Improved Method of and Automatic Copying Apparatus for Checking and Keeping Accounts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2 th Apr.. 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Automatic Copying Apparatus for
Checking and Keeping Accounts.
I, JULES FRYDMANE, of Rue des Archives, Paris, in the French Republic,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for obtaining :-
1. An authentic copy or reproduction on paper, cloth or other suitable
material, of writing, figures or other marks in colored or other ink, copying pencil
or other copying substance;
20. The classification or subdivision of the copies produced;
30. The date, number of order and verification of the original documents; and
4. The impressions of any text upon such documents, and simultaneously the
reproduction of this text..
These principal results are obtained instantaneously and simultaneously without
physical or mental exertion, and almost without expense. The records reproduced
are authentic, infallible and indelible; moreover the original document having been
used for copying, receives a permanent mark (date, number or other indicator)
which identifies and protects it absolutely against any attempted fraud, falsification
or abstraction.
Generally, my apparatus which can be modified as to form and dimensions to suit
its particular application, is at once-
10. An autograph reproducer;
2°. A copying-press;
30. An accurate check; and
4° A correct distributor or classifier.
I reserve the right to adapt to the apparatus a mechanical accountant for adding
up the figures registered and recorded. Thus, this apparatus performs automatically,
very rapidly and with the greatest certainty, manifold work requiring under present
conditions much personal attention and special intelligence; therefore it ensures a
considerable economy in all its applications, whilst affording superior results. Used
in commercial, banking,.railway offices, public or private establishments, it forms an
automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus. It is capable of forming one
or several account-books at a time. It may be utilized-
1º-As either a debit-book registering in detail all the sales, and accurately.
checking the receipts and the employées themselves, whilst dividing the transactions
according to the kind of goods, the department or the person employed.
20-Or as a sales-book and bought-book in one, or an entering and delivery-book,
giving the results above indicated;
30-Or as a journal for classifying, registering recording and subdividing every
commercial or financial transaction, with its details, date, folio-number and reference
to its respective account.
One of the results of this system is to entirely suppress and supersede the usual
vouchers for all purposes, ensuring by this means alone a considerable economy of
printed and numbered paper, irrespective of the time lost in filling-up and removing
the voucher. I may add that this novel system of automatic account-keeping can be
performed by any assistant without special knowledge. The expense involved in the

page_text: system is reduced to a minimum. Moreover it ensures rapidity, certainty and an
undeniable character of authenticity.
The apparatus constructed according to my invention has for its base a fixed frame
or pedestal, upon which is arranged to travel a carriage supporting the working parts
described hereafter. The whole is enclosed in an envelope or case provided at its
front part with a small door for the insertion of a block of tickets, the introduction of
which sets the mechanism in motion. The carriage carries two or more rollers
engaging in suitable guides on the fixed frame whereby its travel to-and-fro is
limited. A spring tending constantly to draw the carriage to its forward position -
i.e. towards the door-is secured on the one hand to the carriage, and on the other to
a fixed point of the frame or pedestal. Upon the carriage are arranged, a passage
or opening situated opposite the door and intended for receiving the block of tickets,
and an arm carrying a circular plate provided upon one surface with supports or reel-
carriers, each hearing two reels. These reel-carriers are arranged radially in any
desired number, and so as to assume through the rotation of the circular plate-a
position parallel to the before mentioned passage or opening. It will be seen from
the following that all the reel-carriers move in a plane situated outside of the said
passage.
The rotation of the circular plate is effected in the following manner :-At the
bottom of the passage, which is perforated for this purpose, are two projections
respectively mounted on separate small carriages, one of which is connected by means
of a lever to a toothed sector, and the other by means of a separate lever to a second
toothed sector. The two sectors oscillate on a pivot carried by, the principal carriage,
and are arranged to engage with a toothed pinion keyed on the arm carrying the
circular plate. One or the other of the projections above mentioned is intended to be
pushed back by the block inserted through the door in the passage, and consequently
to act upon one or other of the sectors so as to cause the circular plate to turn in one
direction or the other. The extent of this movement of the plate is determined by
the greater or less movement of the projections, which are operated by their
engagement in parallel grooves of different lengths 'formed on the backs of metal
tablets carrying the blocks.
