US1791953A - Translating device for accounting machines - Google Patents

Description

J. w. BRYCE 1,791,953

TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES lFeb. 1o, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.`

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Feb. l0, 1931. J. w. BRYCE 1,791,953

TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 192'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v MZ. Y

987654-3ZIO l zik@ S31/wanton Feb. 10, 1931. J. w; BRYCEI;l 1391353 TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR ).cQoUNTING MACHINES Filed'sept. 28"192'7- 5 sheets-smet s Feb. 10, 1931. I J, w, BRYCE 1,791,953

TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 vwemtoz tome/1g 10, l J. W. BRYCE TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES W. IBRYCE, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE TABULATING MA.- CHINE COMPANY, 0F ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Application led September 28, 1927. Serial No. 222,467.

The present invention is concerned particularly with an improved translator mechanism for use in connection witha tabulator controlled by record cards on which characters may be represented by perforations which control machine operation by initiating a single current impulse, timed in accordance with the positions of the perforations on the card to differentially control adding or printing mechanism. The characters usually represented on these cards consist of numerical data and the differential operation of the adding mechanism results in adding or subtracting the data represented on successive cards.

It is frequently desirable to control machine operation in such a way that the character manifested by the adding or printing mechanism is not identical with that represented on the controlling record but bears a logical or arbitrary relationship to it. The presentinvention contemplates an improved mechanism for effecting such a translation. One of the most frequent translations desired in machines of this type is from an actual number to a complement of it. Thus in mechanical subtraction actual numbers `which represent minus quantities or debits are often entered on the controlling records or on a controlling key board in their true value and mechanically translated into their complements for entry into the adding mechanism. The result on the accumulators in actual figures then represents al difference between numbers although the specific operation is an adding one. This form of mechanical subtraction in the decimal system requires a figure in the units column to be translated to its ten or true complement and all figures in columns to the left of the units column to be translated int'o their nine complements. The present invention further contemplates a direct translation of the figure in the units column into its ten complement thereby obviating the` necessity of complementing it to nine and thereafter adding one to obtain the true complement as has generally been done formerly.

It has previously been suggested to translate data for operating record controlled machines by entering the data from record cards into the translating mechanism during one portion of a card cycle and reading it out in its translated form during a subsequent portion of the same cycle. This results in machine cycles of unusual length and it is necessary to modify the card feed or card structure in some manner so that the active entering field of each card cooperates with the analyzing mechanism only after the data picked from the previous card has been completely translated and entered into the accumulating and printing mechanisms. According to the present invention it is proposed to translate the data without lengthening the machine cycles. This isv accomplished by providing for an overlappingv relationship between the reading-in and reading-out operations. Preferably the data is picked from a card and entered into the translating mechanism during one card cycle and the translated data read out of the translating mechanism and entered into the accumulating and printing mechanisms during the subsequent cycle, while data is being picked from the following card and entered into the translating mechanism for translation. The machine cycles may thus remain exactly as they were before the translating mechanism was applied.

The prior translating mechanisms have generally consisted of stationary commutators with movable brushes and selector switches magnetically controlled from the analyzing mechanism of the machine to energize certain conducting portions on the commutators vin accordance with the different characters on the controlling records.V The arrangement of the conducting portions is such that a controlling circuit is closed by 'the movable brushes at such a time or in suc relation that the character effecting the set-u may be manifested in the desired translate form. This results ina complicated..

* spots on the commutator surface. By a judivalue.

which complements and true numbers are to clous arrangement of s ots on the commutator circuit a great num er of character combinations may obviously be obtained with a limited number of brushes. A further simpliiication of structure results from the fact that the shiftable brushes in themselves per-v form the functions of both the selector switches and the commutator brushes in the prior forms.

