar purposes. This machine is controlled by means of punched cards 12 on which the numbers:. In question are recorded by means of holes punched in numbers and according to variable arrangements. In fig. 4 denoted by 10 an exploration device or feeler device of known type placed at a control station.

   In this scanning apparatus, the perforations of the cards 12 passing through the apparatus 10 are translated into an electrical impulse by means of control and exploration contacts II and 211, when the latter meet the perforations of a card 12 passing in front. these contacts. Cards 12 are assumed to be issued from magazine 100 along strip 101 (shown in phantom) to scout apparatus 10 and then to apparatus 102 for collecting and storing cards. The movement of the cards takes place in the direction of the. arrow shown in fig. 4.

   The indications constituted by the punch cards can be of very different types and it is not necessary that all these indications relate to indications which must be recorded in one or other of the registration groups 14 to 19 of the machine. The cards are all presumed to have one or other of a plurality of different ordering indicia intended to indicate the type of indicia exhibited by the perforations of the cards. The cards can, for example, be used to record certain data from insurance policies or other similar documents.

   Only the recordings of cards whose control indications show that they belong to a determined recording category (which is verified by the control device 106 which will be discussed below, by means of a group of contacts II of the scanning device 10) are made to be recorded in the calculating machine following the scanning operation of the device 10.

  
The cards are continuously moved along the guide or strip 101 from the magazine 100 to the collecting apparatus 102 without the order of succession of the cards being changed, that is to say in such a manner. that the cards 12 arrive in the apparatus 102 in the order in which they were taken from the magazine 100. This movement is caused by

  
an electric drive mechanism 150 controlled by a relay 103 which, as will be described in more detail below, automatically cuts off the supply current to the drive mechanism, by opening a connecting contact

  
  <EMI ID = 94.1>

  
Finally, when a card, the control indications of which show that it contains data to be recorded in one or more recording groups of the machine, is introduced into: the device 10.

  
In the embodiment shown in the drawing, only one explorer device 10 has been shown, but several can be provided; of these devices, connected to one and the same machine, for example in such a way that each of them is crossed by all the cards or only by some of them and that it transfers; indications of a determined group of cards;, for example those that present a determined control indication, to one or other or more of the recording groups 14-19 of the machine.

  
When the cards are inserted one by one into the explorer device, they actuate a certain number of control or feeler contacts II (which are found in the device) according to the number of perforations: constituting the control indication of the card, this which causes that each control contact II whose position corresponds to the position of the perforations of the control indication of the card establishes an earth connection on one or more conductors of a cable. This causes the looping of a circuit by means of the aforementioned control contacts II and of the conductor of the cable 105 which is connected thereto, which circuit leads to one or the other of the relays of a group of contactor relays I07-III of the control device 106.

   The function of these relays is to check whether a given card inserted into the feeler device 10 includes indications to be retained in one or other of the recording groups of the machine. If this is the case and is indicated on the card by a predetermined number of perforations corresponding to the number of contactor relays 107 to III, all the relays 107 to III are activated, a circuit being completed by the winding of each of these. relay, from the earth connection located at the control contact II corresponding to the individual perforation of the card, this circuit comprising the relay winding, the battery 113 and the earth in question. Each of the relays 107 to 109 controls one or more contacts connected in series with each other in a circuit comprising the winding of a relay 103

  
  <EMI ID = 95.1>

  
key only if all relays 107 to III are activated. This means that if the card which is presently in the scanning apparatus includes indications to be recorded in the machine, the movement of this card along the guide 101 must be momentarily stopped and this is produced by the relay 103 which is controlled by closed contacts by means of relays
107 to III. The contact 104 is thus actuated so that the drive mechanism 150 of the cards is stopped. When it is actuated, the contact 104 also loops a circuit passing through a relay 112 serving to count the number of cards whose records have been entered into the machine, the relay controlling a counter 151.

  
When it is actuated, the relay 103 also loops a circuit comprising a control relay SS of a certain number of switches comprising, on the one hand, switch elements SA, SB, SC ... corresponding to the switches. SA ... SR impulses in fig. I and serving to connect the transmitter

  
  <EMI ID = 96.1>

  
transverse range A, B, C, D, the switches being multiplied on the groups of pads or contacts of the pulse switches SA, SB ... exactly as in fig. I and, on the other hand,

  
  <EMI ID = 97.1>

  
are adjusted in synchronism with the brushes of the SA, SB, SC ... pulse switches in the same way as on the freezes. I and 2. The contact groups of these recording switches are multiple on the scanning contacts 211 of the scanning device 10 in exactly the same way as

  
the contact groups of the corresponding switch elements SVa, SVb ... in fig. I are multiple on the button contacts I, 2, 3 ... at the switching station. For simplicity of the drawing, these multiple connections are represented in fig. 4 by two rows of contacts 116 and by conductors 114. starting from these contacts to end at the exploration contacts 211. For the same reason, the multiple connections

  
  <EMI ID = 98.1>

  
teurs is not shown in fig.4 but can easily be deduced from fig.I. Scan contacts 211 of device 10 indicate data to be stored in the machine. Conductors 114 are grouped together to form a cable
115.

  
  <EMI ID = 99.1>

  
four pulse or pulsator switches and four recording switches, but in reality a larger number can be provided depending on the number of digits and other characters that it would be possible to record or otherwise report to paper registration groups.

  
As is exactly the case in fig. I, the pulse switches SA, SB, SC ... and the cross coupling switches A, B, C, D, are used to adjust the recording devices of one or more recording groups
14-19 to pulse transmitters I-I4 depending on the setting produced by the rest contacts 211 on the switches

  
  <EMI ID = 100.1>

  
the latter, depending on the holes punched in the card 12.

  
For this purpose, the group contacts of the switches A-B are linked, by a multiple connection represented by a single conductor 117, to the different recording groups 14-17 by

  
  <EMI ID = 101.1>

  
120, 121 and 122 respectively, which relays are described in more detail below and serve to connect said multiple connection to one or the other or simultaneously to two or more of said recording groups.

  
The relays 1I2-I22 are controlled by determined perforations of the card 12, perforations which indicate the recording group or groups in question into which it is desired to transfer an indication recorded on the card. For this purpose, the relays 118 to 122 are connected individually, by the inter-

  
  <EMI ID = 102.1>

  
tooth in their own right and are united to form a cable 123, at special feeler contacts (not shown) of the scanning apparatus 10 and corresponding to the perforations which, on the card
12, indicating the recording groups to which the indications shown on the map must be transferred. In the form shown in the drawing, the conductors 118 'to

  
  <EMI ID = 103.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 104.1>

  
registrars to which it is desired to transfer are coded and they are then translated, in the decryption device, into pulses of ordinary digits. Since a device of this type is well known, its construction and arrangement are not described here.