The blocks whereby the apparatus is set in motion are of equal number with the
reel-carriers. They are divided into two series, one for the rotation of the plate in
one direction, and the other for its rotation in the opposite direction, and for this
purpose the tablets for each series have a non-effective groove of such a length as not
to operate the corresponding projection in the passage or opening. For one series
of blocks the right groove of the tablet is inoperative, and for the other series the
left. The effective groove of the tablets for each series is of such length as to cause
a greater or less movement of the corresponding projection, and to effect the rotation
of the plate to such an extent that a different reel-carrier is brought opposite the
opening for each .block inserted.
It will be observed that the subdivision of the blocks into two series, and
consequently the arrangement of the two projections, and two sectors, serve merely to
determine the extent of movement of the plate in such a way that the reels have the
shortest distance to travel to arrive opposite the opening. In other words, the reels
situato above the arm of the plate move in one direction, and those situate below it
move in the opposite direction. It will be understood that it is always possible to
bring any of the reel carriers opposite the opening by making the plate turn in that
direction. In that case the tablets will have only one groove of greater or less length,
and the opening will have only a single projection connected with one sector. In all
cases the arm of the plate receives a cord or chain to which is suspended a suitable
weight. According to the direction of rotation of the plate, the chain is wound in
one direction or the other, and the counterweight-once the plate is free-brings it
back to its normal position.
On the upper side of the carriage is arranged a small or supplementary carriage
carrying an automatic numberer. The small carriage is mounted on rollers engaged
in grooves formed in the lateral walls of the opening belonging to the principal

page_text: carriage.. Outside the rollers the small carriage: carries a spring-plate normally
projecting into the opening or passage. This.spring-plate.is combined with friction-
rollers arranged to travel on the interior surfaces of the passage or opening, which are
made in the form of cams, for the purpose of.causing the spring-plate to return at a
given moment. The small carriage is. constantly drawn towards the door by means
of suitably arranged counterweights or springs. On each side of the sinall carriage
are supports secured on the principal carriage, the upper part whereof is furnished
with a triangular guide in which a roller belonging to the numberer device is arranged
to travel. The middle part of this guide is formed of a solid triangle arranged to
oscillate on a pivot, and to act as a stop for closing or opening one or other of the
paths of the guide. The oscillating triangle is acted on by a spring which tends to
keep it on an inclined position. Finally the stem of the numberer is furnished with
a spring to compensate for the varying thicknesses of the blocks inserted in the door.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the insertion. of any block in the door of
the apparatus will have the following effects :-
1° Of acting upon the spring-plate so as to withdraw the numberer, which falls in
the direction which its roller takes in the path of the guide left open for it; the
numberer prints a number on the bill to be registered the number is altered at
each insertion automatically, by any known mechanism used for numberers, or signs or
distinguishing marks may be substituted for the numbers. It is to be observed that
the movement of the sinall carriage caused by the block does not affect the principal
carriage which remains stationary.
2° Of acting afterwards on one or both of the projections so as to cause the plate
to turn and bring the corresponding reel-carrier opposite the passage or opening.
It will be found that the action of the block on either of the projections will not
cause any movement of the principal. carriage,. inasmuch as the tension. of the
retaining spring will be strong enough to prevent it ;.
30. To move the principal carriage so as to determine the delivery from the reel-
carrier above the passage for the purpose of obtaining the impression of the ticket on
the band, as hereafter described.
The withdrawal of the principal carriage is effected only when the block abuts
against the rear end of the passage or opening. The action of the block inserted in
the apparatus is thus subdivided into three phases; the first as above shewn, for
bringing down the numberer and stamping the ticket on the block, the second
causing the circular plate to turn to a pre-determined extent varying with each block,
and bringing the corresponding reel-carrier opposite the passage, and the third
finally effecting the movement of the principal carriage for the purpose of bringing
the reel-carrier above the passage, damping the band, and printing on it.
Having indicated the several effects produced by the movement of the principal
carriage, will now explain the construction of the reel-carriers.
