US822584A - Bookkeeping-machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

M, M. (JOHN. BGDKKEBPING MACHINE;

APPLiQATIE fi'L-ED JULYs,19o5,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1;

PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

- M. M. (JOHN. BOGKKEEPING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULYS, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2w may :Lniiiil...

Kath/425595;

PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

M. M. OOHN. BOOKKEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1905.

4 SHEETSSHE ET 3.

luv gate);

ed to the various accounts,

- perspective view of a movable bar.

MAX M. (JOHN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALlFORNL-l.

SQOKKEEPlNG MACHlNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed July 3. 1905. Serial No. 268227.

To (all whom, it may concern:

. it known that I, MAX M. Conn, a citizen oi the United States, residing in the city and coun of San Francisco and State of Caliave invented new and useful Imem its in Bookkeeping-Machines, of

pro v which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for bookkeeping or posting and to a system of accounting, and especially to a machine for and a system of posting items to a ledger-account and keeping the ledger accurately balanced at all times. i

Under present methods an immense amount of laber. is entailed on the otlice force of large .business houses to keep the various items of sales and cash receipts properlypostand a still greater effort is necessary at the end of each month to get a correct balance, commonly known as the trial'balance. The object of the present invention is to provide a time and labor saving means which does away with copying or writing by hand the amount of sales, credit memoranda, and cash items into a ledger-account, and to provide a means for keeping the books always accurately balanced.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and. claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is afro nt elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the sprocket. Fig. 4

is a sectional View of three bars, showing the overlapping of the ledger-sheets. Fig. 5 is a Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a removable bar or clamping-bar. Fig. 7 shows a modification of that shown inFig. 1. Fig. Sis a view looking from-the left of the drum shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents the sheet of a loose-leaf ledger. Fig. 10 representsthe sheet of the guide-strip. i

In Fig. 1-, which illustrates the form otm'achine. preferred where there are several hundred accounts to be changed, A is a frame of suitable size and design in which are suitably journaled a plurality of pairs of sprocketwheels 2. The sprockets. are shown as journaled on arbors, leaving the space between the sprockets on thetwo sides within the frame entirely 0 en, so as not to interfere with the ledger-s eets, which are adapted to The slats of the carrier are be carried on suitable conveying means ing over the sprockets.

The conveying means for the ledger-sheets, bills, statements, or the like to be printed on consists of alternating-long and short bars or slats 3 4. The slots are perforated near their ends and are connected in endless carrier fashion by means of the endless wire cables .3, passing through the perforations in the be i A bar or slat 6 is made fast to the cable. e and forms a starting-point on the carrier, and all the other bars or slats 3 4 are slidable on the cables in relation to the bar or slat When all the bars 3 4 are pushed around and pressed against one side of the bar 6 and are in close contact with each other, there will be a space of one or two inches, more or less, between the other side of the bar 6 and the last of the series of bars 3 01 l. This space (rep resented at 7) is for the purpose of allowing independent movement of any of the movable barsB 4 to enable the sheets to be put into or taken out of the machine, as will be describe 1 shortly.

The teeth of the sprockets 2' are peculiar, in that they are partly cut away to form outside iianges 8, against which flanges shorter bars or slats l abut and between which flanges or teeth the long bars or slats engage. The purpose Ofcutting the to. this fashion is to accommodate the llui'S, which must-lie side by side, and to provide suitable guide means against any pos. lo

pass

1 tne longitudinal movement of these carrier bars or slats.