  
Assuming, for example, that a number, represented by

  
the perforations of a certain design on the card 12, is to be entered in the registration group 15 which is assumed to be

  
  <EMI ID = 105.1> fig. 2, there is then provided, immediately next to the said perforations of the card, a group of other perforations which, for <EMI ID = 106.1>

  
that the relay 119 is to be actuated, which is then done by the decryption device which closes a contact 125 R in the conductor 119. Through its contacts 126, the relay 119 thus extends the multiple connection 117 to the control relays RK of the components (not shown in detail in fig. 4) of the computer group 15, whereby the im-

  
  <EMI ID = 107.1> as described above with reference to figs. I and 2 and (given that by acting on relay 103, the control indication also controls the control relay Im of the

  
  <EMI ID = 108.1>

  
RK relay adjustment sions, so that the computer group recording components are set to the number in question.

  
When it is a simple addition or subtraction operation, the number is entered only in the calculator group 15 but when it is also a multiplication or division operation, another calculator group
14 is first switched on, the relay They then being actuated by a contact 125 M of the decryption device by a corresponding control indication, in the same way as that described above with regard to the relay 119, after which, the calculation takes place exactly in the same way as that described above in support of figs. 1 and 2; it should be noted that the calculator group 14 corresponds to the multiplier group

  
of fig. 2 and that it is constructed in the same way as this one but that it has been represented in a very schematic manner in fig. 4. In this regard, it should also be noted that the representations: of the various recording groups 14 to 19 of figs. 4 and 5 are rather schematic and that they are not intended to suggest anything about the construction of these devices. The calculator groups 15 and 14 can, for example, be constructed and arranged in exactly the same way.

  
  <EMI ID = 109.1>

  
transverse coupling switches AB ... being exactly

  
  <EMI ID = 110.1>

  
figs. I and 2.

  
If a card 12 includes, in combination with the number stored on it, a group of perforations indicating that, when entering the computer group 15 or another computer group of the machine, the number must be multiplied by one factor represented by said group of perforations, the multiplication in question can then be carried out automatically by arranging for the said group of perforations to cause the adjustment of a speed variator 127, with which the drive mechanism of the transmitters is fitted pulses in such a way that the speed at which the pulse transmitters are driven is as many times greater than the speed at which the pulse transmitters are driven in the case of a simple addition, as the factor by which the multiplication is greater than I;

   the computer group therefore receives a multiple (corresponding to the factor in question) of the number of pulses normally received for recording the number. The multiplication is thus effected

  
  <EMI ID = 111.1>

  
speed trainer are not, per se, part of the invention. How such a speed transformer can be constructed and connected is obvious to those skilled in the art.

  
Said speed transformer can also be constructed in such a way that the speed varies according to a logarithmic law, so that the calculation can be carried out by logarithms; alternatively, by combining a logarithmic transformation of the speed with a transformation of speed by multiplying the speed, calculations can be made at the 2nd and 3rd power.

  
The machine can include several calculating groups in which several multiplications of one and the same number by different factors can be carried out simultaneously. In this case, several groups of transmits are used.

  
  <EMI ID = 112.1>

  
at different speeds when one and the same number is transferred to different computer groups from the SA ... SD switches.

  
If the card has a number that you want to register

  
  <EMI ID = 113.1> group and in a computer group, the card must be provided, in combination with the recording of the number in question, with a set of perforations indicating that the recording (s) considered must be made . Said set of perforations then controls relay 120 or, simultaneously, said relay

  
and the relay being in a computer group, for example the relay 119, either by the intermediary of the decryption device 125, when its contacts I25K and I25R are closed, or directly, if there is no device decryption. The number is thus transferred to both valculator group 15 and register group 16. The registration group may for example be a totalizer group and, in the form shown in the drawing, it has been assumed that it is constructed in the manner described in the Belgian patent applied for under n [deg.] 369,689.

  
It consists, therefore, of a number of recording members 128 mounted in a group on a number of mutually parallel shafts 129 (and adjustment shafts) arranged side by side and on which can turn individually and independently of each other the movable organs of the recording organs. For this purpose, the rotating part

  
of each recording member 128 is made integral with a bevel gear 130 organized, by the axial displacement of the shaft 129 with which it is associated and by means of a relay 138, to engage with a bevel gear 131 mounted on one either of a number of shafts 132 (intermediate shafts) displaced transversely to the adjusting shafts

  
129 and each carrying a bevel pinion 133 arranged &#65533; an extremity. By means of the bevel gear 133 and a bevel gear 135 with which a drive shaft 134 is provided, any of the countershafts 132 can be coupled to said drive shaft which is driven by a motor 136. An inverter 160, which can be controlled. electrically remotely, can be interposed between the motor 136 and the drive shaft 134, the control being able to be

  
  <EMI ID = 114.1>

  
The relays 138 are connected, through a multiple link, represented by the conductors 139 and 156, to those

  
explorer contacts of the device 10 which cooperate with those of the perforations of a card 12 which indicate that of the recording groups of the totalizing device (represented by the various relays 138 with the shafts 129 which correspond to them and the recording members mounted on these) in which a number, text, etc. shown on the map.

  
Card 12 thus indicates which of the relays

  
138 are to be controlled in each particular case, which causes the longitudinal displacement of the shaft or shafts 129 which correspond thereto, so that the recording members 128 mounted on these shafts are coupled to the corresponding shaft

  
132 with which they are arranged to cooperate. At the same time, a multiple connection terminating at switches A ... D and established by control of relay 120, indicates which of the intermediate shafts 132 is to be brought into engagement in each particular case. These shafts are engaged by the intermediary of the relays 140 corresponding to each of them and controlled by the intermediary of the contacts 157 of the relay 120 and by the multiple connection 117 starting from the said contacts to end at the transverse coupling switch. A ... D. If one of the relays 140 is controlled, it causes a pinion 135 provided on the drive shaft 134 to come into engagement with the pinion 133 provided on the shaft 132 corresponding to the relay 140.

   The shaft 132 thus begins to rotate and, in response to the duration of the number of pulses supplied by the pulsator group, the recording devices 128 are adjusted according to the perforations with which the card is provided.

  
The totalizing equipment 16 can also be put into service after a sum has been calculated or a number has

  
been registered in the computer group, the recording units of the computer group then having to provide

  
or to control pulses via a multiple conduc-tor 142 on the recording units of the computer group and on the relays 140. This report or transfer can

  
  <EMI ID = 115.1>

  
card, either by looping or closing, from the switching station, a determined control circuit.

