US2041256A - Tabulating or accounting machine - Google Patents

Description

IR. D. M CORMACK TABULATING OR ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1935 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Claims.

This invention relates to tabulating or accounting machines, and more particularly to a device for handling a plurality of separate report or record sheets bearing entries under a number of different headings in such a way as to expedite the combining or adding together of all entries under like headings appearing on the individual sheets.

* In many businesses or other lines of endeavor it is necessary to assemble and combine data from a number of different sources in order to obtain a desired summary or overall view of the results individually obtained or recorded at the various sources. For example, in an organization employing a number of salesmen each of Whom renders an individual reportof his own activities, such as sales, expenses, etc., it is customary for a consolidated report to be prepared representing the combined activities of all salesmen. When each individual report includes a large number of entries under various headings, each of which entries is to be added to the corresponding entries on all other reports, the problem of how to physically handle the separate report sheets so that the summary may be made as quickly and easily as possible is a difficult one which has not been satisfactorily solved'by any of the methods or devices hitherto proposed.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a machine of novel construction which is capable of eiliciently and readily handling a plurality of individual report sheets or the like in such a manner as to permit a rapid totaling or summarizing of the data set forth thereon with a minimum of manipulation by the operator.

Another object is to provide a novel device for use in accounting work which greatly simplifies and speeds up the preparation of consolidated or summarized statements of the data contained in a plurality of individual reports or records by mechanically handling the various report sheets in such a way as to quickly and efficiently present thecorresponding portions thereof successively to the view of the tabulator.

A further object is to provide a new and useful device of relatively simple structure for simultaneously displaying in close proximity to one another and in readily readable position the corresponding portions of a plurality of individual report sheets or the like and for easily and quickly moving any selected portions of said sheets to the display position.

Still another object is to "provide a novel tabul'ating machine'which can be readily loaded with a plurality of :individual data bearing sheets placed in any desired order, will mechanically advance said sheets simultaneously so as to present corresponding portions thereof to the view of the operator, and after all portions of the sheets have been displayed will automatically discharge the same from the mechanism stacked in the same order in which they were loaded into the machine.

A still further object is to provide an accounting machine of the character described which is capable of handling report sheets or the like of various'sizes, .and bearing columns and lines of data of various spacing, with equal facility.

Another object is to provide a novel device of this character in which only a relatively restricted portion of each of a plurality of individual data bearing sheets is normally visible by the tabulator at any time, but which includes means under the control of the tabulator for varyingthe size of the visible portions as desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully upon a consideration-of the detailed description of the embodiment of the invention which follows. Although only one specific form of mechanism "is described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is to be expressly understood that this drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be construed as defining the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with certain parts broken away, of one form of tabulating or accounting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a somewhat larger scale of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, certain parts being shown in section and others having been omitted for greater clarity.

The device of the present invention consists primarily of a plurality of units of like construction each of which is adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets, such as reports or records, on a movable belt or web passing around a suitable frame, all of the units being so mounted in normally closely spaced, substantially parallel relation that those portions of the sheets carried thereby which are adjacent the upper or outer edges thereof are simultaneously visible in close proximity to one another and readily readable position. The driving mechanism for the carrier belts or webs of these units is so constructed that the operator of the machine can move all of the belts simultaneously through like distances by a simple manual operation and thereby bring to view successive corresponding portions of the report or record sheets with which the machine is loaded. The frames of the individual units are also so mounted that they can be moved out of their normal, closely spaced positions and separated so as to facilitate the securing of the data bearing sheets to the movable belts or webs. Various other constructional features of the machine will be pointed out in the particularized description of the disclosed embodiment which follows, although it will be recognized that some of these features are not essential to the invention in its simplest form. I

As shown in the drawing, any desired number of like sheet carrying units, indicated generally at 3, may be suitably mounted in a supporting frame or casing 4 in such a manner that, when in normal position, said units lie substantially parallel to and closely adjacent one another and at such angles to the vertical that the upper portions of all units are simultaneously visible to an operator or tabulator standing or sitting in front of themachine. The machine itself may be supported in any desired manner, as on a desk or table or on a special movable carriage. For example, it is contemplated that the machine may be disposed in a recess formed in a flat-topped desk in such position that the top edges of the various units 3 are substantially level with or extend slightly above the top of the desk when the machine is in use.