It will be observed that by using long and short bars or slats 3 4 and cutting the teeth on the sprockets in the manner shown the bars can lie close to one another, working with tachment of an adding-machine, as C, with which my machine is adapted to be used. supported be tween the sprockets on suitable guides c on the frame A. Each side'ot each bar iscct out, as at 8, between the, ends of the b; equal approximately to the length and thickness of the sheet which is to ,be posted onto.- These recesses or depressions on the sides of a bar correspond substantially in length to the length of the sheet tobe inserted, and their object is to allow the bars always to'be shoved up'snug against one another irrespective of 1 this opening is moved the number of sheets that may be on the carrier. were not provided, the distance of any par- 5 ticular movable bar from the bar 6' would vary according to the number of sheets of paper included between said movable bar and the fixed bar. Thus if there were two hundred sheets of paper inserted between the ro fixed bar and the succeeding two hundred movable bars or slats, and if the ag regated thickness of these sheets amounted to one inch, then the two hundredth movable bar or slat would be one inch farther removed from the fixed bar or slat than if there we're no sheets between said two hundredth bar and the fixed'bar. With my arrangement, however, with all-the bars shoved up against one another and against the fixed bar the distance of the said two hundredth bar from the fixed bar remains always the same.

The bars 3 {i are all of uniform width-'say about a quarter of an inch,and equal to the distance between the lines of a sheet to be posted to.

of any suitable material, either wood or metal or celluloid or the like, and preferably provided with a suitable resilient surface of rubber or other material suitable for type- 0 face to impinge unon.

9 and 10 represent two metal strips or guides, which are fixed to the frame A and extend all around the carrier and project over and cover the opposite ends of the bars.

5 At some suitable point between the different pairs of sprockets, and preferably at the front of the machine, as shown, these guides 9 10 are cut away to provide a suitable opening for the insertion of the sheets, which latter at all points in their travel except across this opening are adapted to be engaged at their ends by the guides 9 l0 and held in place thereby.

B represents the sheet of a loose-leaf ledger, such as in common use, and having 'lines spaced from each other in exact correspondence with the width of the bars 3 4. If desired, the sheet B may be creased on these lines so as to be easily folded fiat over any movable bar and be clamped between the two adjacent bars when the three bars are shoved up into contact with each other. By having a sheet creased, as at b, the insertion of the sheets over and'between the barsis materially facilitated, besides assisting in securing uniformity in the arrangement of the matter and figures designed to be type written on the sheet.

To insert the sheets into the machine, the

carrier is turned to bring the fixedbar 6 into the ,open space '7 between the ends of the guides 9 10. Theseries of movable bars 3 4 having been suitably separated from one side of the fixed bar 6, as indicated by the opening 7, the bar 3 or 4 on the other side of If some such means as the recesses 8- der the spring ends sheet after sheet is folded -over a 'bar, and the-bars move upone be- The various bars or slats may the they just overlap art way across the opening, so that a fol ed sheet B can be made to straddle this bar. This barwith its sheet is moved up against the bar 6 and the carrier turned-by hand to move the ends of the bar and-the outer edges ofthe sheet uner the guides 9 10. A succeeding movable I bar is then advanced into the open space and a sheet folded over it .and moved up against the first bar and its sheet and yi mder the guides 9 10.1 Thus or bent and laid hind the other until all the sheets representing all the accounts in the ledger to be;

changed at that time are inserted. The inclosed space 7 then remainingbetween-tht bars is closed by means of a series of removable bars 12, which have" the notches 13, allowing these blank spacer-bars to be hooked 8 5 over the cables 5. If the space 7 is two' inches in width, and the uniform widthof all the bars is a quarter of an inch, there would be eight of these spacer-bars insertedinto the space 7, serving to keep all, the bars 96 pressed tightly against each other and against the fixed bar 6. The guide-straps 9 10 are so arranged that the narrow exposed stripsof the sheets and prevent the sheets falling out from between the clam -bars 3 4 and also serve the same function in regard to the spacing-strips 12.- When all the sheets are clamped in the frame, there is only an amount of each sheet showing that corresponds to 0b the width of a clamp-bar and to the space between the guides 9 10. Having thus provided suitable means for holding a number of sheets and for simultaneously ex osi'ng a limited portion only of each sheet, am able 1o 5 by means of suitable connections with an adding-machine to post directly and mechanically to each sheet the entry whichheretofore has generally been carried for ward into the ledger by laboriously Writing no in by hand.