  
It should be noted that the number of relays 140 corresponds to the greatest number of digits, letters or characters contained in numbers or texts to be recorded. Each of the digits, or letter or other character of the number or text in question is recorded in one of the recording members 128 mounted on one and the same adjusting shaft 129 but the group of such recording members in which must be s To perform the registration is determined by the relays 138 as discussed above. From the foregoing it can be seen that, thanks to the relays mentioned last and to the groups of perforations of the card 12 serving to control the said ones. relay, it is possible to choose the group of recording devices of the totalizing equipment in which you want to record a given number.

   Accordingly, the totalizing equipment can be arranged to record the numbers of different significance in the different groups of recording members associated with the different adjustment shafts.
129. The organs; recording mounted on the same adjustment shaft can, in a well known manner, be provided with transfer members.

  
If it is necessary to be able to bring back the recording members 128 from the positions in which they have been placed, at any given moment, to a predetermined rest position, the totalizing equipment (which may possibly, as is apparent from any evidence from the above description of its operation, to be used also as ordinary computer equipment) is constructed with a return shaft 152 which, by means of a remote control of-

  
  <EMI ID = 116.1>

  
(as has been shown) to an independent motor 153, whereby the return shaft to which is coupled (via angle gears) each of the adjustment shafts 129, recalls said adjustment shafts in a predetermined rest position in which they automatically release themselves from the tree
152.

  
If a card 12 is provided with a set of perforations which, via the conductors 115 and 123, indicates that it is desired to obtain a new printed card according to certain indications also represented by perforations on the card, the relay 121 of a perforating device
17 (the construction of which does not, in itself, form part of the present invention but is well known) is automatically controlled by a pulse coming from the device 10 and corresponding to said group of perforations, this pulse closing a contact 125 P of the device 125 in the conductor 121 leading to the perforating device 17. This causes, via the contacts 143 controlled by the relay 121, the looping of a link circuit to a certain number of perforating relays.

  
  <EMI ID = 117.1>

  
connecting these relays to the mobile conductor 114, so that, through the latter, these contacts are multiplied on

  
  <EMI ID = 118.1>

  
pulses controlled by the card 12 and actuating the perforating relays in such a way that a new card is perforated in accordance with the indications transmitted by the scanning device. The detailed arrangement of the aforementioned control of the perforating device 17 will not be described because it is already known to control a perforating device by means of electrical pulses corresponding to numbers, etc. which it is desired to have recorded. This is the reason why the representation of the perforating device of, fig.5 is purely schematic and does not provide any indication of the actual construction of this device which is to be considered as well known.

  
It should be noted that the perforating device 17

  
can also be controlled by pulses supplied by a computer group. In figs. 4 and 5 this arrangement is represented by the multiple conductor 145 which, by means of pulses which can be controlled for example by the card in question, or manually or by the computer group itself when it has completed the calculation in question, loops the connection between the computer group 15 and the perforating device 17

  
aorta that a card or a strip of paper is perforated in this device. The way in which a computer group can be arranged to provide pulses according to the setting of its. different recording devices and thus to adjust other recording devices, in this case the punch relays 144 or the recording device of the printing device 18 or 19 which will be discussed below, depending on

  
of the adjustment of its own recording devices is already described in the Belgian patent applied for under n [deg.] 369,689, and will also be described in the following with reference to fig.6.

  
The perforating device 17 can be replaced by a magnetic recorder on the magnetic tape of which the indications are recorded in the form of magnetic recording.

  
A card can also be provided with perforations indicating that a number, a text, etc. recorded by perforations of the card is to be reproduced in the form of a print in a printing device 19 ,. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, two printing devices 18 and 19 have been shown respectively, one of which, the device 19, is in circuit, via a determined contact I29T, when the decryption device 125 receives a appropriate pulse of the device 10. The printing device 18 includes control relays 148 for printing members 149, which relays are connected to one. calculating device via a multiple conductor 146.

   The sum calculated in the calculating device is therefore printed in the printing device 18 by means of pulses transmitted from the calculating device to the relay 148 of the printing device, via the multiple conductor 146; in response to these pulses, the aforementioned relays consequently regulate the printing members 149 of the printing device as a function of the pulses received, for example in the manner described in the Belgian patent applied for under n [deg.] 369,689, and also in accordance with the description below with reference to fig. 6.

  
The printing device 19 is controlled by the intermediary of the relay 122 at the same time as the printing device 18, on the condition that the relay 122 receives a control pulse from the device 125; otherwise, this command does not take place.

  
As described above., A calculating machine

  
  <EMI ID = 119.1>

  
owns, can be shared by several control stations. It may therefore be advantageous for a recorder and a calculating device to be automatically isolated or separated from a switching station when no operation takes place at this station for a certain time, for example because the The operator must leave the post during work since, otherwise, the machine could not be isolated or separated from the other maneuvering posts during the interval in question.

   In accordance with the invention, to obtain such isolation or separation, a timer device is interposed in the connection arranged between the switching stations and the recorder of the calculating device; when the use of the maneuvering station connected to the calculating device is interrupted for a certain time, for example for more than one or two minutes, the aforementioned timer device, on the one hand, automatically isolates the maneuvering station from the calculating device, at the same time that it provides a visible indication of this isolation by lighting a signal lamp at the control station and, on the other hand, automatically initiates operations, thanks to which the sum or numbers recorded so far in the computer device, from the maneuvering station in question,

   do not remain in the calculating device but are automatically reported or transferred to a printing device and deleted in the calculating device, namely by the ATK relay (fig. 6) mentioned below, so that other operations

  
calculation can be carried out directly in the same calculating device, when the same switching station or another switching station is subsequently put back into service.

  
With regard to the operation of the control device 106 of fig. 4, it should be observed that, as mentioned above, it only allows entry into the machine through the intermediate punched card having a group of perforations, determined which causes the

  
  <EMI ID = 120.1>

  
Sometimes, in some cases, it may be desirable to use the machine for recording indications appearing on cards which do not have said group of perforations but another group of perforations, indicating that the card belongs to another category of cards: that for which the control device 106 is set; the group of perforations in question may, for example, comprise a number of perforations less than the number of relays 107 to III of the control device. In. In this case, if it is desired that certain indications of such a card be recorded in the machine, one or more of the relays 107 to III can be bypassed: so that the relay 103 operates as soon as the other relays of group 107 to III operate. themselves.

   In this way the control device can be modified in such a way that, in a given case, it only allows recordings to be made from cards of a particular category and that, in other cases, it also allows recording. 'making recordings from cards of another category, while all the others, cards moved through the explorer device 10 pass directly through the latter without being stopped and without having any action on the machine.

  
He goes. without saying that the machine can also be used for recording indications which are taken on a strip of perforated paper instead of a card 12 and that by replacing the scanning device 10 with a device allowing to read the recordings from a magnetic steel tape can also be entered into the recordings machine

  
of that type.

