US2990114A - Automatic number transfer from the registers of a calculator - Google Patents

Automatic number transfer from the registers of a calculator Download PDF

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US2990114A
US2990114A US470575A US47057554A US2990114A US 2990114 A US2990114 A US 2990114A US 470575 A US470575 A US 470575A US 47057554 A US47057554 A US 47057554A US 2990114 A US2990114 A US 2990114A
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tape
magnetic
register
head
calculator
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US470575A
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Eric T Hudec
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06CDIGITAL COMPUTERS IN WHICH ALL THE COMPUTATION IS EFFECTED MECHANICALLY
    • G06C11/00Output mechanisms
    • G06C11/08Output mechanisms with punching mechanism

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  • the invention relates to business machines, and more particularly to calculators in which means are provided for reading all the numbers automatically, both the numbers keyed into the calculator and the numbers calculated by the calculator.
  • the best known business machines of this type are those containing a printer by which the numbers are printed on a strip of paper. Sometimes these strips are attached to other papers which contain the informations necessary for understanding the meaning or nature of thenumbers. But sometimes the strips are insufficient: the numbers have to be copied on another sheet of paper where they are printed in combination with other informations.
  • calculators have been combined with typewriters, and means have been provided for keying automatically the keys of the typewriter corresponding to the numbers indicated on the registers of the calculator, one digit after another.
  • the informations needed for explaining these numbers are manually keyed into the keyboard of the typewriter.
  • the object of the invention is to provide means for printing automatically both the numbers calculated by the calculator and informations needed for explaining these numbers and other informations.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic pick-up device for picking up the digits indicated on the registers of a calculator one after another by code signals.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide another pick-up device for picking up code signals of informations explaining the numbers and other informations, and means for combining these code signals with those obtained from the registers of a calculator. Means for producing additional signals are provided: position signals for positioning the numbers automatically on the right place, code signals of the decimal point, a space, a comma and code signals of units, for instance, inches etc.
  • the code signals picked up and combined in this business machine are ready for controlling automatically a translator and printer, for instance, a teletypewriter thru an amplifier.
  • another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic recording device for recording the code signals picked up from the calculator and from other information sources on a magnetic recorder tape from which the code signals are picked up by another pick-up device combined with a translator and printer.
  • FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a device for picking up code signals of numbers indicated on the registers of a calculator and other informations in combination with a teletypewriter for translating all these code signals into ordinary characters and for printing them automatically on a sheet of paper.
  • FIG. IB shows a schematic diagram of a device for picking up code signals of numbers indicated on the registers of a calculator and other informations in combination with a recording device for recording all the code signals on a recorder tape.
  • FIG. 1C shows the keyboard and the registers of a business machine according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a device for transferring numbers from the registers of a calculator to a register tape. It is a cross section taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 3 is another cross section of this device, taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 shows a modication of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 differing in the recording device of the 0 register tape.
  • FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the pick-up device for picking up code signals from a register of a calculator, taken along line 5-5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A.
  • FIG. 5A is another cross section of this pick-up device, taken along line SA--SA shown in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the pick-up device for picking up code signals from short strips of information tapes, taken along line 6 6 shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 7 shows details of the driving mechanism moving the information tapes.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 2 showing the connections between the driving system and the pick-up devices.
  • FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the stopping device, taken along line 9-9 shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 9A shows another cross section of the stopping device, taken along line 9A-9A shown in FIG. 9.
  • FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the device for moving the recording head transversely to the recorder tape, taken along line 10-10 shown in FIG. l0.
  • FIG. 10A shows another cross section of this device, taken along line 10A10A shown in FIG. 10.
  • the invention resides in the combination of a calculator with a magnetic pick-up device for picking up suitable code signals of the numbers indicated on the dials of the registers, suitable for combining the numbers with other informations and for printing both types of informations automatically.
  • FIGS. 1A and IB illustrate the principle of the invention.
  • the components shown diagrammatically are numbered by 3 digital numbers, the first digit of which indicates the number of the figure in which the details of the component are shown.
  • FIG. 1A shows a plurality of identical magnetic carriers 200, each carrying code signals of the digits 0, l, 2, 9. Guides (not shown) are guiding the digit carriers side by side and parallel to each other.
  • the digit carriers as illustrated in FIG. 1A are short bars consisting of magnetic material.
  • One type of code units of each code signal is marked by short grooves cut into the bars.
  • the other type of code units is formed by elevations which are left by cutting the grooves.
  • the grooves, marked black are the 0 units of the code signals of the teletypewriter.
  • Each code signal contains 5 binary code units and two additional units: a start unit (0) at the beginning and a stop unit (1) at the end of the signal.
  • the code signals of the first three digits, for instance, consist of the following combinations: 0:0011011, 1:0111011, 2:0110011.
  • the code units of the code signals follow each other transversely to the digit carriers, whereas the code signals of the digits are longitudinally arranged in their natural sequence. There is a space left between two adjacent code signals.
  • the dials 101 of the registers of calculators are little wheels containing the digits '0, Il, 2 9 in combination with little cog wheels 102 containing l0 teeth engaged with master wheels of the register by which they are turned for indicating the numbers keyed into the keyboard or calculated by the calculator.
  • the digit carriers shown in FIG. 1A are connected to the dials of the register by racks 103 which are fixed at the end of the digit carriers and engaged into the cog wheels 102 of the dials.
  • the registers indicating the numbers keyed into the keyboard of the calculator belong to the iirst type of registers, the other registers generally belong to the second type of registers.
  • Some calculators contain means gearing the cog wheels of the dials of the product register to the cog wheels of the dials of the keyboard register before clearing the product register for retransferring the numbers from the product register into the keyboard register.
  • the racks 103 may be permanently engaged with the cog wheels 102 of the keyboard register, so that the position of the digit carriers always corresponds to the number indicated on the keyboard register.
  • the racks 103 connecting the digit carriers 200 to the cog wheels 102 of the product register are only temporarily engaged yfor positioning the digit carriers according to the number indicated on the product register.
  • the magnetic head 201 is moved by the driving system 104 along the dotted lines shown in FIG. 1A transversely to the digit carriers 200 with a speed of 50 cycles per second corresponding to the speed of the teletypewriter.
  • the coils of the magnetic head are connected to the input of the amplifier A supplied by the power supply P, for amplifying the code signals picked up from the digit carriers.
  • the output of the amplifier is connected to the input of a teletypewriter T where the amplified code signals are translated and printed on a sheet of paper.
  • the output of the magnetic head 603 is also connected to the amplifier A, so that the code signals picked up from the information tape 602 are amplified, translated, and printed, just as the code signals of the numbers calculated by the calculator.
  • the movement of the magnetic head 603 relatively to the information tape 602 is not performed by moving the magnetic head 603, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1A, but by moving the magnetic tape as shown in FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 1B shows diagrammatically an advanced embodiment of the invention for avoiding the disadvantage of the device shown in FIG. 1A in which the teletypeWriter-a rather expensive unit-is running only short periods of time for printing the informations and the numbers, unused during the longer periods when the informations lare selected and when the numbers are calculated.
  • the teletypewriter is replaced by a magnetic recording device comprising the recorder tape 215 and the recorder head 220 the coils of which are connected to the output of the amplifier A.
  • the recorder head driven simultaneously with the pick-up heads 201 and 603 by the driving system, passes the recorder tape 215 for recording the numbers picked up from the digit carriers 200 and from the information tapes 602.
  • the ⁇ digit carriers shown in FIG. 1B are short strips of magnetic tape on which the code signals of the digits 0, l, 2 9 are transversely recorded as indicated by short dashes.
  • the tapes loaded by individual springs '203 are connected by wires 204 to wheels 104 which are 'combined with cog wheels 105 similar to the cog wheels 102 of the dials of the register.
  • These cog wheels 105 and 102 are engaged with each other thru idlers 106.
  • the cog wheels are permanently or temporarily engaged depending on the type of register, as described above, for pulling the spring loaded digit carriers to the left.
  • the pick-up head 201 is moved by the driving system D transversely to the digit carriers along the path indicated by dotted lines passing the code signals of the number as shown on the dials of the register.
  • the recorder tape is transferredto another device in which a magnetic pickup device is combined with a translator and printer by which the complete informations are continuously and automatically translated and printed.