In the resent instance and for conven- -ience of 11 ustration I have shown my apparatus used in conjunction with a Burrou hs adding-machine; but it is obvious that ot er 1 r 5 machines are applicable in the same combination. Y

C represents an adding-machine having the usual type mechanism'c, which is adapted to be projected outward on the actuation of the 1 2'0 lever 14 to the left to print upon a strip of paper held in suitable relation to the type. 1' simply remove the paper-holding roller and carriage of the ordinary Burroughs machine,

and instead of printing onto a se arate strip 12 5 of paper I rint directly onto-the s eets whion are carrie by the clamp-bars 3 4.

The adding-machine lsmounted on a car riage 15, Which is provided with rollers 16, running in grooves which extend transversely 1 o of the base a of the frame This bas ever the lever 14 on the adding-machine is are so arranged and assembled that a clampwith the type-face of the printin mechantype outward and make retracted,

enough wider than the macline'for hol the sheets to permit the adding-machine to be moved clear to one side, so as to expose a l the printed matter on the exposed portion of the sheets on the carrierand allow the sheets to be easily placed on or taken oh of the carrier. A feather-shaft 17 is supported on the base in suitable relation to the carrier mech anism and to the adding-machine and carries a ratchet 18, which is siidable thereon and turnable'therewith. This ratchet is supported in the crotch of a forked lever 19, which is fulcrumed on the shaft 17 and slidable on the shaft, but turnable independently of the shaft. This lever 19 carries a pawl 20, adapted to engage with the ratchet to turn it and the shaft 17 when the lever 19 is moved in one oirection and to ride free over the ratchet when the lever swings in the other direction. This lever 19 is made to move back and forth with the adding-machine C and to have its outer end always disposed in the path of a cam 21 on the operating-lever 14 of theadding-machine. 1 his movement of the lever with the adding-machine is insured by means of a curved bracket 22, secured to the addin -machine and embracing the lever without interfering with its oscillating movement.

One end of the shaft 17, and preferably that end toward which the adding-machine is moved when it is desired to get at the carrier, is provided with a pinion 23, engaging a large gear 24 on the shaft of one of the sprock ets 2. Hence it will be observed that whenthrown forward to cause the cam 21 to rock the lever 19 the ratchet 18 will move one step, turning the shaft 1? and operating through the gears 23 24 to advance the carrier one bar-space. It is understood that the parts bar will always be brought at each actuation of the lever 19 into exact and proper relation ism c.

In making an entry, assuming the addingmachinet'o be moved so as to bring the typeface opposite the proper place where it is desired to print upon the sheets, the appropriate keys 25 on the adding-machine are depressed. Pulling the lever 14 to the left operates in the usual manner, not necessary 1 here to be shown or described, to throw the the proper imprint on the particular sheet on the particular bar which at that moment happens to be in the ath of the t "pe. Throwing the lever 14 ack to normafposition, which is the position indicated in Fig. 1, the printing devices are which will permit the carrier to move. Before, however, depressing the keys 25;-f0r the next entry the levee 14 is rocked forward or to the right, tocause the cam 21 to depress the lever 19 and advance e carrier one bar-space and bring the the printoe whereupon the next ent y may depressing the appropriam keys the lever 14 to the left, and so on th whole series. in order to afford some sort of a guide for A ator that he may know 1 1st which particular sheet or bar is being printed on at particular time, I have numbered the bars in. a certain systematic manner which will permit him, by looking at a slot 26 in a idestrip 9, to determine just which. bar is the path of the printing devices. For this purpose all the movable bars at one end are numbered consecutively from one side of the fixed bar 8 around toward the other side of this iixr-d bar. These numbers appear through the slot 26. The slot 26 is disposed at a known distance from the line of type, which may be said to be six inches,'measured around on the curve of the carrier. Hence if all the clamp-bars are one-quarter of an inch thick there would intervene twenty-four bars between the slot 26 and the printing devices. Consequently the twenty-fourth bar from the slot would always be the bar which. carries the sheet immediately opposite the printing devices.- Starting with number 1, showing through the slot 26, the twenty-fourth barlrom this slot, measured in the correct direction, would be numbered 1 These latter numbers would be placed on the ends of the bars opposite to or to the right of those numbers which appear in the slots 26, and the said latter numbers would run consecutively, so that whatever number appears in slot 26, it would be known that a bar beariiig exactly the same number is directly opposite to the printing devices.