  
In the foregoing description, it has been mentioned with reference both to FIGS. 1 and 2 and to the computer group of figs. 4 and 5, that a number or a text recorded in a calculating device or in another recording device can be transferred automatically in another recording device, for example from a calculating group to a totalizing group or to a signaling device, to a printing device, a perforating device or a counting device located at the operating station or at any other desired location located in or outside the calculating machine and it has also been indicated that a postponement or transfer of this kind can, for example, be carried out in the manner described in the Belgian patent applied for under n [deg.] 369,689.

   Such a transfer can also be carried out in the manner described below with reference to FIG. 6. This figure shows the circuit diagram of a device for the recording transfer of a computer group [pound] to a recording device 20 located at the location from which the computer group is controlled. The recording device 20 is assumed to be in the form of a printing device having a number of frames or discs 308 rotating on a common shaft 309 and provided at their periphery with a continuous row of characters representing numbers, letters or other signs.

  
In fig. 6 there is no representation for the computer group

  
  <EMI ID = 121.1>

  
whose recording devices 308 of the printing device are adjusted by a remote control, as a function of the recording devices RR of the calculating device without the following being canceled: the records present in the latter device. The: RR recording units of the calculating device, the embodiment of which does not form part of the present invention and which, for this reason, are shown in fig. 6 only by the symbols, are supposed to be

  
(as described in the Belgian patent applied for under n [deg.]
369,689) mounted so as to rotate on a common shaft 300 to which they can be coupled by means of coupling electromagnets RE, for appropriate time intervals, in order to be individually adjusted in positions corresponding to. digits and combined; to form a number to be recorded. The. same remarks apply to the calculator group of figs. I and 2. A conductor 303 (fig.6)

  
  <EMI ID = 122.1>

  
plement RK to cross coupling switches A, B, C ... in fig. 2. Conductors 303 must be connected to earth through switch-contactors 304 controlled by an RSR relay.

  
  <EMI ID = 123.1>

  
via an RT switch contact, at the control station. Each of the RR recording members carries a radial projection 305 disposed either on the recording member itself or on a member participating in the adjustment movement of said recording member on the shaft 300. Each RR recording member is also associated with a contact I, II, III ..... XI which is normally open and which, in this position, does not extend on the path of the projection 305 of the recording member RR with which he cooperates but which, when ordered, takes &#65533; its contact position (as seen in FIG. 6), to extend over the path of the projection 305, for example via a boss 305 provided on the movable part of each contact I, II , III ... XI.

   In fig. 6 all RR recording devices are represented in one and the same position, namely the neutral position or rest position but, if a number is recorded in

  
  <EMI ID = 124.1>

  
The latter are brought, as has been described with regard to figs. I and 2, in different positions, generally different from each other, depending on the angles at which the different recording members have turned on the 'shaft 300, when they are set for the different cardinal values of the number in question.

  
The recording devices 308 of the printing device
20 are supposed to be mounted so as to rotate on a common shaft 309 which rotates in synchronism with the shaft 300 as will be described below, in more detail: The magnets

  
  <EMI ID = 125.1>

  
engaging the recording members 308 with the shaft 309 and for uncoupling them, for example as described in the Belgian patent applied for under the n [deg.] 369,689. One end of the winding of the TRK coupling magnets is connected, by a connection [yen] represented by a single conductor 310, to each of the contacts I, II .... XI and, through the latter , to earth so that a coupling magnet TRK corresponding to the recording member which belongs to any ordinal series of the printing device is excited and de-energized by that of the contacts I, II .... XI of the device

  
  <EMI ID = 126.1>

  
The other end of each of the aforementioned windings is connected to earth via a current source

  
  <EMI ID = 127.1>

  
If a number recorded in the calculating device c must be transferred to the printing device 20, the contact RT is actuated. The RSR relay is thus energized and controlled.

  
  <EMI ID = 128.1>

  
energizing relay 307 and direct or indirect closing of all contacts I, II .... XI. The RSR relay also controls a contact 312 with the aid of which said relay locks itself in the operating position, the contact
312 being automatically earthed by means of a contact
313 which is mechanically controlled by shaft 300, said shaft being automatically caused to rotate when relay 307, energized by contact 311, closes a contact 350 provided in the supply circuit of a drive motor (no shown) of shaft 300. When caused to rotate, the shaft
300 closes the contact 313 by means of a member 317 mounted on said shaft, which member maintains the contact 350 in the closed position as long as the shaft 300 has not performed a complete revolution.

   When this has taken place, contact 313 opens automatically and causes the RSR relay to de-energize.

  
Operation of contacts 304 caused all RK coupling magnets to be energized thereby causing the RR recording members to engage the shaft 300. During rotation of this shaft, a synchronizer member coupled to the shaft 300.

  
  <EMI ID = 129.1>

  
series of pulses to a control relay 315 of a synchronous motor 316 coupled to the shaft 309 of the recording members
308, so that the motor 316 rotates the shaft 309 in synchronism with the shaft 300. The operation of the contacts

  
  <EMI ID = 130.1>

  
the shaft 300 (when this is caused to rotate) causes the coupling magnets to be energized and the recording members 308 to be coupled to the shaft 309. These recording members therefore rotate in synchronism with the RR recording units of the calculating device. When the shaft 300 has executed a full revolution, the rotation is automatically stopped by the contact 313 which is released by the device
317 of the shaft 300, this member 317 serving to mechanically maintain the aforementioned contact in the operating position. The RSR relay is thus de-energized, so that the contacts
304 and 311 are released to cause the stopping of the rotation of the shaft 300 and the uncoupling of the RR recording members from the shaft 300, at the precise moment when they have been returned to their respective rest positions.

   However, in the interval during which the rotary movement of the shaft 300 takes place, the wings 305, after having rotated through different angles which are according to the original setting of the RR recording members, have come into contact with the bosses. 306 of their respective contacts I, II ... XI and they have thus brought said contacts into the open position. The connections, via contacts I, II ... XI are thus interrupted at different times, during a complete revolution of the shaft 300, depending on the original setting of the

  
  <EMI ID = 131.1>

  
to cooperate and this has, for its part, the effect of simultaneously de-energizing the different coupling magnets TRK of the printing device, so that the recording members 308, which may for example be character wheels, are detached from the shaft 309. and stopped in this way as soon as the recording members have been rotated at angles different from each other and depending on the recording members

  
  <EMI ID = 132.1>

  
the recording devices 308 are adjusted as a function of the RR recording devices without modifying the setting of the latter, which setting will be the same before or after the

  
  <EMI ID = 133.1>

  
One can insert in the multiple connection 310 a

  
  <EMI ID = 134.1>

  
while transferring a number from the computing device to the printing device, raising or lowering the digits of one or more ordinal values, for example for the purpose of multiplying or dividing by 10, or raising to a power of 10. Such a transverse coupling connection is arranged in exactly the same way as the transverse coupling connection A, B ... H in figs. I and 2, between the regulators of the recording devices of the computer group [pound] and of the SA ... SH pulsators.