Each reel-carrier consists merely of a metal frame provided with two parallel axes
or spindles respectively furnished with discs for receiving-one, a distributor reel,
and the other, a take-off reel, for a band of cloth, paper or other suitable material.
The disc for the distributor reel is secured on its spindle, and by combination with a
small plate-spring acts as a brake against the free unwinding of the distributor reel ;
the disc for the fake-off reel on the other hand is loose on its spindle, and cannot be
rotated thereby except in one direction, and that by means of a pawl or equivalent device
interposed between the disc and the spindle. The reels are engaged with their
respective discs by means of a suitable joint and retained by spring clips acting on
their other ends. To permit the removal of the reels the spring clips may be disengaged.
The spindles are passed through the circular plate which is perforated for that purpose,
so as to allow each entire reel-carrier to be moved over the passage as explained
further on. The spindle of the take-off reel is provided with helicoidal grooves with
which spurs secured to the circular plate are arranged to engage ; these grooves have
only one convolution being continued afterwards by a straight part to the extremity
of the spindle. When the reel-carrier is moved in the forward direction, the grooved
spindle is revolved on its axis and draws with it the take-off reel winding thereon a

page_text: certain length of the copying band which it takes off from the distributor-reel. The
forward movement of the reel-carrier is effected by means of a rod or lever, one end
of which-forming a clip-engages a stud provided for each of the reel-carriers, on
the rotation of the circular plate; one reel-carrier (that opposite the passage) being
always in position to be moved forward. On one side the rod or lever already
mentioned is provided with teeth which engage with a toothed wheel secured to a
pinion engaging with one end of a rack rigidly secured on the frame of the apparatus.
The axis of the toothed wheel and of the pinion revolves upon the principal
'carriage. Upon the movement of the latter under pressure of the block of tickets
inserted in the door, the toothed wheel and pinion rotate together in the required
'direction, and the rod or lever is moved in a corresponding direction drawing with
it the reel-carrier with which it is engaged by the before-mentioned stud.
It will be seen that it is during the first part of the movement above described that
the grooved spindle rotates, that is-for unwinding a fresh quantity of the copying-
band. Once this unwinding is effected, the band passes over a damping-roller,
described below, to prepare it for receiving the impression from the block
introduced through the door. This damping-roller is mounted on a frame having
a suitable guide and being subject to the action of a spring. The damping-
roller is not rigidly connected to the frame, and is capable of assuming an
inclination corresponding to the inclination of the copying-band, for which purpose it
is suitably mounted on springs. Under normal conditions the roller presses against
a sponge saturated with water contained in a suitable cavity. It is supported in
position by a spring-catch engaging in a notch formed in one of the bearings of the
roller-frame. The releasing of the damping-roller to bring it in contact with the
copying-band is effected by the reel-carriers which are furnished with teeth engaging
at a given moment with a toothed sector connected with the spring-catch already
mentioned, so as to release it. Once released, the roller-frame by means of its spring
raises the damper which assumes the necessary inclination, and the damping of the
band takes place as it passes over the roller. The band thus damped comes over the
opening at the moment the block of tickets is pushed to the end of its course.
The impression is produced by pressing the hand on the ticket-block. This
pressure is effected by means of a stamp or press arranged above that part of the
opening which receives the moistened band and the block. The press is simply a
piston mounted in convenient guides secured on the principal carriage, and having a
rod carrying a curved guide in which travels a roller the axis of which is supported
by two fixed bent arms. It will be understood that the carriage pushed forward by
the block as above described, draws with it the press, the curved guide of which is
gradually depressed by the roller aiready referred to. The curved guide thus acts as
a cam, and effects the raising as well as the depression of the press.
The apparatus constructed as above operates as follows:-Each assistant has a
block of tickets or bills, as commonly used; these tickets have an impression in
copying ink or colored pencil of all the particulars required. The block is fixed on a
tablet of wood, metal or other suitable substance, grooved at the back as already
described. The assistant uses a copying pencil; when he has filled up the ticket as
required, and before detaching it from the packet, he inserts the block in the door of
the apparatus and exerts slight momentary pressure upon it. The first part of the
action is to move the small carriage upon the principal carriage, and to put in
operation the automatic numberer which prints a number or sign upon the ticket.