' In the embodiment illustrated, each unit 3 consists of a substantially rectangular frame the sides of which are formed by elongated members 5 while the top and bottom ends are constituted by a guide roller 6 and a driving roller 1, respectively. 'The upper and lower ends of side frame members 5 are provided with suitable bearings for the shafts 8 and 9 of guide roller 6 and driving roller 1. In order that the frame thus constituted may be both light and strong, side members 5 are preferably formed of aluminum and rigidly cross connected at top and bottom by tie members 10 of like material, preferably formed integrally therewith.

Passing around the guide and driving rollers 6 and 'l of each unit is an endless belt or web ll of any suitable material which is adapted to carry by temporary attachment thereto one or more data bearing sheets and to be moved in such a manner as to bring successive portions of said sheet or'sheets into visible position adjacent the upper edge of the unit. While the movement of belt or web ll may be produced in a number of different ways, it is preferable that there be a positive driving connection from driving roller 1 to the belt so that the movements of the latter and the sheet or sheets carried thereby may be members 5 simply by reason of the friction between the outer surface thereof and the inner surface of belt II. If desired, guide roller 6 may be replaced by a stationary cross bar or guide member with a curved upper surface, thereby further simplifying the construction of the unit 3.

In order that the record or report sheets which are to be handled by the machine may be quickly and easily secured to and released from belts I l, each of saidbelts is provided with one or more horizontal rows of hooklike members M on which may be hung the upper ends of the sheets. These members [4 may be attached to the belt in any desired manner, and are preferably substantially V-shaped in construction with the outer portion of the V extending outwardly from the surface of the belt only slightly. For convenience, the sheets which are to be handled by the machine are usually provided with a series of perforations along their upper edges of such size and spacing as to readily receive, and subsequently automatically release, the hooklike members It. When, as will later be pointed out, it is contemplated that the machine of the present invention will be mounted in a position substantially at right angles to that shown in the drawingthat is, with the visible edges of the units parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the line of sight of the operatorso that the visible portion of each sheet is a column rather than a line, the sheets will be perforated along their side, as well as their top, edges.

Each of the units of the construction just described is mounted in supporting frame or casing 4 by providing said casing with suitable bearings for the ends of shaft 9 of driving roller 1, the

bearings of adjacent units being spaced apart by distances slightly greater than the thickness of units 3. In order that the portions of sheet carrying belts I l adjacent the upper edges of all units may be simultaneously and easily visible by the operator of the machine, it has been found desirable to locate the bearings for shafts 9 along a plane inclined to the horizontal so that the various units will be in stepped relation to one another, the top edge of each unit being slightly higher than that of the unit immediately in front thereof.

Since the side members 5 of each unit are rotatably or pivotally mounted with respect to the shaft 9 of the associated driving roller 7, it is evident that suitable means must be provided for maintaining the units in whatever positions it is desired that they occupy while the machine is being used for tabulating purposes. To this end, a stop member l5, or preferably a pair of them, is provided against which one or both of the side members 5 of the frame of the rearmost unit in the machine may rest, said stop members being carried either by the upper side portions of supporting frame or casing 4, as shown in Fig. l, or on suitable brackets or other extensions from said casing. In order that each of the other units in the machine may be maintained in the same relative angular position as the rearmost unit, as determined by the position of stop members [5, the side members 5 of each of said units are provided with rearwardly extending spacer members 16 secured thereto at the upper ends thereof and engaging the forward edges of the side members of the next unit to the rear. Each of units 3 is also provided with suitable means for yieldingly urging it to its normal operating position. For example, each of side frame members 5 may be provided with a curved arm I! secured to and extending downwardly from the lower end of said side member, the outer end of said arm being positioned below shaft. 9 and to the rear of the plane of its associated unit frame and being connected toone end of a tension spring [8 the other end of which is suitably anchored to supporting frame or casing 4. The offset position of the ends of arms ll and the'resulting angularity of springs 18 produce a spring pull which urges each unit to its normal, rearwardly inclined position. If desired, this spring arrangement may be modified so as to urge each unit either forwardly or rearwardly depending upon which side of the vertical the plane of the unit lies.