  
It may happen that a number stored in the calculating device, which number is transferred to the printing device, is a negative number. To indicate this in the device

  
  <EMI ID = 135.1>

  
319 and 370, one of which, contact 370, is automatically closed by the recording unit of the computer group serving for the entry of the highest ordinal value, when the said

  
  <EMI ID = 136.1>

  
zero position, during a calculation operation, for example when the number recorded in the calculating device becomes negative; during this time, the other contact 319 is momentarily closed. If contact 319 is closed, the winding
331 of an NR relay is energized via a circuit comprising the said contact, the conductors 320, 321, a registration contact 322 of an NAR relay, the winding

  
  <EMI ID = 137.1>

  
tact 323 through which a winding 324 of the NAR relay is connected to an earth connection through the contact
370, winding 324 and contact 323 terminating at winding 331 without being so energized because contact 312, when closed, maintains a short circuit across the winding
324 by contacts 322, 323 and 370 in series. Simultaneously, the NR relay actuates another contact 325, whereby one end of a winding 326 of the NR relay is connected to a connection of another winding 327 of the NAR relay. The result

  
is that, when the contact 319 which, as mentioned above, is only momentarily closed, is again opened, it causes the operation of the relay; NAR, because the short circuit on winding 324 is removed. The NAR relay then makes a contact 328 connects the earth to one end of the winding of a PN relay through a conductor 329, the other end of this winding being grounded by the source intermediary f. The PN relay actuates an indicator 330 arranged in the recording equipment of the

  
printing device, so that the indicator signals / the number is negative, for example by bringing the sign - into a <EMI ID = 138.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 139.1>

  
comes positive, contact 370 is opened automatically, which eliminates the direct connection of winding 324 to earth.

  
  <EMI ID = 140.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 141.1>

  
thus de-energized and allows the indicator member to move to a position indicating that the number transferred to the recording member of the printing device is positive. Said movement can be effected either mechanically, for example by a spring, or electrically, for example by the contact
328, during its operation described last and closing a link contact (not shown) in a circuit

  
  <EMI ID = 142.1>

  
Transferring a negative number from the calculator group

  
  <EMI ID = 143.1>

  
kills in a particular way, different from that in which the transfer of a positive number takes place. Thus, in the case of a negative number, all the recording devices of the calculating group. [Pound] which have been used, with the exception of the recording device representing the. last ordinal value of the number, are advanced by an ordinal value after which, to effect the transfer, the shaft 300 rotates in the opposite direction to that in which it rotates for the transfer of a positive number. The advantages of this measure will be best illustrated with the aid of an example such as the one indicated below.

  
We will assume that the recording devices of the calculating device are all at rest or zero position and that the number 26, which is negative, is then transferred to the group

  
  <EMI ID = 144.1>

  
Ti for registering units and tens in the calculator group. [Pound] rotating backwards, since the registration of a negative number is done by subtraction. The recording device E which records the units of the decimal system is thus moved 6 steps back; in other words, it is set to the number 4 but simultaneously carries out a carry-over to move all the other higher order recording devices one step back, so that all these recording devices are set. on number 2 9.

  
  <EMI ID = 145.1>

  
two steps back due to the fact that the first digit of the recorded number is 2. It follows that the tens recording device is set to the number 7. If, for the sake of simplicity, it is now assumed that there are only five RR recording units, these will then indicate, after the subtraction, the number 99.874. This number is not suitable for recording the negative number 26 by transfer to the printing device.

   However, if before or after entering the negative number, all. RR recording devices, except the one which records the lowest ordinal value, i.e. the number 4, are advanced by one step, the number indicated by the calculating device will be 00084 and, if one then transfers to the printing device in such a way that the shaft
300 (instead of rotating the recording devices in a direction such as, for example, the recording device for

  
  <EMI ID = 146.1>

  
projection 305 opens the contact VII with which it cooperates) rotates said recording members in the opposite direction, whereby the tens recording member of the calculating device rotates backwards passing positions

  
9 to 0 before the projection 305 strikes the boss 306 of contact VII, the TRK coupling magnet of the recorder

  
i

  
  <EMI ID = 147.1>

  
after the tens recorder 308 has moved two steps forward to record the digit 2. The units recorder of the calculating device must move

  
six steps before its contact VIII is opened and it thus cuts off the unit recording device 308 of the printing device at the precise moment when the latter has recorded the number 6.

The functioning of all registration bodies

  
RR, except from the unit registration device, so that it advances one step as mentioned above, is provided by means of a COS relay controlled by a contact 340 of the control circuit. this relay, circuit which is closed by the re-

  
  <EMI ID = 148.1>

  
mentioned earlier, happens to be precisely the case when the recorded number is negative. The reverse rotation of the shaft 300, as indicated above, can be performed automatically by arranging the COS relay or another of the relays controlled when the registered number is negative, so that it controls an inverter not shown on the drawing and interposed between the shaft 300 and its drive motor.

  
The operation of said inverter can also be controlled by an impulse coming from the switching station when the RT contact is controlled.

  
There may be cases where it is desired to enter a negative number into the calculating device, from the operating station, whether the contact 319 is closed or not. For this purpose a specific key NTT is provided at the operating station, a key through which the conductor 321 can be earthed. The operation of the said key has the effect,

  
  <EMI ID = 149.1>

  
COS so that they reverse the direction of rotation of the

  
  <EMI ID = 150.1>

  
upper.

  
If the NR and NAR relays are already in their control position, in other words if a negative number is recorded in the calculating device and if the calculation operation to be carried out, when entering another negative number, is a multiplication or division, so that the result must

  
  <EMI ID = 151.1> via conductor 321, contacts 322, 371

  
  <EMI ID = 152.1>

  
This balances the action of the winding 331 and causes that it is first the NR relay, then the NAR relay which are released to remove the negative indication.

  
It should be noted that instead of a mechanical control of the contacts I, II ... XI, with a view to opening the circuits by the latter, it is possible to adopt an electrical control of said contacts or else an electro-optical control by means of a photocell illuminated by a beam

  
of light moving circularly in synchronism with the recording devices RR to control relays with a view to opening contacts I, II ... XI.