in the practical ap lication of my invention I proceed as fol ows: The various entries are listed on a regular adding-machine in the usual fashion on narrow slips of paper, such as shown at D. There is a list for sales, a list for cash credits, randa, a list for journal entries, and a list for any kind of pntries that are to be transferred or posted into the ledger or other permanent record. if desired, these sales may be made on strips of different colored paper to assist in the ready recognition of the several entries.

These lists are verified and must be absolutely correct. They should be made on strips that'are consecutively numbered correspondingly with the numbers on the bars of the clam ing-machine. If desired, the

numbers can be placed on the sli s with the' aid of a numbering-machine. lifter these slips are prepared the ledger sheets or cards that are to be posted are taken from their binders or files and dated and numbered with a combined dating and numbering machine, which also prints the classes of entries, (as

M. for merchandise, C. for cash, &c.) The number on these ledger-sheets correspond LII ' prepared list is also of this sheet appears same way around the opening space 7 with the numbers appearing on the strip D oppositethe amount to ticul'ar account. I

W hen the led er-sheets have been dated and numbered, t iey are placed in numerical order in the bookkeeping-machine, and the l laced in the machine with oneiend clamped etween two of the bars '3 or 4, andunder the guide-strip 9 and with l number-PT on the list corresponding with left of the machine viewable through the slot 26. The ledger-sheets, however, are placed in the machine in consecutive order corres onding with the numbers on the right of t e machine. While the numbers on the two ends of the bars run the number 1 at the hers on the opposite ends of any one'bar will f differ from each other, as we have seen, by

just the numbers of bars that there are between slots 26 and the printing device. The list D when inserted into the machine s aces on the list. so correspond with the s ats on the carrier that the movement of the travels under the guide 9, and the number of new ledger-sheet n front of the printingwheel, a number corresponding to the number through the slot 26. The slot 26 is also of such shape and sizethat the'amount which is ,to be transferred onto the ledger-sheet appears through this slot. All that is then necessary for the operator to do is'to' depress the proper keys and pull the lever, which will print the amount to be posted on theproper sheet. Pushing the lever in the opplosite-direction advances the carrier and t e guide-slip D, bringing the next sheet into correct position with the printingwheel of the adding-machine and exposing the succeeding number and amount in the slot 26, which isin plain view of the operator. The same operation is repeated until the entire list is posted and the total is shown in the slot. The total-key is then depressed on the adding-machine and the amount printed on a total or balance sheet carried by the carrier and which may be kept in the back of thc ledger. After all the sheets have been properly posted the adding-machine is moved to one side and the bar 6 brought into between the ends of the guides 9 10. The spacer-bars are removed and the sheets are then taken out one ata time, beginning with the sheet which was inserted last into the machine. This process of taking out the sheets brings the slats 3 4 into be posted to that parthe carrier, the two numcarrier each timeit is advanced to bring a '1 their original position relative to the bar 6 and with the opening 7 on the same side of l the bar 6, so that the movable bar which is just across this opening nearest to bar 6 will be numbered 1 at its rightend.

W here a great many accounts are handled, it is preferable to group them, using a total or be ance sheet after each group, so that a separate balance or total may bekept foreach grou In case accounts are kept in alphabet-ica order a total or balance sheet may be used after each letter and proved up separately in the manner above described.

Where accounts are ke t in geographical arrangement, a total or ba ance sheet may be used after each town, country', or State, as may be required. v

This system insures absolute accuracy,

reatly reduces the amount of labor in an ofce, and allows the ofiicework to be kept up to date.