In order that the normal angular positions of the. units with respect to the vertical may be varied so as to make visible more or less of the surface of each belt H adjacent the upper edge of its unit, stop members l are made adjustable to a plurality of different positions. As shown, theupper side portions of the supporting frame or casing 4 to the rear of the rearmost unit are provided with a plurality of spaced holes [9 in which stop members may be placed, each hole corresponding to one particular angle of inclination of units 3. It is obvious that by thus varying the position of the support for the rearmost unit, the angularity of all units is automatically varied accordingly.

As previously pointed out, in the embodiment illustrated the side members 5 of the unit frames carry the bearings for driving roller shafts 9; consequently, each unit is rotatable about its shaft 9 and separable from the other units at the will of the operator. In order that the units may be properly supported when swung forwardly about the axes of shafts 9, the machine may be provided with one or more suitably positioned stop members (Fig. 2) for engaging one or both of the side members of the frame of the foremost unit 3 or of an auxiliary frame associated with the foremost unit later to be described. In the absence of such stop members 20, the upper edge of the front panel of supporting frame or casing 4 may serve for this purpose, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

For the purpose of moving the belts ll of all units of themachine in unison and through like distances, the shaft 9 of each of driving rollers l is provided with a pinion 2|, all of said pinions being in mesh with a common driving worm 22 the shaft of which is suitably journalled in supporting frame or casing 4. Worm 22 is then provided with manually actuatable means for rotating the same, the rotation of the worm being transmitted to the driving rollers of allunits through the medium of pinions 2|. In the form shown, the forward end of worm 22 is provided with a bevel gear 23 which meshes with a like gear 24 mounted on a stub shaft 25 journalled in the side panel of supporting frame 4. The end of shaft 25 extends outwardly beyond the supporting frame and has mounted thereon an operating lever 26 which is drivingly connected thereto through the medium of a one-way clutch,

such as a ball ratchet clutch, indicated generally actuation without causing any motion of the belts.

ll, The-forward end of the shaft of w0rm.2 2 also preferably extends beyond the front of supporting casing 4i and is provided with a suitable hand crank 28 for the purpose of moving the belts continuously and rapidly, as between loading operations.

The machine may also be provided with means for facilitating the identification of the particular portions of the data bearing sheets carried by the various units which are to be worked with at any one time and for holding the sheets in proper contact with the surfaces of the carrying belts. In the embodiment illustrated each unit is provided with a substantially horizontal,

straightedged member 29 supported at its ends on spacer members [6 through the medium of arms 30 which extend upwardly and rearwardly to such positions that the upper edge of said member 29 normally lies in contact with the surface of the belt H of the unit immediately to the rear thereof just below the point at which said belt passes over the top of its guide roller 5. The surface of member 29 adjacent the belt is preferably rounded in order to permit hooklike members M to pass therebeneath without catching, while supporting arms 39 are preferably flexible both to facilitate this passage of the hooklike members and to render the contact between straightedged member 29 and the belt surface against which it rests yielding in character. In operation, straightedged members 29 both function as line finders for the data bearing sheets which pass thereunder and also hold said sheets to the surfaces of the belts ll so as to prevent misalignment of' the various sheets which might occur were there any uncontrolled bulging of the paper of the sheets as they pass over the guide rollers 6. By thus putting a tension on the sheets, straightedged members 29 also prevent premature release of the edges of the sheets from hooklike members I4.