  • FIG. 1C shows the registers and the keyboard of a business machine according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1C shows a keyboard register I, an accumulating register II, a multiplier register III, and a totalizing register IV.
  • the lower part shows, at the left side, ten keys 0 9 for keying numbers, one digit after another. After keying the key marked the keyed number vgets simultaneously into the keyboard register I and into the accumulating register II.
  • thekeyboard register is automatically cleared and the new number transferred to the keyboard register and added to the preceding number in the accumulating register II.
  • the second number is subtracted from the first number in the register II.
  • the decimal point By keying the key the decimal point is placed before the third last digit, by keying the key the decimal point is placed before the second last digit, and by keying the key the decimal point is omitted.
  • the multiplicand is keyed by ten keys at the left side of the keyboard and transferred to the keyboard register by keying the clearing key (I). Any number previously transferred into this register is automatically cleared before the new number is transferred.
  • the accumulating register Il and the multiplier register III are cleared, if necessary.
  • the multiplier is keyed by ten keys at the right side of the keyboard. By keying the key (X) the multiplicand is automatically multiplied by the multiplier which appears in the multiplier register III, whereas the product gets into the accumulating register II.
  • the key (R) is provided for retransferring numbers from the product register II to the keyboard register I which, when necessary, is automatically cleared in advance.
  • numbers are transferred from the register II to the register I and to the register IV where they are added to the numbers already accumulated.
  • the keys (DV) and (z) are provided for preparing and stalting the division of two numbers.
  • the time signal has the only effect of consuming the time of a code signal without effecting the translator.
  • the end signal indicates, at the printer, the end of a page.
  • the information transfer indicated by the box at the lower end of FIG. 1C is provided for transferring informations explaining the numbers and other informations.
  • the apostrophes in the last line after the bill mark the places for setti-ng the tabulator stops at the printer.
  • the numbers between these signs indicate the number of characters which can be printed between the tabulator stops.
  • Table 2 shows symbolically the handling of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1C for calculating and printing the bill automatically. 'Ihe symbol Ext indicates that the following code signals are transferred from an information carrier.
  • the number 46.30 is keyed by the ten keys at the left.
  • the key (I) is keyed for transferring this number to the keyboard register, the key (*1) for keying the space unit of the position carrier, and the key for transferring the number and the following space signal to the output of the business machine.
  • the decimal point keys are not keyed since, for printing the bill, the decimal point remains permanently at the same place before the last two digits.
  • the register II Since the product of these numbers contains 4 digits after the decimal point, the register II is shifted 2 digits to the right by keying the key twice, as indicated in line 5.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 show a device for transferring numbers from the registers of a calculator to a register tape.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 2--2 shown in FIG. 3
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2.
  • the digit carriers and the additional signal carriers 200 arev movably fixed on a cylindrical surface around the magnetic head 201. They are pulled by the springs 203 into the 0 position where the code signal of the digit "0 is on the path of the movable magnetic head rotating around the axis 5-5.
  • the other ends of the number carriers are connected by wires 204 to the dials of a register or to another mov able element whose distance measured from its 0 position changes proportionally to the value of the digit getting into the register.
  • FIG. 2 shows 5 digit carriers in the 0 position and another digit carrier in the other extreme position where the digit 9 is on the path of the rotating magnetic head.
  • the magnetic head is driven by the motor 205 thru the spur gears 206 and 207 and the friction clutch 208.
  • the shaft 209 does not move, since a. tooth of the wheel 210 is stopped by the stopping device 211.
  • the key 301 shown only in FIG. 3
  • the tooth of the lwheel 210 is released for one revolution of the shaft 209.
  • the tooth of the Wheel 210 is further released by the magnet ⁇ 212 which is activated thru a contact 611 (shown in FIG. 6) connecting the magnet to the supply voltage when an information carrier is introduced into the information transfer shown only in FIG. 3, until the whole information is transferred to the register tape. At this moment, the current activating the magnet is interrupted and the stopping device 2.111 gets effective stopping the shaft 209.
  • n is the number of digit carriers (including additional carriers) lying around the rotating magnetic head
  • p the number of sprockets of the sprocket wheel 213, and k the number of code signals recorded between two perforations.
  • the sprocket 'wheel 213 drives the output carrier 21S-a perforated magnetic tape-which, coming from the supply reel 2116, passes the rollers 217 219 and the recording head 220 and runs to the take-up reel 221 driven by the shaft 222 thru the friction clutch 304 and the transmission 223.
  • the loop of magnetic tape beginning at the roller 217 passing the roller 218 to the roller 219 is provided as an -auxiliary tape supply Aat the beginning of a number or in- Iformation transfer, when the bearing of the roller 218 slides down the guide 224, loading the spring 225.
  • the output carrier is, for instance, a 16 mm. magnetic tape. 8 tracks are recorded on this tape lying parallel to each other, each 0.03 inch wide.
  • the first track is recorded near the lower perforation.
  • the magnetic tape lying now on the take-up reel 221 is reversed and put on the supply reel 216, whereby the magnetic head gets to the second track near the other perforation.
  • both reels are exchanged just as before.
  • the magnetic head, ⁇ getting back to the first track is now moved transversely to the magnetic tape getting into the next of 4 different positions fixed by a. slip pawl, ready for recording the third track.
  • the automatic number transfer fixed on the frame 305/308 ⁇ is below the calculator (not shown) and the information transfer 303, both of which are supported by the plate 306'.
  • the plate 306 is interrupted by the cover 307 which can be opened for exchanging the recorder tape.
  • the information transfer contains a locki-ng device for fixing short strips of magnetic tape and a sprocket wheel driven by the shaft 222 thru a pawl and a ratchet Wheel 309. 'l
  • a clutch is provided between the sprocket wheel 213 and the shaft 222. After releasing the clutch, the magnetic tape is moved backward, the recording head or another special erasing head erasing the wrong signals.
  • a counter is provided for counting the number of perforations for determining the position of the signals which are to be erased.
  • FIG. 4 shows another example of guiding and storing the recorder tape.
  • connections 204 to the register of the calculator are on the other side of the digit carriers and the long springs are replaced by helical springs for coiling the connections to the digit carriers.
  • the sprocket wheel 404 is driven by the shaft 403 thru the spiral gear 405 the gearing ratio of which is as explained above.
  • the magnetic tape 406 is loosely rolled around the cylinder -407 and limited by the external cylinder 408. Both ends of the tape are glued, making the tape an endless tape which is pulled out of the inside of the roll by the sprocket wheel 409 and pulled back to .the outside of the rotating roll thru an aperture of the cylinder 408.
  • two sprocket wheels 404 and 409' are provided yfor limiting these zones.
  • the magnetic tape 406 is pulled by the sprocket wheel 409 from the inside of thc roll and by the sprocket wheel 404 thru the record- .ing zone passing the roller 424, the magnetic heads 411 and 412, and running to the outside of -the roll passing the cylinder 413.
  • the roller 424 is pushed by a springtoward .the magnetic tape for maintaining the tape tension needed for recording the code signals.
  • the sprocket wheel 409 is driven by the shaft of the sprocket ⁇ wheel 404 thru the transmission 410.
  • the magnetic heads 411 and ⁇ 412 are moved transversely to the magnetic tape driven by the shaft 403 thru the worm gear 414, the spur gears 415, 416, 417, and the screw 418. Therefore, Ithe code s-ignals are recorded on a very flat helix consisting of some turns, for instance, 8 turns.
  • the sprocket Iwheel 420 belonging to the information transfer 421 is driven by the shaft 403 thru the worm gear 422.
  • FIG. 4 There are 2 magnetic heads in FIG. 4: the recording head 411 and the erasing head 412.
  • the distance between the gaps of these magnetic heads is n/k perforations where n is the number of ⁇ code signals transferred during one revolution of the pickup head and k the number of code signals recorded between two perforations.
  • n is the number of ⁇ code signals transferred during one revolution of the pickup head and k the number of code signals recorded between two perforations.
  • a wrong record of a number transferred from the register of the calculator is immediately erased after the erroneous transfer by activating the eraser head when the following number is transferred.
  • this erasure It has the disadvantage that the erased section of the track remains unusedand that it is not possible to erase records obtained by transferring informations which, generally are Cit much longer than number records transferred from the registers of thecalculatcr.