Where the ledger-sheets are ruled into separate entry-columns, (indicated at' 27,) tue base a may have a series of corresponding graduatio'ns' 28', and the adding-machine may be provided with a pointer 29.. The pointer 29 and the 'graduations'28 would serve to indicate to the -o erator when he has moved his adding-machine into .proper juxtaposition with a particular column in which the entries are to be made on the ledger-sheet.

my method of bookkeeping the acthere being a chance of an error in the original entry, as well as a chance for an error in transferring the original entry to the ledger. This doubt is now eliminated.

This system can be used in all operations requiring the transfer of original entries to permanent or classified records, embraces all posting, such as charges, credit memoranda, cash entries, stock-records, and the like.

The machine. can also be used for making out bills and statements.

In Fig. 7 I have shown my invention which is adapted more particularly for use where there are only a limited number of changes each day to be made. In this case I use the same idea of an endless carrier with clamp-bars, in combination with an adding-machine but instead of a flexible carrier passing over sprocket-wheels I em ploy a cylinder, as A, mounted to revolve upon a suitable support and arranged in proper relation to a shiftable adding-machine C.

The cylinder is composed of two heads having annular flanges 30 on their inner sides, on which the clampbars 3i are slidable in relation to a bar 6. which is made fast to a modification of r held into position a mechanism similar to that described in connection with Fig. 1.

It is possible that various modifications in my invention may be made without departing from the principle therefor and I do not wish to be understood'as llmitmg'myself to the specific construction as hereinshdwn and for independently holding andexposing a:

olurality of detached sheets in operative relation to said printing. device, one of said parts movable in relation to the other, and said part-s arranged and'operatable to the imprinting of the sheets while on t rier means. v

'2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with the printing 'device'of an adding machine, of a holder for holding a series of detached sheets in operative relation to the printing device on the adding-machine to permit the imprinting on said sheets without removing the sheets from the holder, and means for presenting said sheets successively to the printing device. 7

3. In apparatus of the character described,

e Cal I the combination with the printing device of an adding-machine, of a movable holder for holding a series of detached sheets 1n operative relation to said printing device, said holder arranged to present the sheets to the printing device to permit their mprinting without removal from the holder, and connections between the holderand adding-machine I to operate the holder-coordinately with the printing device.

4. The combination with a suitable print- .ing device of an adding-machine of an endless carrier having means for supportinga plurality of sheets, and for giving motion to the carrier to bring said sheets successively into operative relation with said type-writ,

mg mechanism, said carrier arranged to present the sheets directly to the type-writing mechanism to permit their imprinting without disturbing their position on the carrier:

5. The combination with a printing device of an addingmachine, ofa slotted carrier having suitable clamp means to hold-a plurality of sheets, and-connections between the type-writing mechanism and the carrier to I operate the carrier coordinately with the type-writing mechanism, said carrier arranged to present the sheets directly to the type-writing mechanism to permit their imprinting without disturbing their position on the carrier.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a slotted endless'carrier having means for holding a folded sheet of paper with the ends of the sheet projecting Within the carrier, and

sheet while permit operative relation with the means for printing on the folded part of a the latter remains on the carrier. "7. In apparatus of the character described, a slotted endless carrier having means for holding a folded sheet of paper with the ends of the sheet projecting Within the carrier, and with the fold of the sheet exposed, means for giving the carrier a stepby-step movement, and means for printing on the'exposed part of-the sheet while it is still on the carrier.

8.; In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a slatted endless carrier, said carrier providedwithmeans for holding a folded sheet of paper with its ends between the slats and projecting into the carrier, said slats [forming supports for the folds of the sheets.

9. In apparatus of the character described, an endless carrier having a series of movable slats between which thefolded sheets of pa per are adapted to be clamped, and means cooperating with said slats to hold the sheets in position.

