US2084445A - Combined calculating and typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1937. A KOTTMANN 2,084,445

COMBINED CALCULATING AND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

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2 25 O Zf 19 Z5 Z5 355 35 56 o 15 0 L I/ l 48 52a INVENTUR I AUGUST KOTT'MANN 2807 i3 YM H A TTORNEY JuneZZ, 1937., A. KOTTMANN COMBINED CALCULATING AND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed D60. 9, 1935 Jigia 30 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AUGUST KOT TMANN AT TORNEY June 22, 1937. A. KOTTMANN COMBINED CALCULATING AND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 RN m M E VT NT 0 K S U G U A Y ATTDRNE) June 22, 1937. KQTTMANN 2,084,445

COMBINED CALCULATING ANDTYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1935 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 calculafing L Y machine ATTORNL'Y a1 v INvEm-Tp 61a 89a 99 AUGUST KOTTMANN ewrifen Patented June 22, 1937 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CALCULATING AND TYPEWRIT- ING MAC HINE- August Kottmann, Sommerda, Germany, assignor to Rheinische Mctallwaarcnund Maschinenfabrik, Dusseldorf, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application December ,9, 1935, Serial No. 53,634 In Germany February 14, 1935 3' Claims. (Cl. 235,60)

The invention relates to a total and decimal point printing device, for combined calculating and typewriting machines of the type describedin German specification No. 619,119, which moves the spacing key, the numeral keys, and the decimal key of the typewriter by means of electromagnets, the circuits of which are controlled by contact devices actuated by the numeral rolls of the accumulator and by the mechanism of the total printing device.

In the known total printing devices of this type, for the purpose of controlling the circuit of the electromagnets, each place in the accumulator is associated with a ten-way contact or switch device and a closing contact or switch, while a single closing contact only is provided for the decimal place. I

The ten-way contact accumulator places are adjusted by the appropriate numeral rolls in such a manner that, in

each-place, a current path through the electromagnets is prepared and the numeral key, the numerical value of which is equal to the numerical value indicated by the numeral roll, is

23 actuated.

The closing contacts associated with the various accumulator places, each of which is disposed in series with the ten-way contact device corresponding to the same accumulator place, are

33 closed one after the other by a staggered switch member actuated by the driving motor of the total printing device, beginning with the top accumulator place and proceeding serially downwards in place value.

prepared by the ten-way contact devices are closed one after the other, so that brief current impulses pass over the electromagnets of the numeral keys which correspond to the amount to be printed, and the spacing key, the numeral 49 keys, and the decimal'k'ey are struck in correct sequence and one after the other at the correct time intervals. J

In order that it may be possible with such a total printing device to print the products calculated in the accumulator of a multiplying machine, in which the decimal position (depending on the number of places after the decimal) varies very considerably, the staggered switch member which is designed as a contact drum, is longitudinally displaceable on its driving shaft, so that it is possible, if the product after, the decimal point has an undulylarge number of places, to omit the lowest places and the position of the decimal point, which, as regards the contact drum, is fixed between the second and devices of the different- Thus the current paths.

the third stud (reckoned from the right) he moved as desired in relation to the accumulator which is not axially movable.

With the known total printing devices the staggered switch member is displaced by hand. As this displacement is often omitted in error, errors in decimal places often occur. According to the invention, in order that such errors in decimal places may be avoided, when certain numeral keys of the typewriter are used or when the paper carriage passes through certain positions, the staggered switch member is automatically displaced in the axial direction. The staggered switch member is returned into the normal position by the. drive mechanism of the total printing device each time the printing of the total has been completed.

A typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 shows a plan of .a combination of a.

typewriter and a calculating machine having a total printing device but not showing the improvement of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional side view of parts of the contact devices of the total printing device in combination with the accumulator but not showing the improvement of this inven-' tion.

Fig. 3 is a view of a control device for influencing a double contact.

Fig. 4 shows the wiring diagram of the electrical devices provided on the typewriter.

Fig. 5 shows in plan the staggered switching member with the devices according to the in- I Fig. 11 shows a tabulated data recorded by the devices according to the invention.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a back and side view of a control device, actuated by the carriage of the registering machine and arranged on the frame of a typewriter, for the device which causes the displacement of the staggered switch memben.