  • this insutiiciency is improved by increasing the distance between the gaps of b'oth magnetic heads to q.n/ k where q is an integer.
  • An erroneous number transfer is erased by activating the eraser head once after q-l further transfers.
  • An erroneous information transfer is erased by activating the eraser head according to the length of the wrong record, the maximum of which is the distance between the gaps of both heads.
  • FIG. 5 shows a cross section thru the rotating head and the digit carriers, taken along line 5 5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A.
  • the magnetic circuit of this magnetic head contains 2 cores 501 and 502 (not shown) activated by the coils 503 and 504 (not shown), a yoke 505 (not shown) connecting both coils, and a gap inserted into the yoke on the periphery.
  • FIG. 5 shows only the core 501 and the coil'503.
  • the magnetic cores are fixed by holders 506 and 507, which are connected by screws 508.
  • the coils 503 and 504 are connected in series with two rings 509 tixed on the holder 506, insulated from the holder and from each other.
  • the rings 509 are connected to the input of the amplifier thru a sliding contact.
  • the digit carriers 200 are movably fixed ontwocylindrical surfaces 510 and 511, the diameter of which is a little greater than the diameter of the rotating magnetic head (about 0.005 inch) to avoid direc-t contact between the rotating head and the digit carriers 200, which are pressed by the springs 512 and the little wheels 5.13 toward the cylindrical surfaces.
  • the digit carriers 200 are pulled by the springs 203 into the 0 position. They are positioned by the dials or other elements 'of the register of the calculator to which they are connected by wires 204 guided by rollers S14 and 515, as shown in FIG. 5A which is a cross section taken along line SAL-5A shown in FIG. 5.
  • 'Only 9 digit carriers (including position carriers and other additional carriers) are provided, since 1/2 time signal is provided at the beginning and at the end during the time when the magnetic head is ac'- celerated or retarded.
  • FIG. 6 shows a device for picking up code signals from short strips of magnetic tape. It is a cross section taken along line 6-6 shown in FIG. 3.
  • the sprocket Wheel 601 drives the information tape 602 which passes the pick-up head 603.
  • the wheel 604 fixed on the spring 605 presses the tape 602 on the wheel 606 for producing the tension and guiding necessary for getting the right pressure between the magnetic head and the tape.
  • the information tape is put on the first sprockets just not visible in FIG. 6 and fastened by the lever 607 movable around the shaft 608.
  • the locking device 609 is pro'- vided for keeping the lever in the transfer position shown in FIG. 6.
  • the magnetic tape 602 presses the little rod 610 down closing the contact 611 which connects the magnet 212 shown in FIG. 2 to a voltage supply.
  • the magnet turns the stopping device 211 counterclockwise, releasing the shaft 209 which drives both the sprocket wheel 601 for moving the information tape and the sprocket wheel 213 for moving the register tape 215.
  • the spring 612 pushes the rod into the hole 613 opening the contact 61-1 and interrupting the current flowing thru the coil of the magnet 212 with the effect that the stopping device 211 is turned back by a spring stopping the shaft 209 and both the information tape and the recorder tape.
  • the sam-e stopping effect by the end of the magnetic tape passing the rod 610 is effected by an aperture in the magnetic tape, a cut or a hole, at the end of the information, especially when several informations are recorded one after another on one strip of magnetic tape.
  • the rod 610 is pulledv down for a short time.
  • the magnet 212 shown in FIG. 2 shifts an alternating contact connecting, when activated, the input of the amplifier to the magnetic head of the information transfer and disconnecting theA input of the amplifier from the magnetic head picking up the numbers from the register of the calculator.
  • FIG. 7 shows a ratchet whel 309 and a pawl 700 provided between the shaft 222 and the sprocket wheel 601 for pulling the information tape from the sprocket wheel, when the information is transferred, without moving the register tape.
  • the information tape is pulled a little to make sure that the pawl is engaged in a tooth of the ratchet wheel for driving the sprocket wheel immediately when it starts moving.
  • FIG. 8 shows the friction clutch 208 provided between the motor 205 and the number and information transfer.
  • the ring 801 and the flange ring 802 are fixed on the shaft 209 rotating in the bearing 803.
  • the spur wheel 206v is movably fixed on the ange ring 802 between the flange and the disk 805 interspaced by two felt disks 806.
  • the spring 804 adjustable by the ring 801 pushes the disk 805, the felt disks 806, and the spur wheel 206 toward the flange producing a friction between the felt disks and the spur wheel andthe adjacent metallic disks for driving the rotating magnetic head and the magnetic tapes and all the mechanism by the spur wheel 206.
  • the spur wheel 206 is sliding between the felt disks.
  • FIG. 9 shows the stopping device 211 for starting and stopping the number and information transfer. It is a cross section taken along line 9-9 shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 9A is another cross section of the stopping device taken along line 9A-9A shown in FIG. 9.
  • the tooth 909 pushes the tooth 907 into the position shown in FIG. 9, where it is fixed by the rod 910.
  • the plate 901 and the tooth 907 are ⁇ getting into this position when an external force as indicated by the arrow 911 moves the plate counterclockwise.
  • the spring 912 moves the plate 901 clockwise so that the tooth 906 gets on the path of the tooth 909 which moves a little until it is stopped by the tooth 906.
  • the tooth 907 no more pressed by the tooth 909, is pulled by the spring 913 into the dotted position behind the tooth 909 where it is fixed by the rod 914. That is the starting position of the stopping device.
  • the key 301 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed.
  • This key connected to the stopping device 211 by the wire 302, moves the plate 901 counterclockwise into the position shown in FIG. 9 with the difference, that the tooth 907 is in the dotted position behind the tooth 909. Therefore, ⁇ the shaft 209 makes nearly one revolution until the tooth 909 hits the tooth 907 pushing it into the full lined position, provided that the key 301 is still keyed.
  • the plate 901 When a tape is put into the information transfer, the plate 901 is turned counterclockwise by the magnet 212, but a little farther than in FIG. 9, so that both teeth 906 and 907 are moved out of the path of the tooth 909. Therefore, the shaft 209 moves continuously until the complete information is transferred from the informationtape to the recorder tape. At this moment, the current activatingY the magnet 212 is interrupted by the contact ⁇ 611. 'I'he plate 901, released from the external force 911, is turned clockwise by the spring until it gets into the starting position, where the tooth 906 stops the tooth 909.
  • FIG. 10 shows a ⁇ device 'for moving the magnetic head transversely to the recorder tape for recording the code signals on a flat helix.
  • FIG. 10A is a sectional view taken along line 10A--10A shown in FIG. 10.
  • the recording head 411 and the erasing head 412 are fixed by the screws 1003 and 1004 on the plates 1001 and 1002 which are movably fixed on the guides 1005 and 1006'. These guides are fixed on the frame 423 and the plate 1007 which is fixed on the frame by the bolts 1008.
  • the shaft 418 pivoted in the frame 423 contains a thread at the upper end, said thread gearing into the cylindrical nut 1009 with theliange 1010 for bearing and lifting the plate 1001V sliding along the guides 1005 and 1006.
  • the milled screw 1012 is firmly screwed into the upper end of the nut 1009. There is a groove cut into the outside cylinder of the nut as indicated by a dotted line.
  • the little' bar 1011 is pushed by a spring indicated by an arrow into this ⁇ groove for preventing the nut to be turned.
  • the little bar 1011 is pulled out of the groove and the nut 1009 screwed by turning the milled head 1012 into the thread of the shaft 418 readjusting the magnetic heads for starting new records.
  • a business machine containing registers which indicate numbers entered by keys or calculated by the business machine, a plurality of identical magnetic digit carriers associated with the registers and movably fastened on parallel paths, each magnetic digit carrier carrying coded markings representing the digits 0, l, 2 9, a first magnetic pick up head movable on a path transverse to the paths of the magnetic digit carriers, means for positioning each magnetic digit carrier so that the coded markings thereon corresponding to a digit indicated by an associated register is positioned on the path of said first magnetic pick up head, driving means for moving the said first magnetic pick up head along said transverse path so that it picks up the information represented by those coded markings on the magnetic digit carriers which are positioned on said transverse path, another magnetic carrier carrying markings representing other information which supplements the information on the magnetic digit carriers, and a second magnetic pick up head positioned so that it picks up information from the said other carrier as it passes the second magnetic pick up head.