The invention will be described for the purpose of illustration in connection with a subtracting tabulator controlled by Hollerith cards although it is to be understood that the inherent features of the translator itself and its particular cooperation with a tabulating machine make it adaptable to 4many and varied uses. The preferred form, however, comprises a tabulator through which controlling cards of the Hollerith typel are passed successively, one each machine cycle, and from which the numerical data-thereon is picked by the analyzing mechanism and entered into the accumulating mechanism for addition. In order to fully explain the operation of the device a subtracting tabulator of the general ty e disclosed in my cepending application 5P 1, 1926, has been selected for illustration. This machine is provided with upper and lower brushes spaced from each other so that the upper brushes analyze a card during one machine cycle and the lower brushes analyze the same card exactly one machine cycle later. Both debit and credit amounts are entered on the cards in their true value and cards of one class, for example debit cards, are provided with a distinguishing perforation which, through the analyzing mechanism, serves to modify machine operation to conform to this type of card. The machine is provided with two banks of adding units. The number on each card is entered from the upper brushes into the translating mechamsm and during the following machine cycle read out of the translating mechanism as a complement into one accumulator bank.

vDuring this latter cycle the number is read `off the card by the lower brushes and entered into the other accumulating bank in its true The selection between the banks into be entered is effected by the presence or absence of the distinguishing perforation.

erial No. 119,803 filed July vthe commutator.

is,-a'credit card will enter a true number intoone accumulatorand its complement into the other' while adebit card will enter its complement into the one accumulator 'and its true value into the other. This addition of trueffnumbers and complements in the two banks *of` accumulators resultsin the manifestation ofthe positive difference between the.v two types of items as a true number on one bank and the negative difference between thev same items as a complement on the other. The particular bank on which the true positive difference occurs depends on which type of items predominate, that is, if debit items predominate in aggregate value the true debit balance is found on one bank and if credit items predominate in aggregate value the true creditbalance is found on the other bank.

The true positive balance can be 'recognized' by the presence of zeros on the counter elements to the left of the first significant figure, the complement of the negative balance being indicated by the presence of nines on the counter elements to the left of the first significant iigure. The machine thus indicates the true difference between two sets of figures and indicates whether the difference represents a debit or a credit balance.

. Such a machine operating with uninterrupted card feedy requires a translation of data from each card and the data is entered into the translator during one machine cycle and read out of it in its transposed meaning during the following machine cycle. During this followingr cycle the data from the following card is being read into the translator. The preferred form of the invention contemplates a single reading in or entry receiving device for each card column which receives items from every card anda pair of reading out devices for each card column which are operative on. alternate cards. Both the reading-in and -reading-outdevices consist of commutators provided with conducting spots embedded in insulation and coacting with brushes to close controlling circuits in combination and at proper times to read in the values from the cards and read out the translated or complementary values.

The reading-in and reading-out commutators are rotated synchronously with the card feed and with a 2 to 1 ratio so that each commutator makes one revolution for every two card cycles. The reading-in commutator lis provided with two sets of brushes diametrically opposite each other, each consisting of four aligned brushes and coacting with a common set of conducting spots in four rows disposed within one half the periphery of The reading-out commutators for convenience, have been divided into four, each having four-rows of conducting spots arranged within one half of its periphery and each having two coacting brushes which are independently shiftable to coact los selectively with one of two rows of conducting spots. The brushes are each shiftable from normal coaction with one row of conducting spots to selective coaction with another row of spots by an individual magnet iu series with one of the brushes coacting with the reading-in-commutator. An analyzing brush of the machine is connected in common to all the spots on the reading-in commutator. As index oints are encountered in the different pos1tions during one machine cycle circuits are completed through certain conducting spots and certain brushes through one or more of the shifting magnets and the corresponding brushes of the reading-out commutators shifted. These shiftable brushes are connected in series with each other and with the accounting mechanism and at a certain position of the commutator the brushes coact with a combination of spots which momentarily completes a circuit through the accounting mechanism thus resulting in a timed electric impulse which operates similarly to the impulse through the perforation in a card. Owing to the possibility of arbitrarily arranging the conducting spots on the commutators, however, it is obvious that a given reading pn a card may be translated into a timed impulse having an entirely different meaning to operate the accumulating mechanism.

Two of the four reading-out commutators are operative to receive brush settings from one set of brushes of the reading-in commutator during one card cycle, the shiftable brushes coacting with the insulating portion of the reading-out commutators during thisl cycle. Tn the Jfollowing cycle the brushes, as shifted, close the circuit through the accounting mechanism to manifest the card reading in its translated form. During this following cycle also the shiftable brushes of the other two reading-out commut-ators are operated from the other set of reading-in brushes to shift them into position to manifest the reading of the following card in its translated meaning. The shiftable brushes thus serve both as selector switches and as circuit closing devices for closing the control circuit at the selected time.