Inasmuch as the sheet or sheets carried by the first unit would be otherwise unrestrained and without any line finding means, the machine of the present invention also includes a substantially rectangular frame member 3| pivotally mounted at its lower edge on a shaft 32 just in front of the foremost unit 3, the upper edge 93 of saidframe normally contacting the surface of the belt I l of the foremost unit at the same relative position as those occupied by straightedged members 29 of the other units and performing the same functions as said members. The side pieces 34 of frame member 9! preferab y lie beyond the ends of the row of hooklike members l4, and the entire central portion of said frame member is open so that the surface of belt I! on which the sheet or sheets are carried is fully visible therethrough. If desired, this central portion of frame member 3! may be provided with a transparent window of glass or the like which may be lined to correspond to the lines on the report or record sheets which are carried by the units. Frame member 3| is also providedwith curved arms and tension springs 35 corresponding in construction and function to the arms I! and springs !8 of the units 3.

Instead of mounting the combined line finder and tension member 29 for each unit on the unit immediately in front thereof and thus requiring the use of a separate frame member 3! for cooperation with the foremost unit, said members may be mounted directly upon the side frame members 5 of the, units with which they are to function, in whichcase supporting arms 30 would extend forwardly instead of rearwardly and each member 29 would be adjustable vertically with respect to the unit on which it is mounted.

Suitably secured to supporting frame or casing 4 and positioned beneath units 3 is a curved chute 31 which is adapted to receive the data bearing sheets as they are released from the units and to deliver said sheets from the machine stacked in the same relative order as that in which they were loaded on the units 3. The upper end of chute 31 is located to the rear of and beneath the rearmost unit of the machine, from which point the chute curves downwardly and forwardly to a readily accessible position beneath the forward panel of supporting frame or casing 4, the lower end of said chute being pro- Vided with a suitable arrangement for collecting and permitting the ready removal of the sheets.

Although the mechanism thus far described is adequate for the attainment of all the principal objects of the present invention and constitutes a fully operative embodiment thereof, it may be desirable to provide the machine thus constituted with an upper enclosing casing or cover of such construction as to shield from view all parts of the mechanism except those portions of belts or webs I l adjacent the upper ends of the units 3 on which will be carried the particular portions of the data bearing sheets with which the operator or tabulator is concerned at any one time. Such a cover might be hinged to the upper edge of an extension of one of the side or rear panels of the supporting frame 4 so as to be liftable out of the way when loading the machine, but lowerable to a position on top of the units after they have been loaded and placed in operating position. This cover would be provided with adjustable or sliding members defining slots through which may be viewed the data appearing on those portions of the sheets which are at the tops of the various units at any particular time, the adjustment of said members being varied to correspond to the width of the lines or columns of data being considered.

It may also be desirable, as previously suggested, to mount the units of the machine in such a manner that the edges of the unit frames at which appear the portions of the data bearing sheets which are to be worked with at any time are parallel with, instead of perpendicular to, the line of sight of the operator. In such an installation, the visible edges of all units would preferably be on the same level, rather than stepped one above the other, although the ends of all of said edges furthest away from the operator might be raised above the nearer ends to facilitate reading of the data.

Although the operation of the mechanism above disclosed should be apparent from the preceding description, it may be summarized as follows: Assuming that the machine is unloaded,

the operator first actuates either operating lever 26 or hand crank 28 so as to rotate shafts 9 and driving rollers l of all units of the machine until the row of hooklike members M of each belt is moved to a position between the top of its guide roller 6 and straightedged member 29 of the unit immediately in front thereof (upper edge 33 of frame member 31 in the case of the foremost unit). All of the units, with the exception of the rearmost one, are then moved forwardly about shafts 9 as axes to the positions in which theyare maintained by engagement of the side members of the foremost unit or of frame memher 3! with stop members 20 or with the top edge of the front panel of supporting frame or casing 4. The first sheet of the group or set to be tabulated is then hung on hooklike members [4 of the belt H of the rearmost unit, after which the next unit is brought up from its forwardly inclined position to its normal operating position wherein its spacer members [6 rest on the side members 5 of the rearmost unit and its straightedged member 29 engages the surface of the sheet which has just been secured to the belt of the latter. Stop members l5 are then adjusted to that position in which the visible space between straightedged member 29 of the next to the last unit and the upper edge of the rearmost unit corresponds to the width of the line or column of the data bearing sheet which it is desired to observe. After this adjustment has been made, the remaining units are successively returned to operative position and loaded with sheets in regular order. After all of the units have been returned to the positions indicated in Fig. 1 and the foremost unit has received its sheet or sheets, frame member 3| is brought up into position and the machine is ready for the tabulating operation.