  • a device as specified in claim 2 comprising tensioning means associated with the locking device, said 1 1 tensioning means tensioning the information tape as it passes the second magnetic pick up head.
  • a device as specified in claim 3 comprising a stopping device stopping the first pick up head at the end of its path and the information tape at the end of the information transfer.
  • a device as specified in claim 5 comprising a contact and a rod between the contact and the information tape, tensioning means, when strained, pressing the rod thru the information tape on the contact and closing the contact, a magnet and a supply voltage both connected thru the contact, the armature of the magnet turning the plate of the stopping device an angle so that both teeth of the stopping device get out of the path of the toothed wheel.
  • a device as specified in claim l in which the digit carriers are short strips of magnetically coated tape on which code signals of the digits 0, 1, 2 9 are transversely recorded.
  • a device as specified in claim 7 comprising a plurality of springs, each spring loading one of the digit carriers, a plurality of wheels, each wheel positioning one of the digit carriers, each wheel coupled to the corresponding dial of the associated register.
  • a device as specied in claim 8 comprising an additional magnetically coated tape on which are recorded markings representing operating signals for a translator and printer for determining the position of numbers picked up from the digit carriers, ⁇ a register wheel connected to said tape for positioning the tape, a plurality of register keys connected to said register wheel for positioning the register wheel, each key moving this Wheel thru an angle corresponding to a particular marking.
  • a device as specified in claim 9 comprising a shaft on which the first magnetic pick up head is fixed, the gap of the magnetic head on the periphery, cylindrical surfaces concentrically fixed around the shaft, the digit carriers and the other carrier movably fixed on these surfaces, parallel to the shaft.
  • a device as specified in claim 1 comprising an amplifier the input of which is connected to ⁇ the coils of the magnetic pick up heads, a power supply supplying the amplifier, a translator connected to the output of the amplifier, and a printer controlled by the translator for printing translated characters on a sheet of paper.
  • a device as specified in claim 1 comprising an amplifier the input of which is connected to the coils of the magnetic pick up heads, a power supply supplying the amplifier, a magnetic recorder head connected to the output of the amplifier, and a magnetic recorder tape 12 movedby the driving means, the 'recorder head recording the code signals of the numbers transferred from the magnetic digit carriers and the information transferred from the other magnetic carrier on said magnetic recorder tape.
  • a device as specified in claim 13 comprising an eraser head, the distance between the gaps of the eraser head and the recorder head being adjusted to q.n/k perforations, where q is an integer, n the number ofcode signals transferred from the register of the calculator, and k the number of code signals between two perforations, a key, a switch, and an eraser voltage, the key closing the switch connecting the eraser voltage to the eraser head.
  • a device as specified in claim 14 comprising two reels for storing the recorder tape and auxiliary tape supply means consisting of three rollers, and a spring, and a guide, the recorder tape running around the rollers yforming a loop, the middle roller guided by the guide and pulled by the spring.
  • a device as specified in claim 1 comprisingan amplifier the input of which is connected to the coils of the magnetic pick up heads, a power supply supplying the amplifier, a magnetic recorder head connected to the output of the amplifier, a perforated magnetic recorder tape, a roll on which the recorder tape is loosely rolled, both ends of the recorder tape connected with each other, guides guiding the recorder tape from the inside of the roll, the recorder tape passing the recorder head, a sprocket wheel moved by the driving means, the perforations of the recorder tape engaged with the sprockets of the sprocket wheel.
  • a device as specified in claim 16 comprising two sprocket wheels, a roller, and a spring, the recorder tape engaged with the roller, the recorder head, and the sprocket wheels, the tape perforations engaging the sprockets on the sprocket wheels, the spring pressing the roller toward the recorder tape for producing the tension needed between the recorder tape and the recorder head.
  • a device as specified in claim 17 comprising a guide guiding the recorder head transversely to the recorder tape, a shaft containing a thread, a nut connected with the recorder head and engaged with the thread, a projection of the nut preventing the nut from turning, a worm gear between the shaft and the driving means.

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Description

June 27, 1961 E. T. HUDEC 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM THE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Driv/'ng Sys tem Po weribo-n 602 03 2,5 Fg. 7B Inventar? June 27, 1961 E. T. Hum-:c 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FRDM THE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Filed Nov. 25, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 WOMOIOIOIOIOIOWWW5|5l7ll DI m W0l0l0|1|112l01 [UlOiOlUIOiOiOWIOIIJlgildoll I I 789DV,-S-789 291v L+ 5 S 45 *`F' 0 le l Si O *0 Ext. Information F/g/c Inventar? June 27, 1961 E. T. HUDEC 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM THE: REGIsTERs 0F A CALCULATOR 8 SheetsfSheet 3 Filed Nov. 25, 1954 Inventar June Z7, 1961 E. T. HUDEC AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM THE REGISTERS oF A CALCULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 25, 1954 June 27, 1961 E. T. HuDEc 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM THE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Filed Nov. 23, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 @a 422 M5 404 4/2 4/6 Il 4 June 27, 1961 E T HUDEC 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBR TRANSFER FROM THE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Filed Nov. 23, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 27, 1961 E. T. Hunt-:c 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM THE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Filed Nov. 23, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Inventar.'
June 27, 1961 E. T. HUDEC 2,990,114
AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM TRE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Filed Nov. 25. 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Q//i/ 902/ Y, n i
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United States Patent 2,990,114 AUTOMATIC NUMBER TRANSFER FROM THE REGISTERS OF A CALCULATOR Eric T. Hudec, Marlton, NJ. (38 Kirchstr., Berlin-Nicolassee, Berlin, Germany) Filed Nov. 23, 1954, Ser. No. 470,575 18 Claims. (Cl. 23S-60.4)
The invention relates to business machines, and more particularly to calculators in which means are provided for reading all the numbers automatically, both the numbers keyed into the calculator and the numbers calculated by the calculator.
The best known business machines of this type are those containing a printer by which the numbers are printed on a strip of paper. Sometimes these strips are attached to other papers which contain the informations necessary for understanding the meaning or nature of thenumbers. But sometimes the strips are insufficient: the numbers have to be copied on another sheet of paper where they are printed in combination with other informations.
ln order to avoid copying these numbers, calculators have been combined with typewriters, and means have been provided for keying automatically the keys of the typewriter corresponding to the numbers indicated on the registers of the calculator, one digit after another. The informations needed for explaining these numbers are manually keyed into the keyboard of the typewriter.
The object of the invention is to provide means for printing automatically both the numbers calculated by the calculator and informations needed for explaining these numbers and other informations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic pick-up device for picking up the digits indicated on the registers of a calculator one after another by code signals.
Another object of the invention is to provide another pick-up device for picking up code signals of informations explaining the numbers and other informations, and means for combining these code signals with those obtained from the registers of a calculator. Means for producing additional signals are provided: position signals for positioning the numbers automatically on the right place, code signals of the decimal point, a space, a comma and code signals of units, for instance, inches etc.
The code signals picked up and combined in this business machine are ready for controlling automatically a translator and printer, for instance, a teletypewriter thru an amplifier.
Since the translator and printer is an expensive unit, able to work much faster than the operator operating the calculator and the pick-up devices, another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic recording device for recording the code signals picked up from the calculator and from other information sources on a magnetic recorder tape from which the code signals are picked up by another pick-up device combined with a translator and printer.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the study of the following specication, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a device for picking up code signals of numbers indicated on the registers of a calculator and other informations in combination with a teletypewriter for translating all these code signals into ordinary characters and for printing them automatically on a sheet of paper.
FIG. IB shows a schematic diagram of a device for picking up code signals of numbers indicated on the registers of a calculator and other informations in combination with a recording device for recording all the code signals on a recorder tape.
ICC
FIG. 1C shows the keyboard and the registers of a business machine according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a device for transferring numbers from the registers of a calculator to a register tape. It is a cross section taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is another cross section of this device, taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a modication of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 differing in the recording device of the 0 register tape.
FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the pick-up device for picking up code signals from a register of a calculator, taken along line 5-5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A.
FIG. 5A is another cross section of this pick-up device, taken along line SA--SA shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the pick-up device for picking up code signals from short strips of information tapes, taken along line 6 6 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 shows details of the driving mechanism moving the information tapes.
FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 2 showing the connections between the driving system and the pick-up devices.
FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the stopping device, taken along line 9-9 shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 9A shows another cross section of the stopping device, taken along line 9A-9A shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the device for moving the recording head transversely to the recorder tape, taken along line 10-10 shown in FIG. l0.
FIG. 10A shows another cross section of this device, taken along line 10A10A shown in FIG. 10.
The invention resides in the combination of a calculator with a magnetic pick-up device for picking up suitable code signals of the numbers indicated on the dials of the registers, suitable for combining the numbers with other informations and for printing both types of informations automatically.
The diagrams shown in FIGS. 1A and IB illustrate the principle of the invention. The components shown diagrammatically are numbered by 3 digital numbers, the first digit of which indicates the number of the figure in which the details of the component are shown.
FIG. 1A shows a plurality of identical magnetic carriers 200, each carrying code signals of the digits 0, l, 2, 9. Guides (not shown) are guiding the digit carriers side by side and parallel to each other.
The digit carriers as illustrated in FIG. 1A are short bars consisting of magnetic material. One type of code units of each code signal is marked by short grooves cut into the bars. The other type of code units is formed by elevations which are left by cutting the grooves. In FIG. 1A the grooves, marked black, are the 0 units of the code signals of the teletypewriter. Each code signal contains 5 binary code units and two additional units: a start unit (0) at the beginning and a stop unit (1) at the end of the signal. The code signals of the first three digits, for instance, consist of the following combinations: 0:0011011, 1:0111011, 2:0110011.
The code units of the code signals follow each other transversely to the digit carriers, whereas the code signals of the digits are longitudinally arranged in their natural sequence. There is a space left between two adjacent code signals.
The dials 101 of the registers of calculators are little wheels containing the digits '0, Il, 2 9 in combination with little cog wheels 102 containing l0 teeth engaged with master wheels of the register by which they are turned for indicating the numbers keyed into the keyboard or calculated by the calculator.
The digit carriers shown in FIG. 1A are connected to the dials of the register by racks 103 which are fixed at the end of the digit carriers and engaged into the cog wheels 102 of the dials.
There are 2 different types of registers: registers in which the dials are turned only approximately one revolution from the digit to the digit 9, forward and backward, and other registers in which the dials are turned several times in any direction.
The registers indicating the numbers keyed into the keyboard of the calculator belong to the iirst type of registers, the other registers generally belong to the second type of registers.
Some calculators contain means gearing the cog wheels of the dials of the product register to the cog wheels of the dials of the keyboard register before clearing the product register for retransferring the numbers from the product register into the keyboard register.
When this type of calculators is used, the racks 103 may be permanently engaged with the cog wheels 102 of the keyboard register, so that the position of the digit carriers always corresponds to the number indicated on the keyboard register.
When calculators without this feature are used, the racks 103 connecting the digit carriers 200 to the cog wheels 102 of the product register are only temporarily engaged yfor positioning the digit carriers according to the number indicated on the product register.
The magnetic head 201 is moved by the driving system 104 along the dotted lines shown in FIG. 1A transversely to the digit carriers 200 with a speed of 50 cycles per second corresponding to the speed of the teletypewriter. The coils of the magnetic head are connected to the input of the amplifier A supplied by the power supply P, for amplifying the code signals picked up from the digit carriers. The output of the amplifier is connected to the input of a teletypewriter T where the amplified code signals are translated and printed on a sheet of paper. 'There is another magnetic head 603 driven by the same driving system D for picking up code signals from the information tape 6012. The output of the magnetic head 603 is also connected to the amplifier A, so that the code signals picked up from the information tape 602 are amplified, translated, and printed, just as the code signals of the numbers calculated by the calculator.
Practically, the movement of the magnetic head 603 relatively to the information tape 602 is not performed by moving the magnetic head 603, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1A, but by moving the magnetic tape as shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 1B shows diagrammatically an advanced embodiment of the invention for avoiding the disadvantage of the device shown in FIG. 1A in which the teletypeWriter-a rather expensive unit-is running only short periods of time for printing the informations and the numbers, unused during the longer periods when the informations lare selected and when the numbers are calculated.
The teletypewriter is replaced by a magnetic recording device comprising the recorder tape 215 and the recorder head 220 the coils of which are connected to the output of the amplifier A. The recorder head, driven simultaneously with the pick-up heads 201 and 603 by the driving system, passes the recorder tape 215 for recording the numbers picked up from the digit carriers 200 and from the information tapes 602.
The `digit carriers shown in FIG. 1B are short strips of magnetic tape on which the code signals of the digits 0, l, 2 9 are transversely recorded as indicated by short dashes. The tapes loaded by individual springs '203 are connected by wires 204 to wheels 104 which are 'combined with cog wheels 105 similar to the cog wheels 102 of the dials of the register. These cog wheels 105 and 102 are engaged with each other thru idlers 106. The cog wheels are permanently or temporarily engaged depending on the type of register, as described above, for pulling the spring loaded digit carriers to the left. The pick-up head 201 is moved by the driving system D transversely to the digit carriers along the path indicated by dotted lines passing the code signals of the number as shown on the dials of the register.
Finally, when several records are completed, the recorder tape is transferredto another device in which a magnetic pickup device is combined with a translator and printer by which the complete informations are continuously and automatically translated and printed.
FIG. 1C shows the registers and the keyboard of a business machine according to the invention.
The upper part of FIG. 1C shows a keyboard register I, an accumulating register II, a multiplier register III, and a totalizing register IV.
The lower part shows, at the left side, ten keys 0 9 for keying numbers, one digit after another. After keying the key marked the keyed number vgets simultaneously into the keyboard register I and into the accumulating register II.
By keying another number and the key thekeyboard register is automatically cleared and the new number transferred to the keyboard register and added to the preceding number in the accumulating register II. By keying the key instead of the key the second number is subtracted from the first number in the register II.
'I'he keys (I), (II/III), and (lV) are provided for clearing the register I resp. both registers II and III, or the register IV.
By keying the key the decimal point is placed before the third last digit, by keying the key the decimal point is placed before the second last digit, and by keying the key the decimal point is omitted.
By keying the keys or the register II is moved relatively to the register I either stepwise to the left or stepwise to the right, by keying the keys or the register II is moved to the left or to the right terminal.
For multiplying two numbers, the multiplicand is keyed by ten keys at the left side of the keyboard and transferred to the keyboard register by keying the clearing key (I). Any number previously transferred into this register is automatically cleared before the new number is transferred. The accumulating register Il and the multiplier register III are cleared, if necessary. The multiplier is keyed by ten keys at the right side of the keyboard. By keying the key (X) the multiplicand is automatically multiplied by the multiplier which appears in the multiplier register III, whereas the product gets into the accumulating register II.
The key (R) is provided for retransferring numbers from the product register II to the keyboard register I which, when necessary, is automatically cleared in advance. By keying the key (S), numbers are transferred from the register II to the register I and to the register IV where they are added to the numbers already accumulated.
By keying the key (S-), the number transferred from the register Il to the register `IV is subtracted from the numbers already accumulated. By keying the key (Sl), the product register Il is cleared and the number accumulated in the register IV transferred to the register II.
The keys (DV) and (z) are provided for preparing and stalting the division of two numbers.
There are 5 keys at the right end of the keyboard for keying position signals: a time signal by keying the key (#0), a space signal by keying the key (itl), a tabulator signal by keying the key (ilT), a carriage return signal by keying the key (*L), and an end signal by keying the key UE).
The time signal has the only effect of consuming the time of a code signal without effecting the translator. The end signal indicates, at the printer, the end of a page.
Table 1 April 1, 1955. Lamb & Co. 141-2 Linden St.
Midland Park, NJ.
00046. 30 y Whipcord No. 213,145 breadth 1. 40
Serge N o. 420,581 breadth 1.4
Gabardine No. 519,307 breadth 1. 20 Satin No. 108,066 breadth 0. 80 Tricot No. 311,112 breadth 0. 80
gross 15?, discount n 2% extra discount lf paid within 10 days due within days 12 27 $01817. 11 $00272. 57 $01544. 54 $00030. 89 $01513. 65 l l 9 l Table 2 (11) Ext ("T *T *T *L *T *T gross *T *fr s) (12) (Si) (S) (*L) (L13 (X) (13) Ext (vr *T 15% discount *T *T s) (14) (e) (S-D (*L) (21) Ext ("l *T due within 10 days yT *T S) (22) (Si) (R) UE) The key is provided for starting the automatic number transfer from the keyboard register I, including the transfer of additional signals, for instance, position signals.