This particular construction also permits translation to the ten complement or the nine complement with equal facility and this may be made use of in a subtracting tabulator to obtain the true complement of a number directly. As the meaning of the translated reading depends solely on the differential time at which the several conducting spots make contact with the set up s hiftable brushes it is obvious that by merely shifting' the reading-out commutators one machine point ahead, the impulse may be made to have anumerical meaning one unit greater than it would have ordinarily. Thus if the nine complements and if the units order commutators are then shifted one point ahead the will complement to ten instead of nine y an the true ten complement of each amount will be obtained.

The invention also contemplates a reading-out commutator embodying improvements in its electrical and mechanical features. The shiftable brushes are shifted each alternate card cycle and as Athe commutator makes one revolution during two card cycles one half of its periphery passes the brushes while they are being set u and the other half of its periphery bearing tlie conducting spots, passes the brushes after they have been set up to read out the translated data. The first half of the commutator periphery is depressed with respect to the other half so that while the brushes are being set up they are entirely free from engagement with the commutator surface, eliminating frictional drag and permitting them to move freely and easily. The second half of the commutator periphery is provided with grooves having the conducting spots at their bottoms and the brushes ride in these grooves which insulate them from each other and prevent accidental contact between brushes due to frayed ends, spreading or slight displacements of the brushes.

The principal object ofthe invention is the provision of an improved and simplified translator for use in connection with accounting machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a translating mechanism which may translate data received from controlling mechanism without disturbing the normal cyclical operation of the machine with which it is associated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a translating mechanism in which readings are entered into the translator during one machiney cycle and read out during a subsequent machine cycle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a translating mechanism in which readings are entered into the translator during one machine cycle and readout during a commutators are arranged to translate to Another object of the invention is to proi rality of selective elements operable in different. combinations are each provided with individual and individually controlled operating mechanism.

Another object of the/invention is to provide a translating mechanism comprising common elements for selecting and reading out the translated data.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit selecting means for accounting machines which consists of a commutator and coacting brush mechanism relatively movable in one direction with respect to each other to select circuits and relatively movable in another, direction with respect to each other to determine the time `of closure of the selected circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit selecting means for accounting machines which consists of a rotating commutator having a contact on its periphery and a coacting brush shiftable transversely of the commutator to permit it to selectively engage or not engage the contact on the commutator periphery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit selecting means for accounting machines which consists of a rotating commutator having a plurality of contacts laterally spaced from each other on its periphery and a coacting brush shiftable transversely of the commutator to selectively coact with the several contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a translating mechanism in which a plurality of sets. of shiftable control brushes alternatively operable by individual operating magnets are provided.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved commutator structure for translating mechanism.

These and other obj ects which will be pointed out as the description proceeds will be clear from the following detailed description which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals refer to the samel parts throughout the several views and in which, p

Fig. 1 isa plan View of a translator mechanism for one card column completely assembled according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the translator mechanism illustrating its method of operation.

Figs. 3 and 4 are details of one of the reading-out commutators showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 5 is a` fragmentary view illustrating the driving connections between the accumulating elements and the translating mechanism of a tabulating machine.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the manner of obtaining a ten complement from the translator. Y

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1 illustrating the construction of the reading-in commutator and Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of a complete subtracting tabulator equipped with translators according to the invention.

The general operation of the machine will first be explained in connection with the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 8 and the details of translator construction by which the several objects are realized will then be described in connection with the remaining figures of the drawing.

Referring to Fig. 8, a complete tabulator is indicated which for the sake of simplicity of explanation is illustrated for last card operation. That is, when a group of cards is placed in the usual card magazine the entire group will be tabulated in one run. It is obvious, however, that the invention is equally well adapted to any of the automatically coni and the lower analyzing brushes 25. Each card passes the lower brushes 25 exactly one machine cycle later than it passes the upper brushes 24 and the cards are so spaced that when one card is under the lower brushes the succeeding card is correspondingly located under the upper brushes, the card feed being continuous so that the brushes analyze the cards while they are in motion.