The second part of the action is intended, by means of one of the projections in the
opening which receives the block and of the mechanism connected therewith, to
bring the band which is to receive the impression opposite the said opening. The
third part of the action pushes back the principal carriage and draws the band
moistened by contact with the damping-roller as already described. The last part of
the third movement brings the press into play.
The operations performed by the apparatus are therefore as under :-
1º-The ticket or bill bearing the name or number of the assistant, is dated,
numbered or marked with any conventional sign, or the impression of any suitable

page_text: text, besides the details (prices, quantities, measurements and so forth) written upon
it by the assistant.
20. The ticket with the above writings and marks inscribed by the assistant or
stamped by the apparatus, is copied upon the registering band assigned to the
particular assistant.
Both the foregoing operations are effected simultaneously and instantaneously
without exertion or even attention on the part of the assistant. It therefore follows
that in a commercial house having for instance thirty salesmen, each salesman has a
separate account in which all the transactions he effects are registered in the apparatus.
If instead of assigning an account teach salesman, it is desired to have a dissection
of the goods sold, the operation is similar, the tickets used merely having different
printing. If it is desired to have a dissection of sales according to the department or
counter, the operation is still the same; each counter having a separate block bearing
its distinguishing name or number.
Improved Method of and Automatic Copying Apparatus for
Checking and Keeping Accounts.
I, JULES FRYDMANE, of Rue des Archives, Paris in the French Republic,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for obtaining
1° An authentic copy or reproduction on paper, cloth or other suitable material,
of writing, figures or other marks in colored or other ink, copying pencil or other
copying substance;
20. The classification or subdivision of the copies produced;
30. The date, number of order, and verification of the original documents; and
4° The impressions of any text upon such documents, and simultaneously the
reproduction of this text.
These principal results are obtained simultaneously and instantaneously without
physical or mental exertion, and almost without expense. The records reproduced
are authentic, infallible and indelible; moreover the original document having been
used for copying receives a permanent mark (date, number or other indicator) which
identifies and protects it absolutely against any attempted fraud, falsification or
abstraction.
Generally, my apparatus-which can be modified as to form and dimensions to suit
its particular application-is at once:
10. An autograph reproducer;
20-A copying-press;
30. An accurate check; and-
4°. A correct distributor or classifier of transactions.
I reserve the right to adapt to the apparatus a mechanical accountant for adding
up the figures registered and recorded. Thus, this apparatus performs, automatically,
very rapidly and with the greatest certainty, manifold work requiring under present
conditions much personal attention and, special intelligence: therefore it ensures a

page_text: Used
considerable economy in all its applications, whilst, affording superior results.
in commercial, railway, banking offices and public or private establishments, it forms
an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus. It is capable of forming one
or several account-books at a time. It may be used either as―
10. A debit book registering in detail all the sales, and accurately checking the
receipts and the employées themselves, whilst dividing the transactions according to
the kind of goods, the department or the person employed;
2º.- Or as a sales-book and bought-book in one, or an entering and delivery-book,
giving the results above indicated:;
3°Or as a journal for classifying, registering, recording and subdividing every
commercial or financial transaction, with its details, date, folio-number and reference
to its respective account.
One of the results of this system is to entirely suppress, and supersede the usual
vouchers for all purposes, ensuring by this means alone a considerable economy of
printed and numbered paper, irrespective of the time lost in filling-up and removing
the vouchers. I may add that this novel system of automatic account keeping can be
performed by any assistant without, special knowledge. The expense involved in the
system is reduced to a minimum: moreover it ensures rapidity, certainty and an
undeniable character of authenticity.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, reference is had to the
accompanying drawings, upon which-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation-partly in section through line 1-1 of Fig. 3,-
of my improved checking and account-keeping apparatus ;
Figure 2 being a plan of the same seen from above with the outer casing re.noved;
Figure 3, a transverse section through line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Figure. 4, a. horizontal section through line 4-4 of Fig. 3, shewing on an
enlarged scale the action of one of the pairs of reels, the mechanism for operating
the same, and the damper for moistening the band;
Figures 5, 6 and 7, are respectively a longitudinal section, a plan and a cross-
section shewing more particularly the damper and its operating mechanism;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the tablets for carrying the ticket-
.blocks;
Figure 9 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the automatic numberer: and
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a part plan of the numberer, and a section
through line 11-11 of Fig. 9.