The information transfer indicated by the box at the lower end of FIG. 1C is provided for transferring informations explaining the numbers and other informations.
l The handl-ing of the number and information transfer is' illustrated in connection with the bill shown in Table l.
The apostrophes in the last line after the bill mark the places for setti-ng the tabulator stops at the printer. The numbers between these signs indicate the number of characters which can be printed between the tabulator stops.
Table 2 shows symbolically the handling of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1C for calculating and printing the bill automatically. 'Ihe symbol Ext indicates that the following code signals are transferred from an information carrier.
According to line (3), for instance, the number 46.30 is keyed by the ten keys at the left. The key (I) is keyed for transferring this number to the keyboard register, the key (*1) for keying the space unit of the position carrier, and the key for transferring the number and the following space signal to the output of the business machine. The decimal point keys are not keyed since, for printing the bill, the decimal point remains permanently at the same place before the last two digits. By keying the underlined number 9.80 into the right number keyboard and by keying the key (x), the multiplication of these numbers: 46.30X9-80 is started.
Since the product of these numbers contains 4 digits after the decimal point, the register II is shifted 2 digits to the right by keying the key twice, as indicated in line 5.
- The calculator explained above is an example of a calculator suitable in connection with the invention which, however, is not restricted to this type of calculators.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a device for transferring numbers from the registers of a calculator to a register tape. FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 2--2 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2.
The digit carriers and the additional signal carriers 200 arev movably fixed on a cylindrical surface around the magnetic head 201. They are pulled by the springs 203 into the 0 position where the code signal of the digit "0 is on the path of the movable magnetic head rotating around the axis 5-5.
The other ends of the number carriers are connected by wires 204 to the dials of a register or to another mov able element whose distance measured from its 0 position changes proportionally to the value of the digit getting into the register. FIG. 2 shows 5 digit carriers in the 0 position and another digit carrier in the other extreme position where the digit 9 is on the path of the rotating magnetic head.
The magnetic head is driven by the motor 205 thru the spur gears 206 and 207 and the friction clutch 208. The shaft 209 does not move, since a. tooth of the wheel 210 is stopped by the stopping device 211. By keying the key 301 (shown only in FIG. 3), which is connected by the wire 302 to the stopping device 211, the tooth of the lwheel 210 is released for one revolution of the shaft 209.
The tooth of the Wheel 210 is further released by the magnet `212 which is activated thru a contact 611 (shown in FIG. 6) connecting the magnet to the supply voltage when an information carrier is introduced into the information transfer shown only in FIG. 3, until the whole information is transferred to the register tape. At this moment, the current activating the magnet is interrupted and the stopping device 2.111 gets effective stopping the shaft 209.
The shaft 209 drives the sprocket wheel 213 thru the gear 214, the gearing ratio of which is z1:z2=n:(pk). Where n is the number of digit carriers (including additional carriers) lying around the rotating magnetic head, p the number of sprockets of the sprocket wheel 213, and k the number of code signals recorded between two perforations. The sprocket 'wheel 213 drives the output carrier 21S-a perforated magnetic tape-which, coming from the supply reel 2116, passes the rollers 217 219 and the recording head 220 and runs to the take-up reel 221 driven by the shaft 222 thru the friction clutch 304 and the transmission 223.
The loop of magnetic tape beginning at the roller 217 passing the roller 218 to the roller 219 is provided as an -auxiliary tape supply Aat the beginning of a number or in- Iformation transfer, when the bearing of the roller 218 slides down the guide 224, loading the spring 225. The supply wheel 216-gradually accelerated by the springstarts to move decreasing the tension of the spring 225 until the roller 218 gets back into the position shown in FIG. 2 ready to supply the tape needed at the beginning of the next number or information transfer.
The output carrier is, for instance, a 16 mm. magnetic tape. 8 tracks are recorded on this tape lying parallel to each other, each 0.03 inch wide.
The first track is recorded near the lower perforation. When completed, the magnetic tape, lying now on the take-up reel 221, is reversed and put on the supply reel 216, whereby the magnetic head gets to the second track near the other perforation. When the second track is completed, both reels are exchanged just as before. The magnetic head, `getting back to the first track, is now moved transversely to the magnetic tape getting into the next of 4 different positions fixed by a. slip pawl, ready for recording the third track.
The automatic number transfer fixed on the frame 305/308` is below the calculator (not shown) and the information transfer 303, both of which are supported by the plate 306'. The plate 306 is interrupted by the cover 307 which can be opened for exchanging the recorder tape.
The information transfer contains a locki-ng device for fixing short strips of magnetic tape and a sprocket wheel driven by the shaft 222 thru a pawl and a ratchet Wheel 309. 'l
'has the advantage that it is simpler and faster.
For erasing errors, a clutch is provided between the sprocket wheel 213 and the shaft 222. After releasing the clutch, the magnetic tape is moved backward, the recording head or another special erasing head erasing the wrong signals. A counter is provided for counting the number of perforations for determining the position of the signals which are to be erased. These details are not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
' FIG. 4 shows another example of guiding and storing the recorder tape.
Differing from FIG. 2, the connections 204 to the register of the calculator are on the other side of the digit carriers and the long springs are replaced by helical springs for coiling the connections to the digit carriers.
The sprocket wheel 404 is driven by the shaft 403 thru the spiral gear 405 the gearing ratio of which is as explained above. The magnetic tape 406 is loosely rolled around the cylinder -407 and limited by the external cylinder 408. Both ends of the tape are glued, making the tape an endless tape which is pulled out of the inside of the roll by the sprocket wheel 409 and pulled back to .the outside of the rotating roll thru an aperture of the cylinder 408.
' When the magnetic tape is moved continuously, as in sound recording, there is no difficulty in obtaining a Vrather constant tension of the tape and a rather constant pressure between the tape and the m-agnetic head. But when moved intermittently, the pressure between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head changesA considerably, even to such a degree that the contact between the tape and the magnetic head may be interrupted.
f Therefore, means are provided for obtaining two different tape zones: a zone where the tension of the tape is nearly constant for recording the code signals of the numbers and the informations and another zone for rolling the tape oif and up.
According to FIG. 4, two sprocket wheels 404 and 409' are provided yfor limiting these zones. The magnetic tape 406 is pulled by the sprocket wheel 409 from the inside of thc roll and by the sprocket wheel 404 thru the record- .ing zone passing the roller 424, the magnetic heads 411 and 412, and running to the outside of -the roll passing the cylinder 413. The roller 424 is pushed by a springtoward .the magnetic tape for maintaining the tape tension needed for recording the code signals. The sprocket wheel 409 is driven by the shaft of the sprocket `wheel 404 thru the transmission 410.
The magnetic heads 411 and `412 are moved transversely to the magnetic tape driven by the shaft 403 thru the worm gear 414, the spur gears 415, 416, 417, and the screw 418. Therefore, Ithe code s-ignals are recorded on a very flat helix consisting of some turns, for instance, 8 turns.
The sprocket Iwheel 420 belonging to the information transfer 421 is driven by the shaft 403 thru the worm gear 422.
There are 2 magnetic heads in FIG. 4: the recording head 411 and the erasing head 412. The distance between the gaps of these magnetic heads is n/k perforations where n is the number of `code signals transferred during one revolution of the pickup head and k the number of code signals recorded between two perforations. A wrong record of a number transferred from the register of the calculator is immediately erased after the erroneous transfer by activating the eraser head when the following number is transferred. Compared with the erasure described in connection with FIG. 3, this erasure It has the disadvantage that the erased section of the track remains unusedand that it is not possible to erase records obtained by transferring informations which, generally are Cit much longer than number records transferred from the registers of thecalculatcr.
If necessary, this insutiiciency is improved by increasing the distance between the gaps of b'oth magnetic heads to q.n/ k where q is an integer. An erroneous number transfer is erased by activating the eraser head once after q-l further transfers. An erroneous information transfer is erased by activating the eraser head according to the length of the wrong record, the maximum of which is the distance between the gaps of both heads.