  
As mentioned above, it may be desirable that a calculating device which is not controlled for

  
a certain time, for example for one or two minutes, either automatically released or isolated from the switching station so that it can be taken or selected by another switching station, while, simultaneously, the number recorded in the calculating device is automatically transferred to another recording device, for example a printing device, then deleted in the calculating device. For this purpose, you can use a timer control device such as an ATK thermal relay (fig. 6) which, after a certain time interval has elapsed following the use of any of the buttons on the switching station, is controlled automatically by means of an STR relay when the latter is de-energized.

   The STR relay consequently opens the circuit passing through the ATK device, as soon as any of the keys 1-0 (fig.I) is pressed, but maintains the said circuit when none of the keys 0-1 is pressed. .

  
If a time interval, greater than that which is necessary or desirable, elapses between two successive operations of the keys. contact switch I, 2, 3 ... the ATK release device acts to complete a circuit via the relay RSR., thanks to which the number stored in the computer group c

  
is located in the printing device 20 in the manner described above while, simultaneously, a connection,

  
going to the UL release circuit of the registrars

  
of all registration groups and passing through the

  
  <EMI ID = 153.1>

  
their zero position.


    

Claims (1)

ABSTRACT. The present invention relates to the new industrial product which constitutes an electric recording machine comprising a calculation equipment which comprises a recorder. and one or more calculator groups each of which comprises a number of corresponding mobile recording devices the maximum number of digits to be recorded at a time by these calculating groups, each of these recording devices being arranged to be adjusted or brought into a number of positions corresponding individually to the different cardinal values of the digits, said computer equipment further comprising one or more action or maneuvering devices which may be located at a distance from the rest of the computer equipment and each of which partially comprises a keyboard having a certain number of contacts or key switches whose number corresponds to that of the values. numbers, which are multiple on the recording devices of the recorder and which serve, via a step switch, to adjust or control the recording devices, in a predetermined order, according to the number in recording in the computer group, other key contacts serving to control the nature of the calculation operations to be performed; this registering machine is remarkable in particular for the following points considered in isolation and in combinations: I.- it includes several switches, known as pulse or pulsator switches, the number of which corresponds to the number of recording devices in the <EMI ID = 154.1> recorder number of different positions, number which corresponds to that of cardinal values, the contacts of all these switches being multiplied on a certain number of transmitters of electric pulses corresponding to the number of different cardinal values in such a way that each of the pulsators (which are controlled directly or indirectly by the mechanism control of a recording device of the recorder associated with each pulse transmitter or by a drive mechanism operating in synchronism) is always set depending on the registration body associated with it proper, in order to connect a pulse transmitter, which represents the cardinal value for which the recording device in question has been set, to a connection going from the pulsator to the calculating device, each of these connections going to the moving contact d 'a switch forming part of a set of switches called transverse coupling switches to which the control circuit of the recording members of the calculating device is interconnected, in such a way that these switches, which are arranged to advance step by step (when recording whole number digits in the recorder), in synchronism with the recorder recording devices, under the control of the switch not stepwise, extend the connections going from the pulsators to those of the recording organs of the calculating device which represents the ordinal values possessed by the digits of the number entered, in any case, in the recorder, due to their position in the succession of digits entered into the recorder; 2.- the multiple connection between the key contacts and the recording devices of the recorder is arranged in such a way that, whichever digit key is pressed first for entering a number in the 'recorder, this figure is always recorded in a predetermined recording device of the recorder; 3.- the interconnections of the transverse coupling switches with the regulating members of the recording members of the computer group are arranged in such a way that, when they advance step by step following the successive operation of the recording members of the recorder , the cross-coupling switches swap the connections going through the pulse transmitter switches, as the key contacts corresponding to the individual digits are actuated, so that each of the pulse transmitters, in succession which they are connected to, either first connected to the driving organ of the recording organ of the calculating group representing the units in the decimal system and then, during the subsequent lowering from a key contact corresponding to a digit, they are switched to the tens group, while, simultaneously, the pulse transmitter 'corresponding to the last mentioned digit is connected to the driving member of the 'recording of the units of the computer group, the two pulse transmitters then being, during a subsequent operation of a key contact corresponding to a digit, switched to the hundreds and tens group respectively, and and so on; 4.- the machine is fitted, at the maneuvering station or at <EMI ID = 155.1> terminator, which is interposed in a circuit for starting the pulse transmitter, so that when the operation of the termination key, after the switch group and the cross-coupling switch group of the pulse transmitters have been set according to a number entered in the logger, the pulse transmitters start automatically to supply impulses to the regulating members of the recording members of the computer group, which members are thus regulated according to the name <EMI ID = 156.1> treur; 5.- the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches passes through a rest contact of a relay, called a comma indicator relay, whose control circuit passes through a determined contactor, called a comma key, arranged at the maneuvering station, so that; when this button is lowered, it controls the decimal point indication relay and causes this to open the control circuit of the transverse coupling switches, after which, after the consecutive lowering of the buttons: with digits, the transverse coupling switches no longer advance but remain at rest and, consequently, do not interchange either the connections previously established between the pulse transmitters and the regulating elements of the recording devices of the computer group, nor the new connections established , by these: consecutive reductions, between the pulse transmitters and the regulating devices for the devices used in the computer group for recording the fractional decimal digit; 6.- the machine which allows, in addition to the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, to carry out multiplications with decimal fractions includes a calculating device which, in addition to the calculating group in which the sum is to be recorded via of the switch group of the transmitters: pulses; and the transverse coupling group, comprises another recording group or multiplier group consisting of a number of recording members such as rotary switches the number of which corresponds to the number of digits, of one or more. two factors, the machine further comprising a member such as a relay or a switch arranged to be controlled from the maneuvering station and with the aid of which the recorder and the connection coming from the termination key of the maneuvering station can be switched to the multiplier group after which, when the termination key is pressed, a number entered in the recorder is carried over or transferred to the multiplier group, for example in the same manner and by means of electrical coupling members similar to those with the aid of which the number would have been transferred to the computer group if the aforementioned permutation had not taken place. 7.- the recording units of the calculating group in which are recorded fractional decimal digits are constructed and arranged in such a way that each of them, when it comes into action as a result of the lowering the end key, automatically closes a contact connection located in a control circuit of the drive member of the switches of the transverse coupling group connected to the computer group so that, after having been adjusted beforehand according to the other factor of the multiplication, c ' that is, when this latter factor has been entered into the recorder, the transverse coupling group is advanced one step for each decimal fraction recorder actuated in the multiplier switches, whereby the Cross-coupling switches swap the connections made through the multiplier switches to the computer group, so that all of these connections are downgraded from one ordinal position in the computer group of each decimal fraction registration switch put into service in the group multiplier, demotion whereby the position of the decimal point in the product of two factors is fixed in the computer group to which the factor entered into the recorder is transferred, in a manner known per se, a number of times corresponding to the value of each individual digit of the other factor, for example by the switches of the multiplicand group which are caused automatically, one after the other, to control the pulse transmitters of the recorder a number of times corresponding to their setting; 8.