10. In apparatus of the character described, an endless carrier having a series of movable slats between which the folded sheets of paper areiadapted to be clamped, means cooperating with said slats to hold the sheets in position, and printing mechanism associated with said carrier. Y

p 11. In apparatus of the character described, a paper-carrier including a plurality of bars over which sheets are adapted to be bent, means for holding the sheets between the bars, means for giving the holder a stepby-step movement, and printing mechanism associated with the holder.

v12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an endless carrier having a fixed bar and a series of other bars movable in relation to said fixed bar, said several movable bars adapted to hold each a separatesheet of paper, a printing at tachment, and means for operating said car rier synchronously with the operation of the printing attachment to present the sheets carried by said bars successively to said printing attachment.

13. The combination with the printing attachment of an adding-1nachine of an endless carrier having means for holding a plurality of detached sheets, means for operating said carrier to bring the sheets successively into printing attachment on the adding-machine, a movable carriage for the latter, said carrier arranged 'to present the sheets to the printing attachment to permit their imprinting without disturbing their position on the carrier.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with the printing device and the operating-crank of an addingmachine, of a carrier having means for holding a plurality of sheets, connections between said crank and said carrier to operate the ing a plurality of sheets, 'andconne'ctions be- I tween said crank and said carrier to o 'erate the latter, said 'last-namedjineans inc nding apawl-and-ratchet mechanism," a lever to op-- erate the ratchet and a camonsaid' crank to engage said lever.

16. In apparatus of the character described, an endless carrier having a plurality of transversely-movable slat member's, means permittingthe emplacement of sheets-of paper over and between said slat members, and

means for holding said sheets in'position.

17. In apparatus of the. character described, an endles's carrier having a plurality of transversely-movableslat members, means permitting the emplacement of sheets of paper over and between said slat members,

means for holding said sheets in position, and

a printing device associated with said' carrier. i

. 18. In apparatus of the character deof transversely-movable slat rnembers,'means permitting the emplacement of sheets of paper over and between said slat members,

' means for holding said she'ets in position, a 'printingdevice associatedwith said carrier, a crank to operate the-printing device, and

4 nation of a carrier having a series of movable slats over and between which sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and held, means for holding the bended sheets on the slats, and means forl moving the carrier. v 20. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of an endless carrier having a series 0 movable slats over and between which the sheets'of paper are adapted to be bent and held, means for holding the bended sheets on the slats, means for moving'the carrier an mechanism for rinting upon said bended -sheets while on t e carrier. j 21. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combif nation of a frame, sprocketsjournaled there- 'ng a series of flexibly in, a carrier compri conjoined independently adjustable slats passing around said sprockets, each slat adapted to have a sheet of paper or the like bent over it and to clamp'the sheet between it and the twocontiguous slats.

22. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of a frame, Sprockets journaled therea series of flexibly-- in, a carrier compr sing conjoined independently-ad ustable slats passing around said sprockets, each slat and means for moving extending nearly around the carrier and outscribed, 'an'endlesscarrier having a plurality connections between the crank and carrier to ranged, fittnigbetween the teeth of the sprockets and r 50 adapted to have a sheet of paper or the likebent over it and to clamp the sheet between it and the two contiguous slats, and means 7 for printing on the sheets carried by the slats.

23. Ina bookkeeping-machine the combination of-a frame, sprockets journaled therein, a carrier comprising a series of flexiblyconjoined independently-adjustable slats passing around said sprockets, each slat adapted tohave a sheet of paper or the like bent over it and to clamp the sheet between it and the two contiguous slats, means for printing on the sheets carried by the slats, the carrier coordinately with the operation of the printing mechanism. 24. In a bookkeeping-machine the combination of a frame, sprockets journaled therein, a carrier comprising a series of flexiblyconjoined independently.- adjustable slats 85 passing around said sprockets, each slat adapted to have alsheet of paper or the like bent over it and to clamp the sheet between it and the two contiguous slats, guide-strips side of and contiguous to the slats and operating to prevent the sheets falling out frombetween the slats.