The following gures show the details of some elements shown in FIGS. 2-4.
FIG. 5 shows a cross section thru the rotating head and the digit carriers, taken along line 5 5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A. The magnetic circuit of this magnetic head contains 2 cores 501 and 502 (not shown) activated by the coils 503 and 504 (not shown), a yoke 505 (not shown) connecting both coils, and a gap inserted into the yoke on the periphery. FIG. 5 shows only the core 501 and the coil'503. The magnetic cores are fixed by holders 506 and 507, which are connected by screws 508. The coils 503 and 504 are connected in series with two rings 509 tixed on the holder 506, insulated from the holder and from each other. The rings 509 are connected to the input of the amplifier thru a sliding contact.
The digit carriers 200 are movably fixed ontwocylindrical surfaces 510 and 511, the diameter of which is a little greater than the diameter of the rotating magnetic head (about 0.005 inch) to avoid direc-t contact between the rotating head and the digit carriers 200, which are pressed by the springs 512 and the little wheels 5.13 toward the cylindrical surfaces. The digit carriers 200 are pulled by the springs 203 into the 0 position. They are positioned by the dials or other elements 'of the register of the calculator to which they are connected by wires 204 guided by rollers S14 and 515, as shown in FIG. 5A which is a cross section taken along line SAL-5A shown in FIG. 5. 'Only 9 digit carriers (including position carriers and other additional carriers) are provided, since 1/2 time signal is provided at the beginning and at the end during the time when the magnetic head is ac'- celerated or retarded.
FIG. 6 shows a device for picking up code signals from short strips of magnetic tape. It is a cross section taken along line 6-6 shown in FIG. 3.
The sprocket Wheel 601 drives the information tape 602 which passes the pick-up head 603. The wheel 604 fixed on the spring 605 presses the tape 602 on the wheel 606 for producing the tension and guiding necessary for getting the right pressure between the magnetic head and the tape.
For transferring an information to the register tape, the information tape is put on the first sprockets just not visible in FIG. 6 and fastened by the lever 607 movable around the shaft 608. The locking device 609 is pro'- vided for keeping the lever in the transfer position shown in FIG. 6.
The magnetic tape 602 presses the little rod 610 down closing the contact 611 which connects the magnet 212 shown in FIG. 2 to a voltage supply. The magnet turns the stopping device 211 counterclockwise, releasing the shaft 209 which drives both the sprocket wheel 601 for moving the information tape and the sprocket wheel 213 for moving the register tape 215. When the end of the information tape passes the rod 610, the spring 612 pushes the rod into the hole 613 opening the contact 61-1 and interrupting the current flowing thru the coil of the magnet 212 with the effect that the stopping device 211 is turned back by a spring stopping the shaft 209 and both the information tape and the recorder tape.
The sam-e stopping effect by the end of the magnetic tape passing the rod 610 is effected by an aperture in the magnetic tape, a cut or a hole, at the end of the information, especially when several informations are recorded one after another on one strip of magnetic tape.
9 For starting the next information transfer, the rod 610 is pulledv down for a short time.
The magnet 212 shown in FIG. 2 shifts an alternating contact connecting, when activated, the input of the amplifier to the magnetic head of the information transfer and disconnecting theA input of the amplifier from the magnetic head picking up the numbers from the register of the calculator.
FIG. 7 shows a ratchet whel 309 and a pawl 700 provided between the shaft 222 and the sprocket wheel 601 for pulling the information tape from the sprocket wheel, when the information is transferred, without moving the register tape. Before locking the lever 607 shown in FIG. 6, the information tape is pulled a little to make sure that the pawl is engaged in a tooth of the ratchet wheel for driving the sprocket wheel immediately when it starts moving.
FIG. 8 shows the friction clutch 208 provided between the motor 205 and the number and information transfer. The ring 801 and the flange ring 802 are fixed on the shaft 209 rotating in the bearing 803. The spur wheel 206v is movably fixed on the ange ring 802 between the flange and the disk 805 interspaced by two felt disks 806. The spring 804 adjustable by the ring 801 pushes the disk 805, the felt disks 806, and the spur wheel 206 toward the flange producing a friction between the felt disks and the spur wheel andthe adjacent metallic disks for driving the rotating magnetic head and the magnetic tapes and all the mechanism by the spur wheel 206. However, when the shaft 209 is stopped by the stopping device 211, the spur wheel 206 is sliding between the felt disks.
FIG. 9 shows the stopping device 211 for starting and stopping the number and information transfer. It is a cross section taken along line 9-9 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 9A is another cross section of the stopping device taken along line 9A-9A shown in FIG. 9.
The small plate 901 Ifixed on the shaft 902 by screws 903 and'pivoted in the bearings 904 and 905 bears two teeth: the tooth 906 fixed on the `plate and another tooth 907 pivoted on a little shaft and movably fixed by the screw 908. The tooth 909 pushes the tooth 907 into the position shown in FIG. 9, where it is fixed by the rod 910.
The plate 901 and the tooth 907 are `getting into this position when an external force as indicated by the arrow 911 moves the plate counterclockwise. When this external force disappears, the spring 912 moves the plate 901 clockwise so that the tooth 906 gets on the path of the tooth 909 which moves a little until it is stopped by the tooth 906. The tooth 907, no more pressed by the tooth 909, is pulled by the spring 913 into the dotted position behind the tooth 909 where it is fixed by the rod 914. That is the starting position of the stopping device.
For transferring a number lfrom the calculator to the output tape, the key 301 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed. This key, connected to the stopping device 211 by the wire 302, moves the plate 901 counterclockwise into the position shown in FIG. 9 with the difference, that the tooth 907 is in the dotted position behind the tooth 909. Therefore,` the shaft 209 makes nearly one revolution until the tooth 909 hits the tooth 907 pushing it into the full lined position, provided that the key 301 is still keyed.
When the key 301 is subsequently released, the plate 901 and the teeth 906 and 907 are moved into the starting position as explained above.
When the key 301 is released before one revolution of the shaft 209 is completed, the tooth 909 is directly stopped by the tooth 906 and maintained in this position, the starting position.
When a tape is put into the information transfer, the plate 901 is turned counterclockwise by the magnet 212, but a little farther than in FIG. 9, so that both teeth 906 and 907 are moved out of the path of the tooth 909. Therefore, the shaft 209 moves continuously until the complete information is transferred from the informationtape to the recorder tape. At this moment, the current activatingY the magnet 212 is interrupted by the contact `611. 'I'he plate 901, released from the external force 911, is turned clockwise by the spring until it gets into the starting position, where the tooth 906 stops the tooth 909.
FIG. 10 shows a `device 'for moving the magnetic head transversely to the recorder tape for recording the code signals on a flat helix. FIG. 10A is a sectional view taken along line 10A--10A shown in FIG. 10.
The recording head 411 and the erasing head 412 are fixed by the screws 1003 and 1004 on the plates 1001 and 1002 which are movably fixed on the guides 1005 and 1006'. These guides are fixed on the frame 423 and the plate 1007 which is fixed on the frame by the bolts 1008. The shaft 418 pivoted in the frame 423 contains a thread at the upper end, said thread gearing into the cylindrical nut 1009 with theliange 1010 for bearing and lifting the plate 1001V sliding along the guides 1005 and 1006. The milled screw 1012 is firmly screwed into the upper end of the nut 1009. There is a groove cut into the outside cylinder of the nut as indicated by a dotted line. The little' bar 1011 is pushed by a spring indicated by an arrow into this `groove for preventing the nut to be turned.
When the shaft 418 rotates, the nut 1009 moves upward sliding along the little bar 1011 and lifting the plate 1001 with the magnetic heads 411 and 412. These magnetic heads, therefore, move transversely to the recorder tape recording the code signals of the numbers and other informations continuously on a helix as explained in connection with FIG. 4.
When the number and information transfer is finally terminated, the little bar 1011 is pulled out of the groove and the nut 1009 screwed by turning the milled head 1012 into the thread of the shaft 418 readjusting the magnetic heads for starting new records.
It will be understood from the foregoing that various modifications and alterations, other than those specifically described and shown, `can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of my invention and within the scope of its essential features set forth in the claims annexed hereto.