- each of the switches of the multiplier group is arranged to directly or indirectly control a contact located in a control circuit of the transverse coupling switches, so that said contact is closed at the end of the control of the transmitters. pulses, by the multiplier switch in question, and that it thus causes the advancement, by one step, of the transverse coupling group, which means that the number which is reported to the computer group is advanced by one category orfinal each time a new switch of the multiplier group assumes control of the pulse transmitters; 9.- for the execution of divisions with fractional decimal numbers, the machine comprises a coupling member controlled from the operating station, for example a relay called relay, divider through which the control circuit of the control switches transverse coupling of the computer group, circuit which was opened by the comma relay, when indicating a comma in the number entered in the recorder, can be completed by a bypass on the said connection interrupted by the comma relay , when a decimal point has been entered in the divisor entered in the recorder, after the dividend has been transferred from the latter to the calculator group, so that when entering new digits, for example fractional decimal digits in the divider, contacts (associated with the recording units of the computer group and through which the position <EMI ID = 157.1> breaker known as "comma indication switch" to the contacts or pads of which the aforementioned contacts are connected) are controlled in such a way that the position of the decimal point is moved one step back for each fractional decimal digit present in the divider; 10.- the control circuit of the comma indication switch passes through a contact of the comma relay and through a contact of the division relay, in such a way that, when the latter relay has been actuated by a command from the maneuvering station and the decimal point relay is then actuated, the said control circuit is connected to the control circuit of the coupling magnet of the recorder, so that, during the subsequent lowering of the keys to digits at the switching station, i.e. when entering fractional decimal digits of the divider into the recorder, said control circuit is automatically advanced one step each time a fractional digit is entered decimal of the divisor so that, by its position, it indicates the number of decimal fractional digits of the divider and permutes the contacts of the recording members of the calculating group connected to said switch in such a way that the number which is recorded therein is advanced by an ordinal series; II.- each of the recording devices of the computer groups comprises a contact interposed in a control circuit of the device driving the transverse coupling switches and arranged to be closed by the recording device when the latter comes into action, whereby a relay of the divider is connected to a contact of a determined group of contacts of the transverse coupling switch or of a switch operating in synchronism with it, relay whose moving contact is connected to a de-energizing circuit of the transverse coupling switch, the said contacts, associated <EMI ID = 158.1> the aforementioned tact of the divider relay being interconnected in such a way that, when a recording device comes into action, the aforementioned contact associated with it interrupts the connection previously established between the corresponding contact associated with a recording device previously set for the order previous lower decimal and the divider relay contact, and connects itself with the last mentioned contact and with the connection going through the next contact of the contact group while, simultaneously, the brush associated with this contact group is set to the same group contact through which, if the dividing relay is actuated, a control circuit for the cross-coupling switches is looped through, whereby the latter switches advance. <EMI ID = 159.1> established between the computer group and the pulsators of the recorder, have been swapped so that the first digit of the divider is placed in alignment with the first digit of the dividend recorded in the computer group, which produces at the moment when the mobile contactor member of the determined contact group in question meets the contact of this group which has been grounded through the contact of the divider relay; 12.- each of the recording bodies of the calculating group, or at least some of them, in which the lowest ordinal values of the decimal system have been recorded and in which all are included: the fractional decimal digits, includes a contact which is closed by the recording device in question, when the latter is actuated, in order to connect a contact of the decimal point indicating switches to the control circuit of a device such as a relay for indicating the position of the decimal point in the quotient entered, in a known manner, into a recording device, so that the said circuit is completed during the adjustment of the recording units of the computer group, which occurs during a division, when the one of the recording units whose contact is connected comes into action contact with the decimal point indicator relay to which the latter has been set; 13.- the machine operating station comprises a recording device such as an indicator board, a printing device, a perforating device, etc .; means being further provided by which such a device can be connected to the recording units of the computer group or to the pulse transmitters controlled by the said group, so that the adjustment of the recording units of the group cal- <EMI ID = 160.1> <EMI ID = 161.1> by the registration bodies of the calculator group in function of the setting thereof; 14.- in addition to one or more calculator groups of the type mentioned under I, the machine comprises a totalizing group and means by means of which the calculating device or any one of the calculating devices can be connected to the totalizing group by an electrical command from the maneuvering station, so that the numbers recorded in the calculating device (s) in question are thus in the totalising group which, like the other groups of the calculating device, may consist of indicating means controlled by switches or by relays; 15.- when the machine comprises several calculating devices, it comprises means such as switches or relays, thanks to which one or more operating stations can seek and take any one or more among all said calculating devices; 16.- the totalizing group is provided with means for recording the numbers entered therein, for example by perforations made in a card or in a cardboard or paper strip, these means being controlled either by pulses which are controlled automatically by the switches of the totalizer group at the end of a recording, or by the impulses transmitted from a switching station; 17.- the control device placed in a maneuvering station is arranged to control the transmission of pulses to the calculating device by means of cards or perforated strips; <EMI ID = 162.1> register is or are connected to the control device of the workstation by a distributor which controls the connection starting from the control device and going to other recording devices of any type such as punching devices, printing devices, devices signaling devices, counting devices, etc. in response to pulses coming from the control device, pulses which can for example be controlled by means of perforated cards provided with different indications represented by groups of perforations, the distributor being arranged so as to automatically connect the control device to the one or the other of the recording devices, according to the card zone or zones in which groups of perforations are provided representing indications to be transferred to the various recording devices; 19.- one or more of the recording devices consist of a recording assembly comprising a number of recording members in the form of drums or disks. rotary whose periphery is provided with letters, numbers, contacts or other characters, which recorder assembly or each of the computer assemblies comprises a certain number of shafts parallel to each other, called "intermediate shafts", and arranged in a plane common, each of these shafts being provided with coupling members by means of which they can be coupled individually, for example by an electric remote control, to a common driving shaft arranged transversely with respect to the intermediate shafts, the assembly recorder also comprising a certain number of mutually parallel shafts, arranged transversely to the intermediate shafts and close to the latter, recording members being mounted so as to be able to rotate on the shafts. adjustment, at the point of intersection of the latter and the intermediate shafts, each of the recording members being permanently connected to an element of a clutch capable of being uncoupled, through which the recording member can be connected to the intermediate shaft passing at the point of intersection, for example by a longitudinal displacement of the adjustment shaft on which is mounted the recording member, whereby, during a prior, simultaneous or subsequent engagement of the intermediate shaft in question and the driving shaft, the recording member is actuated. 