It will be assumed that debit and credit items may be represented indiscriminately on the cards and that a card bearing a debit item will be identified by a perforation located outside of the amount bearing field. Cards of the Hollerith type are provided with ten index points representing the ten digitsl lator units is indicated by counter magnets at 26 and a similar debit balance accumulator is indicated at 27. The translator mechanism which converts the true readings on the cards to their complements consists of reading-in commutators 28 and 29 and reading-out commutators 34, 35, 36 and 37, of which 3ft and 36 pertain to the reading-in commutator 28 and 35 and 37 pertain to the reading-1n commutator 29. A y

The translating mechanism which comprises these commutators is geared to the counter elements of the accumulatore and driven by the motor 20 as indicated in Fig. 5. A plurality of counter elements 40 of the type illustrated in the United States patent to Lake, No. 1,307,740 dated June 24, 1919 are shown diagrammatically with their operating shaft geared through gear Wheels 41 to the translator units indicated generally at 42, a

2 t0 l driving ratio beingvprovided so that the operating shaft of the counter elements makes two revolutions while the operating shaft of the translator elements makes one revolution. One accumulator unit and one translator unit is provided for each denominational order which the machine is to handle.

Referring again to Fig. 8, the machine circuits are energized from a source of energy indicated at 43 connected to the circuits through a double pole switch 44. Upper brushes 24 are energized through cam contacts 45, which close during each card cycle and open between the feeding of successive cards, and card lever contacts 46 which are closed by the cards when they are feeding under the .upper brushes. The lower brushes 25 are energized through card lever contacts 47, which close when the cards are feeding under the lower brushes, and cam contacts 48, which are closed only when the active card area is passing the lower brushes and open at other times. As each card feeds past the upper brushes each of its item designating perforations instantaneously closes a circuit from one of the upper brushes 24 to one of the brushes 49 or 50 of the reading-in commutators 28 and 29. These brushes coact with a continuous conducting strip on the commutator which in turn is electrically connected to conducting spots 51 or 52 on the peripheries of the commutators.

The spots on each commutatorare arranged in four circumferential rows and coact with sets of brushes shown at 53 and 54 for the commutator 28 bearing on the periphery of the commutator. The conducting spots cover less than half of the commutator periphery and during one half the rotation coact with the brushes 53 and during the other half of a rotation coact with the brushes 54. The brushes 53 and 54 are in series with operating or shifting magnets 55 and 56 whose purpose is to shift certain brushes on the reading-out commutators 34 and 36 for the purpose of translating a number' receivedfrom a card into its com-plement. As each card passes the upper brushes then a perforation in a given column will instantaneously close a cir-y cuit extending through the cam contacts 45,

card lever contacts 46 and brush 24 to the of the commutator 28. At this time certain of the spots 51 will be in engagement withl certain of the brushes 53-to energize certain of the shifting magnets 55 to shift the brushes on the reading-out commutators. this cycle, however, the brushes are merely shifted. During the subsequent cycle the conducting spots 51 coact withthe brushes 54 and in a similar manner selectively energize the magnets 56 to shift the selecting brushes of the reading-out commutator 36. Also during this subsequent cycle the set up on the reading-out commutator 34 is translated into a timed impulse to enter the complement of a number on either the credit balance counter 26 or the debit balance counter 27 depending on the position of the switches 57, 58, 59 and 60.

When the complement of a reading obtained from the upper brushes is being read out of the commutators 34 or 36, the card which'set up the reading is passing thev lower brushes and during this cycle will close the circuits through the lower brushes at the proper time to enter its true value into one or the other of the accumulators depending on the position of the switches 57 and 58. It

During will be recalled from the Bryce subtracting 4 tabulator case above referred to, that when the item represented on a card is a credit item, it will be entered in its true value on` the credit balance counter and as a true complement on the debit balance counter. Vice 'versa when a card contains a debit item, it

these coils is controlled by the designating perforation representing a debit card. As a debit card passes the lupper brushes its item will first be entered into the reading-in commutators 28 and 29 toV set up the shiftable brushes of the reading-out commutators to prepare for reading-out the complement during the following cycle. After this the debit perforation passes a selected one of the brushes closing a circuit through cam contacts 70, which make instantaneously -as the distinguishimgg,l perforation reaches the brush, and through relay 71 in parallel with the coils 65 to 68, inclusive, the energization of which shifts the switches 57 to 59 to their alternative position. When relay 71 is once energized a stick circuit is prepared for it through which close just before the-debit denotin perforation reaches the controlling brush an remain closed until the zero index oint of the following card has passed the rushes. The switches 57 to 60 the/nf'emain shifted during the entire readingcycle in which a debit card is under the lower brushes.