The apparatus constructed according to my invention and shewn on the drawings
has for its base a fixed frame or pedestal A, upon which is arranged to, travel a
carriage B supporting the working parts described hereafter. The whole is enclosed
in an envelope or case provided at its front part with a small door a for the insertion
of a block of. tickets, the introduction of which sets the mechanism in motion. The
carriage is mounted on two or more rollers b, b, engaging in suitable guides on the
fixed frame whereby its travel to-and-fro is limited. A. spring R tending constantly
to draw the carriage to its forward position-i.e.-towards the door a-is secured on
the one hand to the carriage B, and on the other to a fixed point. r of the frame or
pedestal A. Upon the carriage B are arranged,-a passage or opening c situated
opposite the door a and intended for receiving the block of tickets, and an arm d
carrying a circular plate D provided upon one surface with supports or reel-carriers E
each bearing two reels e, f. These reel-carriers E are arranged radially in any desire:
number, and so as to assume through the rotation, of the circular plate.D-a. position
parallel to the before mentioned passage or opening c.. It will be seen from the
following explanation that all the reel-carriers E move in a plane situate outside of
the passage c.
The rotation of the circular plate D is effected in the following manner-At the
. bottom of the passage c, which is perforated for this purpose, are two projections 9 9¹
mounted on separate small carriages h, h¹; one of which h is connected by means of, a
lever. to a toothed sector F, and the other h¹, by means of a separate lever i to, a
second.toothed sector F. The two sectors oscillate on a pivot j carried by the principal

page_text: carriage B, and are arranged to engage with a toothed pinion G keyed on the arm ď
carrying the circular plate D. One or the other of the projections 99' is intended
to be pushed back by the block inserted through the door a in the passage c, and con--
sequently to act upon one or other of the sectors F so as to cause the circular plate D
to turn in one direction or the other. The extent of this movement of the plate is.
determined by the greater or less movement of the projections y g', which are operated
by their engagement in parallel grooves of different lengths formed on the backs of
metal tablets carrying the blocks.
The blocks whereby the apparatus is set in motion are of equal number with the
reel-carriers. They are divided into two series, one for causing the rotation of the.
plate D in one direction, and the other for causing its rotation in the opposite direction,.
and for this purpose the tablets for each series have a non-effective groove o of such a
length as not to operate the corresponding projection in the passage or opening c..
For one series of blocks the right groove of the tablet is inoperative, and for the other
series the left groove. The effective groove o' of the tablets for each series of blocks.
is of such length as to cause a greater or less movement of the corresponding pro-
jection g or g, and to effect the rotation of the plate D to such an extent that a.
different reel-carrier is brought opposite the opening c for each block inserted.
It will be observed that the subdivision of the blocks into two series, and con-
sequently the arrangement of the two projections, and two sectors F, F,
serve merely to determine the extent of movement of the plate D in such a way
that the reels have the shortest distance to travel to arrive opposite the opening C..
In other words, the reels situate above the arm of the plate move in the direction
indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 1, and those situate below the arm d move in the
direction of the arrow X'.
I may arrange so that any of the reel-carriers E may be brought opposite the
opening c by making the plate D turn in that direction: in that case the tablets-
will have only one groove of greater or less length, and the opening c will have only
one projection connected with a single sector. In either of these cases the arm d
of the plate receives a cord or chain to which is suspended a suitable weight..
According to the direction of rotation of the plate D, the cord or chain is wound in.
one direction or the other, and the counterweight-once the plate is free-brings it.
back to its normal position.
