US1998355A - Calculating machine and typewriter - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1935. R. E. BOUTET CALCULATING MACHINE AND TYPEWRITER COMBINED Filed Jan. 15, 1930 4 s t -s t 1 wwwww mwww nz yzg [LEI S April 1935. R. E. BOUTET I 1,998,355

I 4 CALCULATING momma AND TYPEWRITER comBmBp Filed Jan. 15, 1930 4 sheefcs-Sheet 2 R; I I v I wig) April 16, 1935. I u'f 1,998,355

CALCULATING MACHINE AND TYPEWRITER COMBINED HIIIIIIIIIIIII I nuenizr Patented Apr. 1%, 1935 UNITE CALCULATING MACHINE AND TYPEWBITER COMBINED Rene Edmond Boutet,'laris, France Application January 15, 1930, Serial No. 421,035 In France January 18, 1929 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in typewriters and calculating machines, whereby texts which involve arithmetical operationsas is the case for example in making out bills or like documents may be more rapidly transcribed on the typewriter.

At the present time, to accomplishthis, the operator is obliged to depress the keys of the typewriter to take down the numbers, then the keys of the calculating machine to register therein the figures which are to form the basis of the calculations. The operator then awaits the result which he finally enters on the bill by manipulating the keys of the typewriter.

The object of the present invention is to simplify this work considerably and the typewriter is accordingly connected to the calculating machine by means of electrical circuits which are closed at the requisite moment by the typewriter, when a figure is entered on the bill or other document to be filled up, electromagnets being mounted in said circuits to control the keys of the calculating machine to register the figures upon which the calculations are based.

Other characteristics and peculiarities of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a typewriter and a calculating machine of the automatic multiplication type cooperating together in con- 1 formity with the invention.

I Figure 1-A is a sectional elevation ofthe typewriter showing certain of the improvements according to the invention.

Figure 1-3 is a section through one of the electromagnets operating the multiplicand keys.

Figure 1C is a section through one of the electromagnets operating the multiplier keys.

Figure 1-D is a section through one of the electromagnets operating the corresponding selector bar for one of the groups of electromagnets controlling the keys of the calculating machine.

Figure 2 illustrates a circuit arrangement according tothe invention for the electrical control of certain keys of the calculating machine by the number keys of the typewriter.

Figure 3 illustrates a contact device fitted to the typewriter for controllingthe opening and closing of the electric circuits shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a contact device associated with the number keys of the typewriter for closing first one contact common to-all the number keys and then another contact different for each key.

Figure 5 is a view of a cost sheet on which the. calculations performed by the calculating machine are entered by the typewriter.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate respectively in elevation (seen from the rear) and in plan, a constructional modification of the device of Figure 3.

In Figure 1 there has been illustrated diagrammatically a typewriter A and a calculating machine B of the automatic type and of the type similar to the automatic calculating machine illustrated in Patent No. 1,915,037 to H. Suter which issued on June 30, 1933. It will be understood that this Suter patent is here referred to as only one type of automatic calculating machine with which the hereinafter described invention may be combined.

The keyboard of the typewriter includes in the customary manner a certain number of keys corresponding to the ten digits.

Similarly, the calculating machine B includes a first keyboard m having ten keys and corresponding to the multiplier and a second keyboard M having n rows of keys. Each 01' the 11. rows corresponds to a denominational order oi the multiplicand and in each row each key corresponds to one of the ten digits; the number of rows varies naturally with the capacity of the machine (in the example illustrated, it has been assumed that there are nine rows only).

The result of the operation carried out is reg istered as usual on the totalizing wheels R. Tak ing the Suter patent as an example this machine is driven electrically by amotor and is set in operation by a key II, The multiplicand is set up by depressing oi the selected: keys A and the milltiplicr is set up by depressing of the keys B. The

machine is then set in motion or operation by the key 'H and the various operations performed as herein provided.

In accordance with the invention, the two machines A and B are connected together electrically; the electrical circuit illustrated. diagrammatically in Figure 2 comprises out and return wires 4 and 5. respectively. Associated with the principal circuit i -Scare a plurality of magnets El, E2, etc. and a rod 25 controlling the operation of the multiplier keys m. Associated with the circuit 4--5 are further magnets EAI, EAZ

. etc. and circuits 20A, 203, etc. for controlling the operations of the keys of the multiplicand; there are as many circuits 20A, 203 etc. as there are rows of multiplic'and keys (nine in the example illustrated). The circuits 20A, 203 etc. and are controlled by the magnets 2 IA, 2lB etc. The circuit controlled by 2 IA corresponds to the row no, the circuit controlled by HE to the row nb, and so on. All the key actuating circuits are normally open and for one of them to close two conditions must be fulfilled. In the first place, one of the switches Cl, C2, etc. must be closed. Each of said switches corresponds to one of the keys of the keyboard oi the typewriter (corresponding to the ten digits). Upon depressing any of said keys, the corresponding contact C l C2, etc. is made.