Fig. 14 shows a contact holder, partially in section, in combination with contact strips fixed to the machine frame and carrying the holder.

Fig. 15 shows a wiring diagram of the device according to the invention. Z-;

By means of the total printing device shown in the drawings, the result ascertained in the accumulator 2 of the calculating machine I is transferred to the paper form placed around the platen 3 of the typewriter, in a column provided therefor. Before the printing of the total is begun, first of all, by depression of the tabulating key T" the top part of the column on the sheet of paper on which the result is to be printed, must be brought into the printing position of the machine. When the paper carriage of the typewriter is in this position, a spring contact 5 slidably disposed on a bar 4 of the carriage, closes a contact device 6 arranged firmly in the frame of the typewriter. By this means an electromagnet 1 (Fig. 4) arranged at the side of the accumulator of the calculating machine is supplied with current and attracts a lever 8, which swings a catch 9 (Fig. 2) and thereby locks the tens shifting lever ll) of the accumulator. Furthermore, by means of two further magnets II and I2 located in-the same circuit, the intermediate wheels 58a of the accumulator 2 are brought into engagement with the rack l3.

To the accumulator 2 there is articulated a fiat bar I9 (Fig. 2) Ywhich, shortly after the toothed wheels 58a of the accumulator, drawn downwardly by the magnets ll, l2, have meshed with the racks l3, carries a locking member 20, which holds the racks l3, downward against the pressure of a spring 2|, and releases the racks 13. The racks l3 originally in the zero position shown in Fig. 2 are then drawn from the zero position 4 which determine the neutral position of the mimeral rolls. When the numeral rolls 56 have reached the zero position, each of the racks I3 is thrust out of the zero position, to an extent which is proportionate to the numerical value indicated by the appropriate numeral roll.

On the racks l3 (Fig. 2) there are placed by means of small insulating members 23, sliding contacts 24 which, when the racks move out of the zero position, slide over contact bars 25 disposed in the same plane and extending transversely to the direction of movement of the racks.

From the ends 25a (Fig. 4) of the contact bars there extend cable connections to electromagnets/ 51, 51a mounted below the keysof the typewriter. One contact bar is provided for each numerical value. All the contact bars 25 can be brought into sliding contact with each individual contact 24. The contact bars are separated from one another by a rack pitch, 1. e. the distance corresponding to, the numerical value 1. If a numeral roller, before zeroizing the accumulator, shows one of the numerical values 0, 1, 2, 3 then on zeroizing the appropriate rack 13 will be displaced in such a manner that the sliding contact 24 moved thereby comes into contact with the contact bar 25 which is connected with the electromagnet of the numeral key of the typewriter having the corresponding numerical value. Thus by means of the movable contacts 24 which are adjusted by racks 13, in each position of the accumulator a current path is prepared over those electromagnets of the numeral keys of the typewriter the numerical value of which agree with Y the numerical value indicated by the numeral When the adjustment of the racks I3 with the associated sliding contacts 24 has been completed, in order to carry out the printing of the total, pressure is applied to the total printing key S (Fig. 4) which is provided on the keyboard of the typewriter. 36 disposed below it, and thus supplies current to a magnet 21.

The magnet attracts a bar 28 which closes a contact device 29 to supply current to a. motor 36.

The motion of the motor 30 is transmitted to a shaft 35 (Figs. 1 and 2). On this shaft 35 (a part of which'is squared) a drum 31, provided with a number of studs 36, is arranged so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal. direction. The studs 36 are arranged along a helical line on the periphery of the drum 31 (Fig. 1).

When the drum (31) is turned the studs (36) act on closing contact devices 26 one of which is provided for each accumulator place. The studs 36 are grouped in a staggered arrangement on the drum 31 in such a manner-and when the total is printed the drum is turned so that the closing contacts 26 corresponding to the different places of the accumulator are closed one after the other in sequences as the places descend, beginning at the highest place of the accumulator.

As may may be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and- 4, the closing contacts 26, with the ten- way contact devices 24, 25, are disposed in series. The current paths prepared by the ten-way contact devices 24, Here, therefore, closed one after the other and, therefore, the numeral keys-as is necessary when writing with the typewriter-are struck one after the other.