A debit card then as it passes the upper brushes will first arrange for reading out' the complement of the item during the followin cycle, then shift the switches 57 to 60 to se ect the proper accumulator bank and during the following cycle the true value of the item will be entered from the lower brushes 25 .through switches 57 and 58 to the debit balance counter elements 27, while its true complement will bepentered from the readingout commutators 34 to 37 through switches 59 and 60 into the credit balance counters 26.

A credit card operates in a similar manner except that as it has'no debit distinguishing perforation the relay 71 remains deenergized and the switches 57 to 60 remain in the position as shown in the drawing. In this case the true value of the credit item will be envtered from the lower brushes through the switches 57 and 58 into the'credit balance counter 26 and the true complement will be entered from the reading-outcommutators 34 to 37 through switches 59 and 60 to the debit balance counter element-S27. As previously explained, after a plurality of promiscuously arranged debit and credit car s have passed the brushes a true credit balance willbe on the credit counter if the credit items predominate in aggregate value and a true debit balance will be on the debit counter if the debit items predominate in aggregate value.

The construction and operation of the translator mechanism will now be explained in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings. A complete translating unit for a denominational order is illustrated in Fig. 1, the readinv-in commutator 28 being geared to the reading-out commutators 34 and 36 with a one to one ratio and all commutators being geared through the gear 41 to the counter drive shaft witha two to one ratio asindicated in Fig. 5.

Themechanical structure of the reading-in commutator may be best understood from Figs. 1 and 7 of the drawing. A -stud 105 fixed to the base plate of the unit rotatably supports the commutator structure, which includes a central metal portion 106 to which are attached the commutator driving gear 107 and the cup shaped insulating body portion 108. This combined structure is rotatably held on the stud 105 by a suitable screw. The insulating body portion 108 is provided with five annular grooves 109 in which ride the stationary brushes 49, 53 and 54 whichare mounted on insulated brush holders 110 and 111 xed tothe base plate. A metal annulus 112 within the insulating body portion 108 a continuous conducting surface or strip for the brush 49. A plurality of metallic pins 51 contact with the annulus 112 and have their heads exposed at the bottom of the four outer grooves 109 to engage the brushes 53 and 54 as the commutator rotates. It will be understood that whenever a brush 53 or 54 encounters a,conducting spot formed by a head of a pin 51 this brush is electrically connected to the brush 49 through the annulus 112.

A development of the commutator surface illustrating the relative locations of the conducting spots 51 is shownI in Fig. 2. These spot-s coact with brushes 53 during one machine cycle and with brushes 54 during the following cycle, the set of brushes which .is not in active use riding on the insulating portion of the commutator surface. The conducting spots are arranged in nine rows transversely of the commutator, each row corresponding to an index point position of the machine, that is, when the analyzing brush of the machine' is crossing the 1 lindex oint position on a card, the row of spots 51 esignated 1 will be directly `under either the brushes 53 or 54 and when the analyzing brush encounters the 2 index point position on a card the row of spots designated 2 will be directly under the brushes 53 or 54 and so on.

Each brush 53 is individually connected to one of the brush shifting magnet-s 55 of the reading-out commutator 34, while each brush 54 is connected to one of the brush shifting magnets 56 of the reading-out commutator 36. A common return 80 for the magnets 55 and a common return 81 for the magnets 56 is permanently connectedto one side of the line as indicated in Fig. 7.

Each reading out commutator is provided with four circumferential rows of conducting spotsl 115 arranged in ten transverse rows which correspond to the index point positions of the machine, that is during alternate cycles the transverse row of spots designated 9 on commutator 34 will be in line with the shiftable brushes 82 at that time in the cycle when a current pulse through a counter magnet would enter a9 on the adding element and so on. The spots in each transverse row are electrically connected together. The reading in commutators rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows and the spots 115 on commutator 34 coact with brushes 82 during alternate card cycles and the spots 115 on com-- mutator 36 coact with brushes 83 during alternate intermediate card cycles. Each of the shiftable brushes is normally in line with one circumferential row of conducting spots 115 but, when its associated magnet is energized,V