Another condition upon which the closing of the key actuating circuit depends is that either the contact. D shall be closed in the case of the circuit for the multiplier, or one of the contacts Da, Db, etc. in the case of the circuits for the multiplicand.

Hence according to the case in point one or other of the electromagnets El, E2, etc. or EAI, EA2 etc. mounted in said several circuits will be energized. Each of said electromagnets El, E2, etc. can control a corresponding multiplier key of the keyboard m of the calculating machine. The

electromagnet El controls the key I, the elec-' tromagnet E2 the key 2, and so on.

A certain number of rows of electromagnets EAI, EA2, ....EBI, etc. are provided in the circuits closed by Da Db, etc. Each of said rows of electromagnets corresponds to a row of keys of the multiplicand, and each electromagnet corresponds to a key of the corresponding row. Thus EAI corresponds to the key l of the row nu, EA2 to the key 2 01 the row no, EBI to the key I or the row nb, and so on. The contacts Du, Db, Dc, Dd are closed automatically when the carriage of the typewriter is displaced.

The circuit arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 is so arranged that stray currents may be eliminated completely. As shown in Fig. 2 the electromagnets EAl, EA2, etc. of a same row are normally not connected directly to the wire leading to the corresponding switch Da. Under these conditions the several rows of electromagnets are not interconnected in normal circumstances. Each of the rows of electromagnets EAI, EA2, etc. is'provided. with a conducting rod 20A, 203, etc. capable of oscillating about an insulated pivot and which is normally held by a spring 23a out of contact with the electr'omagnets EAl, EA2, etc. Each of said rods 20A, 203, etc. is controlled by an electromagnet 2 IA, 2IB, etc.; the several electromagnets are shunted across a circuit 22 in which is mounted a switch 22 which is closed each time any one of the keys Cl, C2, etc. of

the typewriter is struck under conditions which will be presently disclosed.

The other ends 01 the electromagnets MA, 213, etc. are connected to the switches Da, Db etc.; when any one of the electromagnets 2lA, 2lB is energized, it attracts the corresponding rod 20A, 20B etc. through means presently to be described, said rod then making contact with the wire-24 likewise connected to the corresponding switch Da, Db, etc. Similarly a rod 25 is provided for the row of electromagnets El, E2, etc. corresponding to the keys of the multiplier of the cal culating machine.

In order that by depressing one 01 the keys of the typewriter the corresponding contact Cl, G2, etc. and the switch 23 shall be closed in proper sequence, the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 may be adopted, according to which the end 26 of each key carries two fingers 21 and 28 capable oi! acting respectively on pins 2| and II, the first of which when depressed clam the corresponding contact Cl, C2, etc., and the second the contact 23. Preferably the fingers 21 and 2| will be of such length that the contact 2! shall be made first. Similarly the member Ill may be common to all the keys, since the switch to which it corresponds has to be closed each time a key is depressed.

Finally there has been illustrated in Fig. 3 a plan view of the lay out of the contact studs controlled by the typewriter on which are mounted the contact studs pd, pb, etc. (one contact stud for each row of electromagnets EAl, E152, etc). On account of the fact that it moves with the carriage, the contact studs PM mounted on the bar III connected to the electrical circuit, can make contact in succession with the contact studs pi, ph, etc. On the block II is mounted the contact stud pm. for controlling the multiplier, said stud cooperating with the movable stud PM mounted on the bar Ill. The stud pm corresponds to contact D in Fig. 2. There is moreover provided a contact stud '32 for controlling the multiplier bar la of said machine.

The device operates in the following manner:

Assuming, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5, that a bill has to be made out which, as usual, comprises a first column in which is entered the price per unit of the object, a second column giving the number of these objects, a third column to designate them, and finally, a fourth for a total, the bill is inserted in the typewriter in the usual manner. To commence writing, the machine must strike opposite the first column. The position oi. the bar i0 is then determined so that at this instant the contact stud PM shall be opposite the contact stud pi. The contact D1 is then closed: If at this instant the key corresponding to the first digit of the price per unit (that is to say the multiplicand) is depressed, the corresponding contact Cl, G2, etc. will be made. The corresponding electromagnet EIl, E12, etc. will be energized, and the corresponding multiplicand key of the row nl actuated. The first digit of the multiplicand will have been thus set up on the calculating machine.

When the second digit of the price per unit is to be set up, the contact stud PM will be opposite the contact stud ph, and when the key corresponding to the 'seconddigit is depressed, a contact Cl, C2, etc. will be closed again whereby a key of the second row nh oi' the multiplicand will be actuated. It the price per unit has four digits, a key in each oi! the rows 111, M, etc. will be actuated. When the operator depresses'any one of the keys of the typewriter (number keys of course) such key first closes the contact 28 whereby the electromagnets 2 II, 2lH, etc. can be energized, then the corresponding contact Cl, C2, etc. so that only the corresponding electromagnet 2 II, 2lH etc. will be energized to attract the corresponding conducting rod 20!, 2011, etc. Under these conditions, only the electromagnet EAI, EA2, etc. corresponding to the contact Cl 02, etc.

and to the switch Du, Db, etc. closed at this instant due to the position of the carriage of the machine, will be energized and will control the corresponding key oi the calculating machine.