What I claim is:
1. In a business machine containing registers which indicate numbers entered by keys or calculated by the business machine, a plurality of identical magnetic digit carriers associated with the registers and movably fastened on parallel paths, each magnetic digit carrier carrying coded markings representing the digits 0, l, 2 9, a first magnetic pick up head movable on a path transverse to the paths of the magnetic digit carriers, means for positioning each magnetic digit carrier so that the coded markings thereon corresponding to a digit indicated by an associated register is positioned on the path of said first magnetic pick up head, driving means for moving the said first magnetic pick up head along said transverse path so that it picks up the information represented by those coded markings on the magnetic digit carriers which are positioned on said transverse path, another magnetic carrier carrying markings representing other information which supplements the information on the magnetic digit carriers, and a second magnetic pick up head positioned so that it picks up information from the said other carrier as it passes the second magnetic pick up head.
2. A device as specified in claim `1 in which the magnetic carriers supplementing the information on the magnetic digit carriers are short strips of perforated magnetic tape, driving means moving said information tapes containing a shaft, a sprocket wheel fixed on the shaft, and a locking device keeping the per-forations of an information tape engaged with the sprockets of the sprocket wheel.
3. A device as specified in claim 2 comprising tensioning means associated with the locking device, said 1 1 tensioning means tensioning the information tape as it passes the second magnetic pick up head.
4 A device as specified in claim 3 comprising a stopping device stopping the first pick up head at the end of its path and the information tape at the end of the information transfer.
5. A device as specified in claim 4 in which the driving means contain a friction clutch, a shaft driven thru the friction clutch, a toothed disk fixed on this shaft, and the stopping device contains a small plate, two teeth, one tooth fixed on the plate, another tooth pivotally mounted on the plate, bearings pivoting the plate orthogonally to said shaft of the driving means, a spring turning the plate so that the movable tooth is positioned into the path of the toothed wheel, and a key turning the plate against the spring so that the fixed tooth is positioned into the path of the toothed wheel.
6. A device as specified in claim 5 comprising a contact and a rod between the contact and the information tape, tensioning means, when strained, pressing the rod thru the information tape on the contact and closing the contact, a magnet and a supply voltage both connected thru the contact, the armature of the magnet turning the plate of the stopping device an angle so that both teeth of the stopping device get out of the path of the toothed wheel.
7. A device as specified in claim l in which the digit carriers are short strips of magnetically coated tape on which code signals of the digits 0, 1, 2 9 are transversely recorded.
8. A device as specified in claim 7 comprising a plurality of springs, each spring loading one of the digit carriers, a plurality of wheels, each wheel positioning one of the digit carriers, each wheel coupled to the corresponding dial of the associated register.
9. A device as specied in claim 8 comprising an additional magnetically coated tape on which are recorded markings representing operating signals for a translator and printer for determining the position of numbers picked up from the digit carriers, `a register wheel connected to said tape for positioning the tape, a plurality of register keys connected to said register wheel for positioning the register wheel, each key moving this Wheel thru an angle corresponding to a particular marking.
l0. A device as specified in claim 9 comprising a shaft on which the first magnetic pick up head is fixed, the gap of the magnetic head on the periphery, cylindrical surfaces concentrically fixed around the shaft, the digit carriers and the other carrier movably fixed on these surfaces, parallel to the shaft.
11. A device as specified in claim 1 comprising an amplifier the input of which is connected to `the coils of the magnetic pick up heads, a power supply supplying the amplifier, a translator connected to the output of the amplifier, and a printer controlled by the translator for printing translated characters on a sheet of paper.
12. A device as specified in claim 1 comprising an amplifier the input of which is connected to the coils of the magnetic pick up heads, a power supply supplying the amplifier, a magnetic recorder head connected to the output of the amplifier, and a magnetic recorder tape 12 movedby the driving means, the 'recorder head recording the code signals of the numbers transferred from the magnetic digit carriers and the information transferred from the other magnetic carrier on said magnetic recorder tape. v
13. A device as specified in claim 12 in which the recorder tape is perforated magnetic tape, comprising a sprocket wheel moved by the driving means, the perforations of the recorder tape engaged with the sprockets of the sprocket wheel.
14. A device as specified in claim 13 comprising an eraser head, the distance between the gaps of the eraser head and the recorder head being adjusted to q.n/k perforations, where q is an integer, n the number ofcode signals transferred from the register of the calculator, and k the number of code signals between two perforations, a key, a switch, and an eraser voltage, the key closing the switch connecting the eraser voltage to the eraser head. i
15. A device as specified in claim 14 comprising two reels for storing the recorder tape and auxiliary tape supply means consisting of three rollers, and a spring, and a guide, the recorder tape running around the rollers yforming a loop, the middle roller guided by the guide and pulled by the spring.
16. A device as specified in claim 1 comprisingan amplifier the input of which is connected to the coils of the magnetic pick up heads, a power supply supplying the amplifier, a magnetic recorder head connected to the output of the amplifier, a perforated magnetic recorder tape, a roll on which the recorder tape is loosely rolled, both ends of the recorder tape connected with each other, guides guiding the recorder tape from the inside of the roll, the recorder tape passing the recorder head, a sprocket wheel moved by the driving means, the perforations of the recorder tape engaged with the sprockets of the sprocket wheel.
17. A device as specified in claim 16 comprising two sprocket wheels, a roller, and a spring, the recorder tape engaged with the roller, the recorder head, and the sprocket wheels, the tape perforations engaging the sprockets on the sprocket wheels, the spring pressing the roller toward the recorder tape for producing the tension needed between the recorder tape and the recorder head.
18. A device as specified in claim 17 comprising a guide guiding the recorder head transversely to the recorder tape, a shaft containing a thread, a nut connected with the recorder head and engaged with the thread, a projection of the nut preventing the nut from turning, a worm gear between the shaft and the driving means.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS Brustman et al. Feb. 15, 1955
US470575A 1954-11-23 1954-11-23 Automatic number transfer from the registers of a calculator Expired - Lifetime US2990114A (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US3214764A (en) * 1963-02-08 1965-10-26 Leeds And Northrop Company Digital-analog recorder system
US3477639A (en) * 1965-10-06 1969-11-11 Svenska Dataregister Ab Apparatus for the checking of multidigit numbers
US3594548A (en) * 1968-06-28 1971-07-20 Olivetti & Co Spa Digital printout device

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US2318591A (en) * 1936-03-27 1943-05-11 Couffignal Pierre Louis Apparatus calling for a material representation of numbers
US2587532A (en) * 1948-05-05 1952-02-26 Teleregister Corp System for magnetic storage of data
US2617704A (en) * 1947-07-15 1952-11-11 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Recording system
US2652196A (en) * 1949-05-20 1953-09-15 Remington Rand Inc Wire recording storage mechanism for bookkeeping machines
US2652554A (en) * 1949-03-01 1953-09-15 Nat Res Dev Magnetic storage system for electronic binary digital computers
US2698875A (en) * 1950-03-24 1955-01-04 Magnecord Inc Plural track magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus
US2702380A (en) * 1953-12-24 1955-02-15 Rca Corp Data translating system

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2318591A (en) * 1936-03-27 1943-05-11 Couffignal Pierre Louis Apparatus calling for a material representation of numbers
US2617704A (en) * 1947-07-15 1952-11-11 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Recording system
US2587532A (en) * 1948-05-05 1952-02-26 Teleregister Corp System for magnetic storage of data
US2652554A (en) * 1949-03-01 1953-09-15 Nat Res Dev Magnetic storage system for electronic binary digital computers
US2652196A (en) * 1949-05-20 1953-09-15 Remington Rand Inc Wire recording storage mechanism for bookkeeping machines
US2698875A (en) * 1950-03-24 1955-01-04 Magnecord Inc Plural track magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus
US2702380A (en) * 1953-12-24 1955-02-15 Rca Corp Data translating system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3214764A (en) * 1963-02-08 1965-10-26 Leeds And Northrop Company Digital-analog recorder system
US3477639A (en) * 1965-10-06 1969-11-11 Svenska Dataregister Ab Apparatus for the checking of multidigit numbers
US3594548A (en) * 1968-06-28 1971-07-20 Olivetti & Co Spa Digital printout device

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