branches, one extending through the brushes 82 in series and the other extending through the brushes 83 in series. If at any time durin a machine cycle the circuit 1s com lete through either branch an entry will e effected in the counter element corresponding to the transverse row of spots which caused completion of the circuit. The operation of the device forv setting up a nine complement of a number on a record card will be clearer from a specific example. Assume that the analyzing brush connected to the brush 49 of the reading-in commutatorencounters an index perforation in the 3 position. Also assume that during this cycle the spots 51 on the commutator 28 are coacting with the brushes 53. At the time when the analyzing brushl encounters the 3 perforation the line of conducting spots 51 designated 3 will be under the brushes 53 and as this line'contains spots to engage the A and B brushes 53 circuits will be completed from brush 49 through these brushes and A and B magnets 55 shifting the correspondin brushes 82 on commutator 34 so that the brush now cooperates with the second circumferential row of spots 115 and the B brush cooperates with the lowest c ircumferential row of spots. This shifting occurs of course while the brushes 82 are free of thel conducting spots. During the following v cycle as the spots 115 ride under the brushes 82 it will be noted that with this position of the brushes the dash line circuit will be completed when. and only when the lines of conducting spots' designated 6 on the commutator34 are under the brushes 82. The resulting impulse enters a 6, the ninecomplement of the 3 represented on the card, into the accumulating mechanism.

The arrangement of spots 5l and 115 is such that other nine complements will be entered into the accumulators in a similar manner. The operation then consists in setting up the brushes 82 during one cycle and reading out the translated data during the following cycle While the brushes 83 are being set up.

The construction of the reading-out com mutators is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The commutator 34 is rotatably mounted on a stud 90 and driven by a gear 91. The commutator is provided with a raised portion 92 provided with four circumferential grooves 93. The conducting spots are 4located at the bottom of these grooves. The commutator is cut away for substantially one half of its periphery and when this cut away portion is opposite the brushes 82 these brushes are free from contact with the commutator. When the raised portion is opposite the brushes these brushes enter one of two of the grooves 93 depending on the energization status of the magnet 55. Each brush 82 is mounted on a pivoted lever 95 urged by a spring 96 to position to cause the brush 82 to ride in the lower groove. This lever is provided with an upstanding portion 96 which coacts with a latch member 97 on the pivoted armature structure 98 of the magnet .55. The armature supporting structure is urged by spring 99 to the position shown in Fig. 4 inwhich the latch member 97 takes over the upstanding portion 96 of the lever 95 and holds the latter in position to guide the brush 82 in the second groove 93 from the bottom. When the magnet 55 is energized to attract its armature the supporting structure 98 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the latch member 97 releases the lever 95 and permits the spring 96 to moveit into position to cause the brush 82 to ride in the lower groove 93. It will be understood that these shifting operations always occur when the brushes 82 are opposite the lower portion of the commutator 34. J ust after the brushes 82'leave the grooves in the raised portion of the commutator a cam 101 mounted on the gear 91 encounters a pivoted arm 100 whose end underlies the lever 95 and rocks it to restore the lever 95 to the position shown in Fig. 4 thus restoring the brush toits normal position.

As previously stated, it is desired to enter the 10 complement of the figure which occurs in the units column into the accumulator and enter the 9 complement of other figures. Referring to Fig. 2, it will he noted that the time that the entering impulse is furnished to the accumulator magnets depends 'solely on the position of the reading-out commutators 34 to 37. Obviously then by shifting the reading-out commutators the time at which each entering impulse occurs can be modified in an identical manner. That is, if one of them is shifted' one point ahead for example, the impulse corresponding to each figure ,will enter an additional unit into the accumulator. The reading-out commutators for the units denominational order are shifted one point ahead in this manner'as illustrated in Fig. 6. In this figure the numerals at the upper edge of the figure represent the normal timing of the machine, that is, the numerals that would be entered into the accumulator if the commutators were left in their normal positions. The lower figures represent the numerals that are entered into the accumulators when the commutators are shifted 'one point ahead. Thus instead of the normal 8 a 9 is obtained, instead of the normal 7 an 8 is obtained, etc. Obviously then, if the normal entry represent-s the 9 complement, the resulting entry when the commutator is shifted represents the 10 complements which is desired. By this simple expedient, the true 10 complement can be entered directly intol the accumulator mechanism.