20.- the driving shaft is coupled to an electric motor serving to drive it by means of a reverser. <EMI ID = 163.1> 22.- the coupling members associated with the respective recording members can rotate individually on the adjusting shaft of the recording member, the latter shaft with the coupling elements mounted thereon, sliding longitudinally with respect to the recording devices mounted therein; 23.- each of the adjustment shafts is provided with means for <EMI ID = 164.1> distance, and independently of the other adjustment shafts; 24.- when the electrical recorder assembly mentioned under 19 is used for counting devices and in calculating machines, the recording members provided on one, on several or on all the adjustment shafts are fitted with carryover of known type; 25.- all the connecting couplings between the intermediate shafts and the driving shaft are electrically controlled remotely and independently of each other; 26.- the recording assembly is provided with separate means for recalling, in the rest position, the recording members set in the desired positions; 27.- the means for returning the recording members to a predetermined rest position comprise a shaft parallel to the intermediate shafts and a certain number of clutches corresponding to the number of adjustment shafts, clutches through which all the shafts adjustment can be coupled to said parallel shaft, either individually, or some of them, or all at the same time, for example by an electric control. distance from said clutches, the aforementioned means also comprising a drive motor which serves to rotate the shaft in a direction such that the coupling in question causes a backward rotation of the recording members by means of their adjusting shafts, which drive motor may be a separate motor or the motor serving to drive the drive shaft; 28.- when the electrical recorder assembly mentioned under I to 19 comprises a certain number of key contacts provided in a control device and serving to control the entry of a number into a recording machine comprising several recorder assemblies, which contacts consist of exploratory bodies intended to explore groups of card holes or punched tapes or magnetic recordings on steel tapes, this set includes a control device which includes means such as relays or switches which are controlled by determined groups of perforations of said cards or bands (or by specific indications of the steel strip) and which are arranged in such a way that, when such specific indications appear., they are automatically controlled to switch on the machine's pulse transmitters and the transverse coupling switches connected to them, so that the exploration of the indications on the cards, the strips of paper or the steel strips and corresponding to the numbers or texts that one wishes to enter into the registering machine, causes the desired entry of these indications in the registering machine but that it does not establish the aforementioned connection and consequently excludes said entry of the indications into a recording assembly if the particular indications in question are not present on a card, on a paper tape or on a steel strip introduced into the control device; 29.- the distributor comprises means such as relays or switches which are controlled by indicators. <EMI ID = 165.1> or the steel strips introduced into the control device and which serve to control relays or switches through which the transverse coupling switches connected to the pulse transmitters are connected to one or the other d a certain number of different recording sets of the recording machine, depending on whether said indications present one or the other of several combinations each characterizing one of said recording sets; 30.- when the control device is an explorer device for punched cards, it comprises a conveyor for the feeding and subsequent positioning of the punched cards, conveyor on which the cards are moved, in a determined order, towards the explorer device, through and out thereof, the drive mechanism of said conveyor being controlled by a member itself controlled by a control device in such a way that, if a card inserted into the control device has a group of perforations that cause the control device to switch on the pulse transmitters and the transverse coupling switches, said member being controlled by the control device to stop the conveyor drive mechanism until the map in question has been explored; 31.- the machine includes a speed transformer coupled to the pulse transmitter, controlled either by specific indications from cards or perforated strips or steel bands, or manually from the operating station and arranged to trigger, when from the exploration of such indications or under the action of direct impulses coming from the maneuvering station, the transformation of the speed of rotation of the impulse transmitters in relation to the speed of adjustment of the components such as the switches used to connect the pulse transmitters to the exploration members of the exploration device, thanks to which the adjustment movement of the recording members, to which the pulse transmitters are connected by the distributor corresponding to a certain adjustment movement of said switches or similar organs., can be made larger or smaller than the adjusting movement corresponding to the number appearing on the card, so that the number which is thus recorded in said recording devices, is for example, a multiple or an ordinary fraction, or a logarithm or power of the numbers shown on the map; 32.- the machine comprises means such as a group of relays arranged to be controlled from the maneuvering station and through which. the coupling magnets of all the recording members of the computer group can be coupled to an adjustment shaft which is common to them, this shaving shaft simultaneously starting to turn automatically, the machine also comprising a pulse transmitter coupled to said shaft and serving to synchronize, with the shaft mentioned first, a common corresponding shaft to the recording members of another recording device such as a printing device, each of the control circuits of the coupling magnets of the recording elements representing the different ordinal values, in the recording device mentioned last, passing through a contact arranged next to the device for recording the corresponding ordinal value in the calculating device, all of these contacts being controlled by said group of relays so as to be closed simultaneously with the contacts through which the magnets are controlled coupling of the computer device, whereby the recording members of the computer group and the other aforementioned recording device are simultaneously coupled with their respective shafts rotating in synchronism, each of the recording members of the calculating device being provided with a member which (when its members have rotated by an angle which is a function of their prior adjustment with respect to said coupling) opens said contact which is adjacent to it, so that the coupling magnet of the corresponding recording member of the other recording device is de-energized to release this recording member. / \ trement which is therefore stopped in a position depending on (and corresponding to) the original position of the corresponding recording member of the calculating device; 33.- the calculating device is provided with a member which keeps the control circuit of the recording members of the aforementioned device closed, until the shaft common to these members has executed a full revolution, after which it causes automatically the opening of these circuits, whereby the recording members are stopped when they are brought to their original position during their movement rotation caused by the shaft in question; 34.- the calculating device is provided with means such as a group of relays controlled by the recording members of the calculating device, so as to be actuated when these recording units move into positions in which the number entered into said recording units is negative, said means thus controlling an indicator placed at the maneuvering station or in the recording device in which is transferred or reported. recording of the calculating device, to indicate that the transferred number is negative; 35.- the machine includes a relay or a group of relays x arranged to be ordered (if a number entered into the machine to be calculated is negative) by the relay group controlled by the recording members of the calculating device and for thus advancing by one step all the recording members of the calculating group, means being furthermore provided by means of which, during a subsequent transfer of the number recorded in the calculating device, the shaft common to the recording members of the computer group is reversed so that the transfer takes place by a backward rotation of the recording members; 36.- the machine comprises timer means arranged to transfer automatically; to a printing device, a number entered in one of the recording groups of the calculating device, in particular the calculating group, and to erase this number of the calculating group if the calculation operation is suspended for a time exceeding a determined time interval, for example one or more minutes; 37.- the group of relays serving to report the negative indication comprises a link contact controlled by means such as division and multiplication indicator relays, so that the setting of said group of relays, setting corresponding to an indication negative, is applied to the group relay mentioned above.