The operator first actuates operating lever 26 until the first line or column of data on each sheet appears at the top of its associated unit just above straightedged member 29. Ceasing actuation of operating lever 26, the operator or tabulator then adds or combines in the desired manner the various entries which are visible, or otherwise records said entries as by photographing the same. again actuated until the next line or column of data comes into View, whereupon the tabulating or recording operation is repeated. After the last entries on all sheets have been utilized, operating lever 26 or hand crank 28 is turned until the bottoms of the sheets pass from under straightedged members 29 and upper edge 33 of frame member 3|, at which time the tension on the sheets is released and they become free to automatically release themselves by their own weight from hooldike members M, either immediately or as the latter pass around the bottoms of driving rollers I. As the sheets drop off the hooklike members l4, they are caught in chute 3! and are guided thereby downwardly and outwardly to the delivery end thereof at the front of the machine. Since the first sheet to be loaded into the machine is placed on the rearmost unit 3, and since the upper end of chute 37 is closely adjacent the bottom of said unit and curves downwardly away from the remaining units, it is obvious that the first sheet to be loaded will fall face down onto chute 31 and be on the bottom of the stack of sheets delivered by said chute, the remaining sheets falling on top of this sheet in the order in which they were loaded on the units.

There is thus provided by the present invention a tabulating or accounting machine of new and Operating lever 26 is then unusual construction which greatly facilitates 65 the rapid combination or addition of data contained on a plurality of like report or record sheets and which mechanically handles these sheets in such a manner as to eliminate a considerable amount of slow and tedious manual operations which have been necessary with the methods and devices heretofore known to the art. The mechanism provided is relatively simple in its mechanical structure and is easy to operate. After it has been properly loaded with the data bearing sheets which are to be tabulated, the

"corresponding portions of said sheets are rapidly and successively brought into close proximity with one another in readily readable positions by a simple actuation of an operating lever or hand crank which is readily accessible to the operator or tabulator using the machine. Theuse'of this device not only eliminates the tedious recapitulat-ion of figures from a plurality of similar report or record sheets for the purpose of final totaling necessary when purely manual methods are employed for this type of tabulating, "but also does away with the special printing, punching and perforating of forms required by the :so-called pegboard or over-lap form systems because the apparatus disclosed is capable of handling sheets of any desired size up to the capacity of the individual units. The many folding and shingling operations of the pegboard:and overlap form methods are also avoided since only one loading of the machine is required for complete tabulation of :all data set forth on each side of the sheets being used. Moreover, the figureson the various sheets appear to the operator of the present machine in closely adjacent positions and one over the other so that addition thereof is greatly facilitated. These advantages, and the various others referred to in or obvious from the preceding detailed description of the disclosed embodiment, clearly demonstrate the novelty and usefulness of the mechanism provided by the present invention.

It will be obvious that the invention not limited to the particular apparatus described and shown in the drawing, but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. For example, it is apparent that any desired number of units may be incorporated in the machine depending upon the maximum requirements of the particular use to whichthe device is to be put. -It is also to be understood that the operating lever and clutch disclosed for effecting movement of the belts of the units may be of any desired construction-other than that described, and may be either replaced or supplemented by a foot operated pedal, if desired. While only one row of hooklike members has been shown for the belt of each unit, it should be apparent that two :rows of such members 180 apart may be provided so as to speedup the operation of the machine; also, the number of hooklike members in eac'h row may be varied as desired. Likewise, a plurality of relatively narrow, parallel belts or webs maybe substituted for the single wide web or belt of each unit, in which case each driving roller would obviously be provided'with additional sets of belt engaging sprocket teeth. It is also anticipated that the unit frames may be mounted in ways other than directly upon the shafts of the driving rollers without affecting the separability thereof or the movement of the belts therearound; for example, the side frame members of each unit might be pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to but spaced slightly from that of its driving roller.