While the invention has been described in i connection with mechanism for converting to the nine and ten complements of numerals it is obvious that the translations could be ari ranged to convert to complements of any other numbers or to any .other numbers arbitrarily selected by merel arranging the conductin` spots on the rea ing-out commutator pro erly. Furthermore, many modifications in t e mechanical and electrical details will readily occur to those skilled in the art and it is'to be understood that the embodiment illustrated is not to be construed in a limiting sense as I intend to be limited only. as indicated by the scope of the` following claims. f

I claim: i

1. An accounting machine including data entering means and comprising a single reading-in device for receiving data entries from said data entering means and a pair of lreading-out devices alternately controlled by said reading-in device to alternately translate the received data and enter it into the entry receiving means.

2. A cyclically operable accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination With translating mechanism comprising a single reading-in device for receivlng data entries from said data entering means during each machine cycle and a pair of reading-out devices alternately controlled by said readingin device to receive the data entries therefrom during one machine cycle and enter it in translated form into the entry receiving means during a subsequent machine cycle.

3. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means comprising a plurality of units in combination with translating mechanism comprising a plurality of translating devices each individual to one of ther units, each of said devices being controlled by said data entering means to receive and translate readings and certain of said devices being adapted to translate the received readings in a diiferent manner from the other devices for entry into their respective units.

4. An accounting machine including data entering means and a plurality of entry receiving devices each individual to a denominational order in combination with translating mechanism comprising a lurality of translating devices each indivi ual to a denominational order and each controlling one of said entry receiving devices, said translating mechanism being controlled lby the data entering means to translate data in the units order to their ten complements and data in the other orders to their nine complements.

5. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism vcomprising a reading-in commutator with co-` acting brushes cooperatin with the data entering means to enter readings into the transentry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism .lating mechanism vand reading-out means controlled by the commutator in accordance with received data to translate the same and enter it into the entry receiving means.

l6. An accounting machine including data entering means and -entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism and aplurality of y controlled by said data entering means and consisting of a rotatable commutator having groups of contacts on its periphery, a plurality of groups of brushes cooperating successively with said contacts and reading-out means controlled successively by said brushes in accordance With successive data entries to translate the same and enter them into the entry receiving means.

8. An accounting machine lincluding data entering means and entry receiving means in combination With translating mechanism ycomprising reading-in means controlled by the data entering means and consisting of a rotatable commutator having groups of contacts located entirely Within a portion only of its periphery, a plurality of groups of brushes to successively engage the contacts during successive data entries and readingout means having provisions for receiving successive entries and controlled successivel by said groups of brushes in accordance wit successive data entries to translate the same and enter them into the entry receiving means.

9. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising reading-in means controlled by the data entering means and including a commutator and coacting brushes and readingout mechanism comprising a commutator and coacting ibrushes controlled by said first named commutator device to translate data entries and enter them into the entry receiving means.

10. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising a single commutatorr device controlled by the data entering means in accordance with successive data entries and reading-out means consisting of a pair of commutator devices controlled alternately by said vreading-in means to translate successive entries and enter them into Athe entry receiv- .ing means.

11. An accounting machine'including data entering means an entry. receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising reading-in means controlled by said data entering means and consisting of a s commutator havlng two sets of brushes coacting therewith for alternate' data entries and reading-out means consisting of a pair of commutators each controlled by one of said sets of brushes to translate alternate data entries and enter them into the entry receiving means.

12. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination With translating mechanism comprising reading-in mechanism controlled by the data entering means and reading-out mechanism controlled by the reading-in mechanism and including a commutator with a plurality of brushes shiftable transversely thereof in accordance with data entries to translate the same and enter them into the entry receiving means.

13. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combinationwith translating mechanism comprising reading-in mechanism including a plurality of circuits controlled by the data entering means and reading-out mechanism including a rotatable commutator with a plurality of brushes shiftable transversely thereof, a shifting magnet for each brush, said ma ets being controlled by said circuits to shi t combinations of brushes in accordance with data entries to translate the same and enter them into the entry receiving means.

14. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising reading-in means including a plurality of circuits controlled by the data entering means in accordance with data entries, reading-out mechanism including shiftable brushes having electro-magnet shifting means included in said circuits, an entering circuit for controlling said entry receiving means and extending through said brushes and a rotatable commutator coacting with said brushes and having contacts on its periphery to coact with the brushes in their several positions to energize said entering circuit at differential times in accordance with the data entries.

l5. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising reading-in mechanism controlled by the data entering means and reading-out mechanism including a rotatable commutator having a plurality of circumferential rows of contacts on its periphery, brushes shiftable to selectively coact with the rows of contacts and 'shifting means therefor con- I trolled by the reading-in mechanism in accordance with data entries, said 'brushes cooperating with the several rows of contacts to control said entry receiving means in accordance with data differing from' but bearing a predetermined relationship to the data entries controlling the reading-in mechanlsm.

16. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising reading-in means controlled by said data enterin means in accordance with data entries an reading-out means controlled by the reading-in means to translate the data entries and enter them into the entry receiving means, said reading-out means comprising shiftable brushes and a coacting rotatable commutator having a depressed ortion to avoid physical contact with the rushes during shifting operations.

17. An accounting machine including data entering means and entry receiving means in combination with translating mechanism comprising reading-in means controlled by said data entering means in accordance with data entries and reading-out means controlled by the reading-in means to translate the data entries and enter them into the entry receiving means, said reading-out means comprismg shiftable brushes and a coacting commutatorprovided with a plurality of grooves in which the brushes slide in their several selective positions.

18. An accounting machine having an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machine part and a circuit for the same in combination with means for timing the operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a circuit selecting and timing device comprising a commutator carrying a contact on its periphery, a brush coacting with the commutator periphery adapted to engage said contact at timed intervals and means for shifting the brush transversely of the periphery to selectively position it in a lateral position to engage said contact or an alternative lateral position in which it cannot engage said contact and means for completing the circuit when said brush engages said contact.4

19. An accounting machine having an e1ec.

of the` periphery to selectively position it in the path of the several contacts and means for completing the circuit when sa1d brush engages a contact. p

20. An accounting machine havmg an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machlne partand a circuit for the same in combination with means for timing Vthe operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a circuit selecting and timing device comprising a commutator having a plurality of laterally spaced rows of contacts on its periphery, a brush coacting with the commutator periphery adapted to successively engage the contacts in a row and means for shifting the brush transversely of the periphery to selectively position it for coaction with the several rows of contacts and cooperating means for selectively completing the circuit when the brush cooperates with the several rows of contacts.

21. An accounting machine having an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machine part and a circuit for the same in combination with means fortiming the operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a circuit selecting and timing device comprising a relatively movable commutator and brush adapted to ride on the commutator surface during a portion only of the relative movement, said commutator carrying a contact on its surface and means for laterally shifting the brush while it is out of engagement with the commutator surface to selectively position it in or out of the path of travel of the contact and means for completing the circuit when said brush engages said contact.

22. An accounting machine having an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machine part and a circuit for the same in combination with means for timing the operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a clrcuit selecting and timing device comprising a relatively movable commutator and brush, said commutator carrying a contact and having a cut away portion to free the brush from engagement with the commutator surface during a portion of the relative movement and means for laterally shifting the brush while it is free from engagement with the commutator surface to selectively position it in or out of the path of travel ofthe-contact and means for completing l thecircuit when said brush encounters the contact.

23. An accounting machine having an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machine part and a circuit for the same in combination with means for timing the operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a circuit selecting and timin ,device comprising a commutator having a p uralit of grooves in its surface with a contact place at the bottom of one of said grooves, and a brush with means for laterally shifting it to cause it to selectively ride in the grooves on relative motion ofthe brush and commutator and means for completing the circuit when said brush engages said contact.

24. An accounting machine having an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machine part and a circuit for the same in combination with means for timing the operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a circuit selecting and timing device comprising a commutator having grooves formed in its surface with contacts at the bottom of said grooves and havin a cut away portion, a brush mounted to ri e in the grooves but free from the commutator surface whenopposite the cut away portion and means for` laterally shifting the brush while it isopposite the cut away portion to cause it to selectively ride in the several groves and means for selectively completing the circuit when the brush engages a contact.

25. An accounting machine having an electrically controlled device whose time of operation controls the operation of a machine part and a circuit for the same in combination with means for timing the operation of the electrically controlled device, said means including a circuitselecting and timing device comprising a commutator carrying a contact on its periphery, a brush coacting with the commutator peripher adapted to engage said contact at timed intervals and electro-magnetic means controlled by operation of the machine for shifting the brush transversely of the periphery to selectively position it in a lateral position to engage said contact or in an alternative lateral position in which it cannot engage said contact, and means for completing the circuit when the ,brush engages said contact.

In testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my sig-

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