It will be observed that by having insulated the several vertical rows of electromagnets EAI, EA2, etc. it has been possible to completely eliminate stray currents between the several rows.

It is obvious that other arrangements 01' studs 1,oes,sss

maybe provided, if it is desired, to use this device with other machines.

Another improvement is provided to obviate.

the following drawback: whereas the electromagnets EAI, EA2, EBI, EB! etc. can only be energized on two conditions, namelythat a switch CI, C2, etc., and a switch Dd, Db, etc. shall be closed, the electrcmagnets corresponding to the contact studs at 32 which operate control keys are energized as soon as the corresponding movable stud comes opposite them.

Under. these conditions, the electromagnets might be energized both when the carriage shifts in the operative direction and when it shifts in the opposite direction; now only the first of these energizations is necessary; to prevent the second, a. switch -31 is inserted in the circuit 00, in which are mounted, for example, in parallel the various electromagnets, said switch 81 being closed at each operation of the tabulator of the typewriter to shift the carriage when a bill is made out. A device similar to that of Fig. 4 may be provided to permit the tabulator-key tooperate the switch 31. The tabulator in question will be of a well known type, preferably a decimal tabulator and need not be described here. Said decimal tabulator generally comprises a certain number of keys corresponding to the units, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands orders. Depending on the highest denominational order of the first digit of the number to be set up, one has only to depress the desired key of the tabulator. By depressing this key the contact 31 is closed so that the circuit can be closed through the circuit of the stud, as 32, with which the corresponding movable stud on the bar ll happens to be in contact at the moment. On the other hand, when the carriage of the typewriter is shifted by hand, the switch 31 will always remain open so that when the movable studs pass over the fixed stud, as 82, the electromagnets mounted in the circuit 38 will not be energized.

In Figs. 6 and 7 have been illustrated an improvement in the arrangement of the studs in the typewriter. According to this improvement, the block II of Fig. 3 is replaced by independent blocks Ila, IIh,- etc. each carrying one of the sets of contact studs. The block no will carry for example the set of studs pi, ph, etc.; the block 111) will carry the set pm, 32.

Said blocks IIa, lIb etc. are formed by a block of insulating material at the two ends of which are mounted cheeks 45 forming cursors whereby they may be mounted in grooves of a rack 46 fixed in any suitable way on the frame of the typewriter. With this particular mounting, each block 11a, 11b etc. may be fixed on the frame of the machine in this or that position. As the various sets of contact studscarried by the frame of the machine may be thus oi'fset, it is no longer necessary to offset the studs PM, Pm, 3! etc. which shift with the carriage; as a simplification, ,all these studs may be replaced by a single stud 41 carried directly by the carriage. Said contact stud 41 will first come into contact with the studs of the block Ila, then with those of the block IIb and so on. Thus by suitably offsetting these various blocks, the circuits can be controlled in the same manner as previously.

I claim:

.1. In a device for combining togethera typewriter and a calculating machine, a plurality of electric circuits, a first set of circuit closing means adapted to be actuated by the respective number keys of said typewriter, a second set of circuit closing means including members controlled by the traversing portion of said typewriter in predetermined positions thereof, a pinrality of electromagnets mounted in rows, the

several electromagnets of a row being normally isolated from each other, and means controlled by said second set of circuit closing means for simultaneously connecting together the electromagnets of a row, whereby, by cloflng one of each of said two sets of circuit closing means, a circuit is established through the electromagnetcorresponding to the two circuit closing means unrated.

2. In a device for combining together a typewriter and a calculating machine, a plurality of electric circuits, a first set of circuit closing means adapted to be actuated by the respective number keys or said typewriter, a second set of circuit closing means including members controlled by the traversing portion of said typewriter in predetermined positions thereof, a plurality of electromagnets mounted in rows, the several electro-.

magnets of a row being normally isolated from each other, a conducting bar located in spaced relation to each row of electromagnets, a second group of electromagnets each energized by closing one of each of said two sets of circuit closing means, each of said last mentioned electromagnets when energized actuating the corresponding conducting bar to connect with the corresponding row of said first mentioned electromagnets, whereby one of said latter electromagnets is energized to actuate a key of said calculating machine.

3. In a device for combining together a typewriter and a calculating machine, a plurality of electric circuits connecting said typewriter to said calculating machine, a set of switches mounted in said respective circuits and adapted to be 1 to be energized by simultaneous actuation of any one of the number keys of the typewriter and contacting of said member with the contact stud corresponding to the relay, each relay when energized attracting one of said conducting bars which thereby closes one of said circuits through the electromagnet of its row corresponding to the number key actuated, said electromagnets when energized being'adapted to actuate the keys of said calculating machine.

RENE EDMOND BOUTET.

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