In the example of construction according to the drawings, the length of the drum 31 is such, and

the number of the studs 36 so selected, that when the total is printed only ten places of the accumulator are taken into consideration, although ,the accumulator shown in the drawings hasthirteen places.

The drum can easily be removed and replaced by another of greater or lesser length and number of studs, so that when the total is printed any desired number of places of the accumulator can be taken into consideration.

To print the decimal point there is arranged, on the left hand part of the shaft 35 carrying the contact drum 31, a separate drum member 39 which has only one stud 40 adjustable on the drum in the direction of rotation.

On the drum 31 the circumferential distance (measured in the direction of the periphery of the drum) between the studs 36a and 36b (Fig. 5) which are associated with the places of the accumulator, between which the decimal should appear--is twice as great as the circumferential distance between two adjacent studs 36. The stud 40 arranged on the contact drum 39 is so adjusted that it closes the contact device 4|, 4! associated therewith and which controls the circuit of a magnet coil 55 located under the decimal key of the typewriter, at the moment when the drum 31, after the stud 36a has closed the appropriate contact device 26, has traversed exact- The key S" closes a contact ly half the path of rotation at the end of which the stud 36b comes into operation.

Thus, if one includes the printing of the decimal the entire printing of the total is efiected by means of successive taps on the keys at regular intervals of time.

If, for example, the figure 0000080047 appears in the ten places to be considered in the printing of the total, then when the total is printed the first five noughts must be omitted, whereas the noughts which appear inside the figure, must be printed. This is done by the following arrangement which is described in detail in German specification Nr. 610,138.

The circuits of the electromagnets 55 and 51 (Fig. 4) which actuate the decimal key and the numeral keys 1-9 on the one hand, and the 'circuits of the electromagnets 56, 51a which actuate the spacing key and the zero key on the other hand, have each a common return line. In the first return line is arranged a relay magnet 63 and in the second there is provided a two-way contact device t5, d5, 47.

Thus all the circuits extending from the contact bars to the decimal key and to the keys 1-9 of the typewriter, lead over the relay magnet it. When energized, the latter changes over the twoway contact device 65, 45, M arranged in the return line oi the electromagnet 55, 51a for the spacing and the zero key.

At the beginning of each total printing operation the two-way contact device d6, ti is so adjusted that, a current path is prepared by the small contact members 55, ll from the bar 2% associated with the zero value through the magnet coil 55 arranged under the spacing key, so that, if no value of the order of magnitude 1-9 has previously been printed, with the ten-way contact device it, 25 set at zero, the spacing key is struck. But as soon as a value of the magnitude "1 to 9 or a decimal is printed, and a corresponding coil 5'6 or 55 under the corresponding key of the typewriter is energized, the solenoid (it of the relay is thereby energized, as all the circuits corresponding to the values "1 to 9 and the decimal key lead over this relay. The solenoid 23 attracts the lever 55 and thus the twoway contact device 35, (it, ill is changed over in such a manner that now a current impulse can flow over the contacts and 95 from the zero bar 2% and the ten-way contact devices to the solenoid tile which actuates the zero key. The bell crank lever (it is held in the attracted position by a spring-urged double lever 55.

Thus, until the completion of the printing of the total in each particular case, with the tenway contact device set at zero, a zero is always printed on the paper.

When the contact drum til (Fig. i) has performed one rotation, that is to say when the printing of the total is finished, then by known means the switch bar 28 is released so that under the influence of the spring it returns into its initial position, the contact 29 in the circuit of the motor 3ll is interrupted, and the motor is stopped together with the drum, as described in the aforesaid German specification No. 619,119.

When the switch bar 25 moves backward into the initial position, by means of the lever 52' (Figs. 3 and 4) which is articulated to the switch bar 28 by the intermediate member 5d, the reversal oi the double contact device 45, 46, 4? is re-set. When the switch bar 28 moves backward a bent over portion 52a of the lever 52 is placed under an inclined portion 48a (Fig. 3) of the pivoted lever 48 and raises the latter against the influence of the spring 53 and thus allows the bell crank lever 46 to spring back into the initial position, whereby the contacts 45, 4t (Fig. again come into contact with each other. At the same moment the spring contact 5 (Fig. l) of the onwardly moving paper carriage 5 of the typewriter releases the contact device 5, so that the contact device interrupts the circuit of the electromagnets I, it, H2. The catch 9, which looks the tens shifting lever l0, and the accumulator are then returned by spring action into their initial position.