C
On the upper side of the carriage B is arranged a small or supplementary-
carriage B carrying an automatic numberer C. The small carriage B₁ is mounted
on rollers engaging in grooves formed in the lateral walls of the opening c of the
princijal carriage. Outside the rollers the small carriage B' carries a spring-plate a²:
normally projecting into the opening c. The spring-plate a is combined with.
friction-rollers &, arranged to travel on the interior surfaces of the opening c which.
are made in the form of cams (Fig. 10), for the purpose of causing the spring-plate
to return at a given moment. The small carriage B' is constantly drawn towards.
the door a by means of suitably arranged counter-weights or springs. On each side
of the small carriage B¹ are supports D' secured on the principal carriage B and in
the upper part of these supports is arranged a triangular guide (see Fig. 9) in which
a roller belonging to the numberer device C is arranged to travel. The middle
part of this guide is formed of a solid triangular piece d capable of oscillating on a
pivot, and of acting as a stop for closing or opening one or other of the paths of
the guide. The pivoted triangular piece d is acted upon by a spring e2 which tends
to keep it always in an inclined position. Finally the stem of the numberer C is
furnished with a spring to compensate for the varying thicknesses of the ticket-blocks.
inserted in the door a.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the insertion of any block in the door a.
of the apparatus will have the following effects:
1°. Of acting upon the spring-plate a² so as to withdraw the numberer C¹ which
falls in the direction which its roller 2 is constrained to take in the path of the-
guide left open for it; the numberer prints a number on the docket to be registered,.
such number being altered at each insertion automatically by any known mechanism.

page_text: used for numberers: or signs or other distinguishing marks may be substituted for
numbers. It is to be observed that the movement of the small carriage B' caused
by the introduction of the block does not affect the principal carriage B, which there-
fore remains stationary.
20-Of acting afterwards on one or both of the projections 9, g₁ so as to cause
the plate D to turn and bring the corresponding reel-carrier opposite the opening c.
It will be found that the action of the block on either of the projections g. 9' will
not cause any movement of the carriage B, inasmuch as the tension of the retaining
spring R will be strong enough to prevent it.
30. Of moving the principal carriage B so as to determine the delivery of the hand
from the reel-carrier E above the passage c for the purpose of obtaining the impression
of the ticket on the band, as hereafter described.
The withdrawal of the principal. carriage B is effected only when the block
inserted abuts against the rear end ct of the opening c. The action of the block
inserted in the apparatus is thus subdivided into three phases ;--the first, as above
explained, bringing down the numberer and stamping the ticket on the block the
second causing the circular plate D to turn to a pre-determined extent varying with
each block, and bringing the corresponding reel-carrier opposite the passage e: and
the third finally effecting the movement of the principal carriage B for the purpose
of bringing the reel-carrier E above the passage c, damping the band and printing
upon it.
Having indicated the several effects produced by the movement of the principal
carriage, I will now explain the construction of the reel carriers.
Each reel-cartier E consists merely of a metal frame provided with two parallel
axes or spindles, (Fig. 4) respectively furnished with discs m, m', one for receiving
a distributor-reel e, and the other, a take-off-reel f, for a band n of cloth, paper
or other suitable material. The disc m for the distributor-reel e is secured on the
spindle 1, and, by combination of a small plate-spring with it, acts as a brake against
the free unwinding of the distributor-reel e; the disc m' for the take-off reel f, on
the other hand, is loose on its spindle ', and cannot be rotated thereby except in one
direction and that by means of a pawl or equivalent device interposed between the
disc and the spindle. The reels e, are engaged with their respective discs m, m', by
means of a suitable joint, and retained by spring-clips p and p acting on their other
ends. To permit the removal of the reels the spring-clips may be disengaged. The
spindles 1, are passed through the circular plate D which is perforated for that
purpose, so that each entire reel-carrier E may be moved over the passage c. as
explained further on. The spindle of the take-off reel is provided with helicoidal
grooves with which spurs v, vsecured to the plate D are arranged to engage: these
grooves have only one convolution and are continued by a straight part to the
extremity of the spindle. When the reel-carrier is moved in the forward direction,-
indicated by the arrow X on Fig. 4,-the grooved spindle is revolved on its axis
and draws with it the take-off reel winding thereon a certain length of the copying
band n from the delivery reel e. The forward movement of the reel-carrier E is
effected by means of a rod or lever A', one end of which-forming a clip a-engages
a stud provided for each of the reel-carriers, on the rotation of the circular
plate D; one reel-carrier (that opposite the passage c) being always in position to
be moved forward. The rod or lever A is provided on one side with teeth d', which
engage with a toothed wheel secured to a pinion engaging with one end of
a rack t', rigidly secured on the frame A of the apparatus. The axis of the toothed
wheel and pinion, and 1, revolves upon the principal carriage B. Upon the move-
ment of the latter under pressure of the block of tickets inserted in the door a, the
toothed wheel and pinion, k and, rotate together in the direction indicated by
the arrow X on Fig. 4, and the rod or lever A' is moved in a corresponding
direction, drawing with it the reel-carrier with which it is engaged by the stud b'..