Various other changes, which will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claimsfor a definition of the limits of the invention. It will be understood that the expressions upper, lower, end, side, etc., asused in theseclaims are relative only and are not to be construed as absolute limitations upon the inventive concept What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a belt driving clement around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for actuating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relationon axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, and means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said unitsincluding an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt drivdriving elements of all of said units in unison,

means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, and means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, said last named means including a stop member of variable position against which the rearmost unit is adapted to rest, the position of said stop member being so selected that the amount of surface of each belt visible between the top edge of its carrier unit and the upper portion of the unit immediately in front thereof corresponds to the size of the portions of the data bearing sheets which-itis desired r the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced,

substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, stop means carried by each of said units for spacing the upper end thereof a predetermined distance from the unit immediately to the rear thereof when said units are in normal position, and means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, said last named means including a stop member of variable position against which the rearmost unit is adapted to rest, the position of said stop member being so selected that the amount of surface of each belt visible between the top edge of its carrier unit and the upper portion of the unit immediately in front thereof corresponds to the size of the portions of the data bearing sheets which it is desired should be simultaneously visible.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, and means normally in contact with the surface of the belt of each of said units adjacent the point at which it passes over said guide element for holding the by the other units, each of said units including ing movable about its axis, means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, and a substantially horizontal member carried by the upper end of each of said units and adapted to contact the surface of the belt of the unit immediately to the rear thereof.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, a substantially horizontal member carried by the upper end of each of said units and adapted to contact the surface of the belt of the unit immediately to the rear thereof, and means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, said last named means including a stop member of variable position against which the rearmost unit is adapted to rest, the position of said stop member being so selected that the amount of surface of each belt visible between the top edge of its carrier unit and the horizontal member of the unit immediately in front thereof corresponds to the size of the portions of the data bearing sheets which it is desired should be simultaneously visible.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, means carried by each of said units for spacing the upper end thereof a predetermined distance from the unit immediately to the rear thereof when said units are in normal position, means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, and a substantially horizontal member carried by the upper end of each of said units and adapted to contact the surface of the belt of the unit immediately to the rear thereof.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt edge of said frame being adapted to contact the surface of the belt of said foremost unit adjacent the upper edge thereof.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, a substantially horizontal member carried by the upper end of each of said units and adapted to contact the surface of the belt of the unit immediately to the rear thereof and to serve as a line finder for the sheet or sheets carried thereby, and a frame pivotally mounted in front of the foremost unit on an axis parallel to and spaced from that of said unit, the upper edge of said frame being adapted to contact the surface of the belt of said foremost unit adjacent the upper edge thereof and to serve as a line finder for said first unit, the central portion of said frame being transparent.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheets carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, and means mounted below said units in position to receive the sheets as they are released from said belts and to deliver them from the device in the same relative order that they occupy when in place on said belts.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of like units each adapted to carry one or more data bearing sheets the entries of which are to be combined with the corresponding entries of the sheetsv carried by the other units, each of said units including an endless belt, means for temporarily securing one or more sheets to said belt, a rotatable belt driving element around which said belt passes adjacent one end of the unit and a guide element adjacent the other end of the unit around which the belt also passes, means for rotating the belt driving elements of all of said units in unison, means for mounting said units in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower ends thereof, each of said units being movable about its axis, means for maintaining said units in any one of a plurality of angular positions about said axes, and a chute mounted below said units in position toreceive the sheets as they are released from said belts and to de liver them from the device in the same relative order that they occupy when in place on said belts.

13. In a tabulating machine, the combination of a plurality of like sheet carrying units each comprising a pair of side frame members, a roller journalled in the bottom ends of said frame members, a guide member connecting the upper ends of said frame members, an endless belt passing around said roller and guide member and driven by said roller and means for temporarily securing a sheet to said belt, means for simultaneously rotating the rollers of all of said units to move said belts in unison through like distances, and means'for mounting said units closely adjacent one another and in stepped relation such that each unit covers all but a limited portion of the surface of the belt of the unit immediately to the rear thereof.