The racks 13 are returned into the zero position by means of a link mechanism not shown in the drawings.

The contact device 5'? (Fig. 4) prevents the total printing device irom coming into operation on the backward travel of the paper carriage, as described in the aforesaid German specification No. 619,119.

By sliding the drum 5'! on the shaft 35 it is possible to choose whether (for example when taking the ten places into consideration) the total is to be printed from the let-10th place or from the 3rd-12th place. At the same time the decimal is thereby placed at the desired position. The drum 3! is adjusted correctly on its shaft 35 with the aid of a control stirrup (it) provided on a shaft 59 (Fig. 5).

The devices above described are known.

Referring to the table shown in Fig. 11, column 8 gives values by weight of different goods as far as the third place after the decimal; column 2 gives the prices per unit weight up to the second place after the decimal; column 3 gives the figures denoting the kind of goods-which are unessential for the calculation; column it gives the cost per unit of weight of the specified quantity of goods at the price stated, as far as the second decimal place; column 5 gives the percentages for any discount allowed as far as the second decimal place; and column 5 gives the deducted amounts'as far as the second decimal place.

In performing the calculation, in each line of the table, the values in column 6 anolcolumn 2 are to be multiplied. In the first ,line of figures in the table, for example 153.250 kg. is to be multiplied by Mk.2.19. The product to be entered in column 3 is exactly 33551750, that is to say it has 5 places after the decimal. in the accumulator 33561755 appears.

As in the calculating machine illustrated in the drawings, the contact drum is designed in such a manner that two places are printed after the decimal, and its initial position is so selected that the total is printed from the bottom ten places of the accumulator-when the contact drum in the initial position 335617.50 would be printed. Thus, in order to obtain correctly five places after the decimal, the contact drum in Fig. 5 must be displaced to the left through three places; the last three places are then omitted and the decimal is correctly printed. In column l, therefore, 335.6i is printed.

One is instilled in ignoring the last three places, as in commercial accounts it is the custom to give money amounts only to the second place after the decimal.

In the machine according to the invention and in the example given, the contact drum or is displaced by three places automatically, in that on the depression of the kg. key (Fig. 15), a contact 5 is located under this key closes a circuit whereby the solenoid 52 shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 is energized. The result of this is that the iron core 53 associated with this solenoid is attracted until the coupling slide 54, connected with the core and adapted to move until the end of the long slot 56a strikes against the pin 55. The slide has a shoulder 55 ('Figs. 6 and 8) which engages behind a protection title of the stirrup 51!; consequently, the stirrup 68 and the contact drum 3'! is displaced to the left by three places on the shaft 35 against the influence of the spring 10 (Fig. 5) as is required in accordance with what has been explained above.

A locking lever H (Figs. 5, 8, 9) which is subjected to the influence of the spring 12 (Fig. 5), holds the stirrup 60 in the position into which it is brought by the solenoid 82.

When the printing of the total is completed, the locking lever H is released by the lever 18 engaging under it under the action of the pin 15 of the disc 14 arranged on the shaft 35 which carries the contact drum 31 (Figs. 9 and 10). Shortly before the completion of the rotation of the roller 31, the pin 15 presses, from below, under the one-armed lever 16 pivoted at 16a, whereby the lever 16 and at the same time the locking lever H are raised in such a manner that the stirrup 80 and the contact drum 31 are released and slide back into the initial position under the influence of the spring 10. The coupling slide 84 is returned by the spring 13 associated therewith.

If any correction of the position of the contact drum is necessary, the locking lever ll can also be released by means of a correction key arranged in the typewriter but not shown in the drawings. The amount (335.61) previously caculated and printed, according to the table (Fig. 11) in order to calculate a deduction of 9.75 per cent must again be multiplied by 0.0975. The product to be entered in column 6 is 32.621975. Thus it has 6 places after the decimal point. When, therefore, this amount is printed, the contact drum 3'! must be moved four places to the left. This is effected automatically by depression of the key 89 (Fig. 15). A contact 89a mounted under the key89 completes the circuit of a further solenoid 11 (Figs. 5, 6 and 15). The iron core 18 associated with this solenoid is thereby attracted with the result that a coupling slide 19 connected with this core is moved four places to' the left, whereby the projection 19a (Fig. 8) provided on the slide engages behinda projection 60a on the stirrup 68, and carries the contact drum with it through four places. The last four places of the above product "1975 are omitted and the amount 32.62 appears in column 6 of the table.