It will be seen that it is during the first part of the movement above described
that the grooved spindle rotates, that is, for unwinding a fresh quantity of the
copying band n. Once this quantity is unwound, the band n passes over a damping-

page_text: roller H, described below, to prepare it for receiving the impression from the block.
of tickets introduced through the door a.
The damping-roller H is mounted on a frame H having a suitable guide and
being subject to the action of a spring . The damping-roller H is not rigidly
connected to the frame, but is capable of assuming an inclination corresponding to
the inclination of the copying band n, for which purpose it is suitably mounted on
springs s', s, (see Fig. 7). Under normal conditions the roller H presses against
a sponge I saturated with water contained in a suitable cavity. It is supported"
in position by a spring-catch a engaging in a notch formed in one of the bearings
of the roller-frame H'. The releasing of the damping-roller H to bring it in contact.
with the copying band n is effected by the reel-carriers E, which are furnished with
teeth 3 engaging at a given moment with a toothed sector c connected with the spring-
catch a previously mentioned, so as to release it, (see Figs. 4, 5, and 6). Being thus
released, the roller-frame H' by means of its spring u' raises the damping-roller H,
which assumes the necessary inclination and the damping of the band n is effected as
it passes over the roller. The moistened band comes over the opening cat the moment
when the block of tickets is pushed to the end of its course.
The impression is produced by pressing the band n on the ticket block. This
pressure is effected by means of a stamp or press K arranged above that part of the
opening which receives the moistened band and the ticket block.
The press K
consists of a piston mounted in suitable guides L, L' secured on the principal
carriage B, and having a rod K' carrying a curved guide M, in which travels a
roller N the axis of which, N', is supported by two fixed bent arms, O, O'. It will
be understood that the carriage B pushed forward by the block as above described,
draws with it the press K, the curved guide M of which is gradually depressed by
the roller N. The curved guide M thus acts as a cam, and effects the raising-as
well as the depression of the press K.
The above described apparatus operates as follows:-Each assistant has a block of
tickets or bills, as commonly used; these tickets have printed upon them in copying-
ink or colored pencil all the particulars required: the block is fixed on a tablet of
wood metal or other suitable material, grooved at the back as already described..
The assistant uses a copying pencil, and having filled up the ticket as required,.
before detaching it from the packet, he inserts the block in the door a of the
apparatus and exerts slight momentary pressure upon it. The first part of the
action is to move the small carriage B on the principal carriage B, and to put in
operation the automatic numberer C which prints a number or other distinguishing
sign upon the ticket. The second part of the action is intended, by means of one of
the projections g, g, in the opening c which receives the block, and of the mechanism
connected therewith, to bring the band n which is to receive the impression opposite
the opening c.. The third part of the action pushes back the principal carriage B
and draws the band n, moistened by contact with the damping-roller H, as already:
described. The last part of the third movement brings the press K into play.
The operations performed by the apparatus are therefore as under :-
1. The ticket or bill bearing the name and number of the individual assistant, is.
dated, numbered (or marked with any conventional sign, or suitable printed text)
besides having the details of prices, quantities, measurements and so forth, written
upon it by the assistant.
2. The ticket with the aforesaid writing and marks inscribed upon it by the
assistant or stamped by the press, is copied upon the registering band assigned to
the particular assistant.