2 5. In a bookkeeping-machine the combi nation of a frame, sprockets journaled there- '95 in, a carrier comprising a series of flexibly-- conjoined independently adjustable slats passing around said sprockets, each slat adapted to have a sheetofpaper or the. like bent over it and to clamp the-sheet between it and the two contiguous'sl'ats, guide-strips extending nearly around the'carrier and outside of and contiguous to the'sla and operating to prevent the sheets falling out frombetween the slats, and a printing attachment in conjunction with said bookkeeping-ma chine. l I

26. In a bookkeeping-machine the combi nation of a frame, sprockets journaled therein, a carrier comprising a series of flexibly- 11o conjoined independently adjustable slats passing around said sprockets, each slat adapted to have a sheet of paper onthe like bent over it and to; clamp the sheet between it and the two contiguous slats, guide-strips n 5 extending nearly around the carrier and outside of. and contiguous to the slats and operating to prevent the sheetfalling out from between the slats, a printing'attachment in 1 conjunction with said bookkeeping-machine, 1 2e andindi'c ator means on the slats representing the particular slatwhich may be opposite. in the printing attachment.

'27. -A bookkeeping-machine, the combination. j f'a frame, sprockets carried thereby, 1 2 5 an endless carrier passing over said sprockets and comprising a seriesof flexibly-conjoined, independently .adjustable, alternately arlong and short slats, said long slats said teeth forming end abutments for the short slats.

28. In a bookkeeping system, an endless carrier having a series 'of fiexiblyconjoined, independently-adjustable slats over and be tween which sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and held, uides extending around the carrier and partly over it, and cooperating with the slats to hold the sheets in position.

29. In a bookkeeping system, an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined, independentlyadjustable slats over and between which sheetsof paper are adapted to be bent and held, guides extending around the carrier and partly over it, and cooperating with the slats to tion, and a printing device associated with the carrier.

30. In a bookkeeping system, an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined, indepen'dently-adjustable slats over and between which sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and held, guides extending around the carrier and partly over it and cooperating with the slats to hold the sheets in position, and a printing deviee'associated with the car'- rier, said slats having indicating means cooperating with means provided by one of' said uides to indicate to the operator the particuar slat opposed to said printing device.

31. In a bookkeeping system, an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined, independently-adjustable slats over and between which sheets of paper are adapted'to be bent and held, guides extending around the carrier and partly over it and cooperating with the slats to hold the sheets in position, a

printing device associated with the carrier,

said slats having indicating means cooperating with means provided by one of said guides to indicate to the operator the particular slat erating with means provided by one of said guides to indicate to the operator the particular slat opposed to said printing device, said ind ic ating means including consecutive numbering on each end of said slats, and a flexible strip or tape carried by the carrier and having consecutive numbering corresponding to the numbering on the slats.

In a bookkeeping-macliine, the combihold the sheets in posi-' o posed to said printing device, and a fiexil) nation of an endless carrier having a series of fleXiblv-conjoined movableslats over cert sin of which slats sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and the ends to be received between adjacent slats, and means cooperating with said slats to hold the sheets in position.

34. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined movable slats over certain of which slats sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and the ends to be received between adjacent slats, means cooperating with said slats tohold the sheets in position, and printing means associated with said carrier means.

35. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined movable slats over certain of which sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and the ends to be received between ad j acent slats, means cooperating with said slatslin hnld the sheets in position, said lastnamed means including guide-strips partly surroundin the carrier.

36. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of an endless carrier having aseries of fiexibly-conjoined movable slats over certain of which-sheets of paper are adapted to be ent and the ends to be received between adjacent slats, means cooperating with said slats to holdthe sheets in position, said lastnamed means including guide-strips partly surrounding the carrier, operating means associatcd with the carrier and indicator means on the slats to indicate to the operator the particular slat which may be inoperative position with the printing means.

37. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined movable slats over certain of which sheets of paper are adapted to be bent and the ends to be received between adj acent slats, means cooperating with said slats to hold the sheets in position, said lastnamed means including guide-strips partly surrounding the carrier, operating means associated with the carrier and indicator means on the slats to indicate to the operator the ios particular slat which may be in operative position with the printing means, said indicator means including related notationon opposite ends of the slats, and said guide-strips relative to the notation on one end of said slats.

I 38. In a bookkeeping system, the combination of an endless carrier having a series of flexibly-conjoined movableslats over certain of which sheets of paper are adaptcd to be bent and the ends to be received between adjacent slats, means cooperating with said slats to hold the sheets in position, said lastnamed means including gi1ide-stri ')s partly surrounding the carrier, operating means associated with the ca rrior and indicator means on the slats to indicate to the operator the guide means on one of I pendently-adjustableslats,

particul .1 r slat which may be in operative position :with the printing means, said indicator means including related notation on opposite ends ofthe slats, guide means on one 0 said guidestrips relative to the notation on one end of said slats, and a flexible strip or tape carried by the I corresponding to the last-mentioned notation on the slats.

39. In a bookkeeping system, a machine having means for holding a series of sheets of paper and for exposing a limited portion only of each sheet, a type-writing machine juxtaposed to the sheet-holding means and suit ably arranged to print on said sheets, means for operating the sheet-holding means coordinately with operation of the type-writing machine to'bring the sheets successively into operative relation with the type-writing means.

40'. In a bookkeeping system, a machine having means for holding a series of sheets of paper and for exposing a limited portion only of each sheet, a type-writing machine juxtaposed to the sheet-holding means and suitably arranged to print on said sheets, means for. operating the sheet-holding means coordinately with operation of the type-writing machine to bring the sheets successively into operative relation with the type-writing means, and means to indicate to the operator the particular sheet which may happen to be in such operative position. i 41.. In a bookkeeping-machine, the combination of an endless carrier having a series-of flexibly-conjoined, independently-adjustablc slats, guide-strips embracing the carrier and out of contact'with or in very light contact with the slats, said slats having a double series of related notation, and one of said guidestrips having a slot through which one series of said notation is viewable. 42. In a bookkeeping system, the combination of a frame, an endless carrier thereon having a series of flexibly-conjoined, indea printing device mounted for reciprocation on said frame and transverse to the direction of movement of the carrier, and connections between the printing device and the carrier to move the carrier and having notation latter coordinately with the operation of the printing device. 7

43. In a bookkeeping system, the combination of a frame, an endless'carrier comprising flexibly conjoined, independently ad- .justable slats, an adding-machine or equlvalent printing device mounted for reciprocation on said frame transverse to the direction of movement of the carrier, crank on the adding or printing machine, and means connected with the carrier and operated by the crank to move the carrier step by step. v

44. In .a'bookkeeping system, the-combination of a frame, an endless carrier comprising' flexibly conjoined, independently adjustable slats, an'adding-machine. or equivalent printing device mounted for reciprocation on said frame transverse to the direction of movement of the carrier, an operating an operatingcrank on the adding or printing machine, and

means connected with the carrier and oper' ated by the crank to move the carrier step by step, said last-named means including a feathershaft, a ratchet slidable on and turn able with the shaft, a lever fulcrumed on the shaft and slidable with the ratchet, a pawl carried by the lever, ano a support on the adding-machine for the lever.

45. In a bookkeeping system, the combination of a frame, an endless carrier comprising flexibly-conjoined, independently-adjustable slats, an adding-machine or equiva- Y lent printing device mounted for reciprocation on said frame transverse to the direction of movement of the carrier, an operatingcrank on the adding or printing machine,-

means connected with the carrierand oper ated by the crank to move the carrier step by step, and indicator means ing mechanism, said indicator means includ-' ing a flexible conse'c utively-numbered' strip D. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set C. W. VIGKREY,

I IIENRY SINGER.

to indicate to the operator which slat is opposite the imprint-.

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