The contact drum is returned into the initial position by the same means as described with reference to the printing of the amount in column d.

When book-keeping machines consisting of a typewriter and a calculator are used for continuously repeated calculation of one and the same calculation process, for example as shown by the table of Fig. 11, the calculating functions of the calculating machine are often controlled by the paper carriage of the typewriter. That is possible because the same paper carriage position always corresponds to the same calculating process.

With machines of this type the electromagnets which cause the movement of the contact drum 31, may also be controlled by contact devices which (instead of being actuated by the kg,=, Rm=, or other sign keys) are actuated by the paper carriage. a

An example of construction of such a contact device actuated by the paper carriage is described in German specification Nr. 615,859 and is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14.

On the typewriter frame 88 there is fixed a 4 contact holder 8| of insulating material in which a current strip 85 and six contact bars 821 to 82v: are embedded.

The subsidiary references I to VI carried by the contact bars correspond to the 1 to 6 places through which the contact drum is displaced through the agency of the contact bars. The contact bar 82111 is connected with the electromagnet I1 and the contact bar 821v with the electromagnet 82. On the bar 8| the holders 83a and 83b are fixed by means of the stirrup 84 which contains contacts 830 and 83d. The con tact 830 of the contact holder 88 is brought into conductive contact with the contact bar 82111 by a flexible contact member 86a, and the contact 83d of the holder 83b with the bar 821v by means of the flexible plate 881;.

' The paper carriage 88 of the typewriter moves two conductively interconnected sliding contacts 81, 81a one of which slides constantly on the current strip 85 while the other can come into contact with the contacts 83c, 83d, and thereby produce the conductive ,connection between the current strip and a contact bar 82m, 821v. Thus according to whether the sliding contact 81 comes into contact with the contact 83c or 83d,

the magnet 62 or the magnet 11 is energized and the contact drum moved 3 or 4 places. The operation of these contacts is further described in the aforesaid German specification No. 619,119, Fig. 16.

In the bar 8| shown in the drawings there are provided six contact bars; accordingly six electromagnets can also be provided which displace the contact drum through one to six places. The contact drum, instead of being actuated by electromagnetic means, could also be actuated by mechanical means.

I claim:-

1. A combined key-operated calculating and typewriting machine comprising a typewriter carriage; an accumulator having numeral rolls;

a total printing device with automatic decimal point printing means; and a drive mechanism for said printing device, said total printing device comprising a drum with staggered switch contacts and longitudinally movable on a shaft for the purpose of altering the position of the decimal point, contact devices actuated through the numeral rolls of the accumulator by the drive mechanism and co-operating with the contacts on the drum, electromagnets arranged in circuits controlled by the contact devices and operating the said printing device, said total printing device comprising a drum with staggered switch contacts and longitudinally movable on a shaft for the purpose of altering the position of the decimal point, contact devices actuated through the numeral rolls of the accumulator by the drive mechanism and co-operating with the contacts on the drum, electromagnets arranged in circuits controlled by the contact devices and operating the spacing key, the numeral keys and the decimal point key of the typewriten: and means under control of said typewriter carriage for moving said contact drum throughapredetermined nummeral rolls of the accumulator by the drive ber of ordinal places; and code keys controlling mechanism and cO-Operating with the contacts said movement of the drum. on the drum, electromagnets arranged in circuits 3.-. A combined key-operated calculating and controlled by the contact devices and operating 5 typewriting machine comprising a typewriter carthe spacing key, the numeral keys and the deciriage; an accumulator having numeral rolls; a mal point key of the typewriter, and means for total printing device with an automatic decimal automatically moving said contact drum through point printing means; a drive mechanism for a predetermined number of ordinal places; and

said printing device, said total printing device means on the carriage for controlling said auto- 10 comprising a drum with staggered switch con- 'matic movement of the drum from the carriage m tacts and longitudinally movable on a shaft for movement.

the purpose of altering the position of the decimal AUGUST KO'I'IMANN. point, contact devices actuated through the nuq

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