Both the foregoing operations are effected simultaneously and instantaneously
without exertion or even attention on the part of the assistant. It therefore follows
that in a commercial house having a large number of salesmen, each salesman has
a separate account in which all the transactions he effects are registered by the
apparatus. If instead of assigning a separate account to each salesinan, it is desired
to have a dissection or analysis of the goods sold, the operation will be similar, the
tickets used merely being printed differently. Or a dissection of sales according to

page_text: the department or counter may be obtained without varying the operation; each
counter having a separate block assigned to it bearing its distinguishing name or
number.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus set in operation by the
insertion therein of separate blocks of debit-tickets for each of the salesmen or each
department, characterized by the combination of a carriage B arranged to receive
and to be pushed back by said blocks, a rotary plate or drum carrying copying
bands n corresponding in number with the blocks to be introduced into the apparatus,
transmitting mechanism hetween the carriage, and the rotary plate for bringing
opposite the carriage the particular band corresponding to the block introduced,
mechanism for drawing over the block the band brought opposite the carriage, and
a stamping-press for pressing said band on the block to copy inscriptions, printing or
other marks made on the upper leaf of the block said apparatus reproducing and
distributing instantaneously, on separate bands for each individual block, the contents
of the tickets, as specified.
2. In an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus, the combination of a
principal carriage B for receiving the ticket-blocks with a small auxiliary carriage B¹
capable of a relative movement, and carrying an automatic numberer for printing
on the top ticket of the blocks a number or conventional sign determining the order
of introduction of the blocks before the separation of their contents on their several
bands said auxiliary carriage B' being operated by means of spring-plates a²,
which are withdrawn at a given moment for the purpose of bringing the numberer (
opposite an inclined triangular path or guide which depresses or raises it at desired
moments, as described.
3. In an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus, the combination with
a principal carriage B for receiving the blocks held on suitably grooved tablets, of
one or more projections g capable of being engaged by said grooved tablets and of
operating toothed sectors F engaging with a pinion G keyed upon a shaft d of a
rotary plate D carrying the band-reels: said combination having for object to cause
the rotary plate to turn to such a position as to bring opposite the principal carriage B
the band corresponding to the block introduced, and upon which the contents of the
uppermost ticket of the block are to be copied, as specified.
4. In an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus, a dividing drum or
rotary disc D mounted upon a shaft and carrying reel-carriers E each supporting two
removable reels, e and f, on which is wound a band for copying, one reel e being
furnished with a brake, the other, f, with a catch allowing it to turn only in one
direction said reel carriers E carrying a stud band having axes 1, l' capable of
sliding in the disc D; one of such axes being smooth, and the other provided with
a spiral groove for engaging a fixed stud vand, at the time of taking-off, causing the
rotation of the reel connected to said axis, for the purpose of effecting the unwinding
of the copying band, as described.
5. In an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus, the combination with
a drum or rotary disc D of a rod A' in which the stud of the carrier brought
opposite the carriage engages, and which by means of transmitting devices, t,, k',
and d', or their equivalents, determines the travel over the carriage of the band on
which the copying is to be effected, as described.
6. In an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus, the combination with
a dividing drum, reel-carriers, and mechanism for unwinding and winding the
copying-band, ef a damper H released at the moment of said band passing, for the
purpose of moistening the latter to prepare it for taking an impression.
7. In an automatic checking and account-keeping apparatus, the combination with
a carriage for receiving ticket blocks and with a dividing drum, of a stamping-press K
provided with a compensating spring and with an inclined surface M, on which travels

page_text: roller N having a fixed support: such combination having for object to operate said
pre-s when the carriage reaches the end of its course, for the purpose of copying upon:
the band drawn over the carriage the contents of the uppermost ticket of the block
then engaged in the carriage, as described.
8. An automatic account registering and dividing apparatus, comprising the
combination of a carriage B for receiving ticket-blocks, an auxiliary carriage B¹
mounted thereon and carrying an automatic numberer C, a dividing drum D carrying
bands and reels, mechanism for causing the rotation of said dividing drum and
bringing opposite the receiving carriage the band corresponding to the block.
inserted, mechanism for unwinding said band and leading it over the receiving
carriage, a damping-roller H for moistening the band unwound, and a stamping-
press K for pressing the band upon the uppermost ticket of the block introduced;.
the whole constructed, combined and operating in the manner and for the purposes.
described and as shewn on accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of April 1897.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.