14. In a tabulating machine, the combination of a plurality of like sheet carrying units each comprising a pair of side frame members, a driving. roller journalled in the bottom ends of said frame members, a guide roller connecting the upper ends of said frame members, an endless belt passing around said driving and guide rollers and being drivablyconnected with the former and a plurality of hooklike members carried by said belt on which a sheet may be temporarily secured, said hooklike members being adapted to automatically release said sheet after the latter has been carried over said guide roller, means for simultaneously rotating the driving rollers of all of said units to move said belts in unison through like distances, and means for mounting said units closely adjacent one another and in stepped relation such that each unit covers all but a limited portion of the surface of the belt of the unit immediately to the rear thereof.

15. A tabulating machine comprising a plurality of frames mounted in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower edges thereof, a movable endless belt for each of said frames passing around the top and bottom edges thereof, means for temporarily securing data bearing sheets to said belts, each of said frames being movable about its axis so that said frames may be separated to facilitate the securing of said sheets to said belts, and means for moving the belts of all of said units about their associated frames simultaneously and through like distances.

16. A tabulating machine comprising a plurality of frames mounted in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower edges thereof, a movable endless belt for each of said frames passing around the top and bottom edges thereof, all of said frames being normally inclined to the vertical at such angles that the portions of all of said belts adjacent the upper edges of said frames are simultaneously visible in close proximity to one another,

means for temporarily'seciiring data bearing sheets to said belts, each of said frames being movable about its axis so that said frames may be separated to facilitate the securing of said sheets to said belts, and means for moving the belts of all of said units about their associated frames simultaneously and through like distances.

1'7. A tabulating machine comprising a plurality of frames mounted in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation on axes adjacent the lower edges thereof, a movable endless belt for each of said frames passing around the top and bottom edges thereof, adjustable means for supporting said frames in a plurality of different angular positions relative to the vertical, the adjustment of said supporting means being so selected that portions of desired size of all of said belts adjacent the upper edges of said frames are simultaneously visible in close proximity to one another, means for temporarily securing data bearing sheets to said belts, each of said frames being movable about its axis so that said frames may be separated to facilitate the securing of said sheets to said belts, and means for moving the belts of all of said units about their associated frames simultaneously and through like distances.

18. In a device of the character described, a substantially rectangular frame comprising a roller forming one end of said frame, a pair of side members pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the extremities of the shaft of said roller and a guide member connecting the upper ends of said side members and forming the other end of said frame, an endless belt passing around said roller and guide member and being drivably connected with said roller, means for rotating said roller and thereby moving said belt around said frame, means carried by said'belt for securing a sheet thereto, and means normally in contact with the surface of said belt adjacent the point at which it passes over said guide member for holding said sheet in contact with said belt as the latter draws the sheet over said guide member.

19. In a device of the character described, a substantially rectangular frame comprising a roller forming one end of said frame, a pair of side members pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the extremities of the shaft of said roller and a guide member connecting the upper ends of said side members and forming the other end of said frame, an endless belt passing around said roller and guide member and being drivably connected with said roller, means for rotating said roller and thereby moving said belt around said frame, means carried by said belt for securing a sheet thereto, and a straightedged member normally in contact with the surface of said belt adjacent the point at which it passes over said guide member, said straightedged member being substantially parallel to said guide member and serving both as a line finder and to hold said sheet in contact with said belt as the latter draws the sheet over said guide member.

20. In a tabulating machine, a plurality of closely spaced, substantially parallel members over the edges of which are adapted to be drawn data bearing sheets the corresponding entries of which are to be combined, individual means for drawing a sheet over the edge of each of said members, and means for actuating the individual sheet drawing means of all of said members simultaneously so as to move all of the sheets drawn thereby in unison and through like distances.

RALPH D. McCORMACK.

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