Electronic printing calculator

Claim 2

In an apparatus for handling a number having a maximum quantity of digits, each digit being one of the first 10 cardinal numerals, the combination comprising: a first means for storing the digits of a first number; second means for storing a second number indicative of the quantity of decimal fraction digits in the number stored in said first storage means; means for initiating the printing of the contents of said first storage means; means for printing the individual cardiNal numeral symbol associated with successive ones of the digits in said first storage means; means for incrementing the contents of said second means for each printed cardinal numeral symbol; means for comparing said contents with a predetermined number; means for generating a decimal point print signal when said contents and said predetermined number are equal; said printing means including means responsive to said decimal point print signal for effecting the printing of a decimal point symbol.

Claim 3

In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said first storage means is a multistage storage means having as many stages as said maximum quantity of digits of said first number, individual digits of said first number occupying individual stages of said first storage means.

Claim 4

In an apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first storage means and said second storage means include an acoustic delay line.

Claim 5

In an apparatus according to claim 2 wherein there is further included a single digit storage means coupled to said printing means, and means responsive to said printing initiating means for transferring, one by one, in a predetermined order, the digits stored in said first storage means to said single digit storage means; said printing means printing the individual cardinal numeral symbol associated with the digit transferred into said single digit storage means.

Claim 6

In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined number is nine.

Claim 7

In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for incrementing includes means for adding the numeral nine to said contents.

Claim 8

In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second storage means are implemented on an information-recirculating delay line.

Claim 9

In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is further included a set of manually operable switches for effecting entry of digits, one by one, into said first storage means; a manually operable decimal point indicative switch; means responsive to the operation of said decimal point indicative switch for counting the number of times individual ones of said set of manually operable switches are operated subsequent to operation of said decimal point indicative switch and for entering said count of the number of times said manually operable switches are operated into said second storage means.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for handling a number having a maximum quantity of digits, each digit being one of the first 10 cardinal numerals, the combination comprising: a first storage means for storing the digits of a first number; means for initiating the printing of the contents of said storage means; means for printing the individual cardinal numeral symbol associated with the individual digits of the number stored in said storage means, said printing means including spacing means for selectively printing adjacent symbols with a normal symbol-to-symbol spacing, and control means for altering said spacing in response to a first signal; and cyclical counting means coupled to said printing means for counting the quantity of symbols printed after operation of said printing-initiating means and for generating said first signal when a predetermined count is contained therein, wherein the cardinal numeral symbols associated with a number in said storage means are printed in groups, each group being separated from adjacent groups by a greater than normal symbol-to-symbol spacing.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for handling a number having a maximum quantity of digits, each digit being one of the first 10 cardinal numerals, the combination comprising: a first storage means for storing the digits of a first number; means for initiating the printing of the contents of said storage means; means for printing the individual cardinal numeral symbol associated with the individual digits of the number stored in said storage means, said printing means including spacing means for selectively printing adjacent symbols with a normal symbol-to-symbol spacing, and control means for altering said spacing in response to a first signal; and cyclical counting means coupled to said printing means for counting the quantity of symbols printed after operation of said printing-initiating means and for generating said first signal when a predetermined count is contained therein, wherein the cardinal numeral symbols associated with a number in said storage means are printed in groups, each group being separated from adjacent groups by a greater than normal symbol-to-symbol spacing.

Claim 12

In an apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said storage means includes an information recirculating delay line.

Claim 13

In an apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said cyclical counting means comprises a scale of three counter.

Claim 14

In an apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is further included: second means for storing a second number indicative of the quantity of decimal fraction digits in the number stored in said first storage means; means for comparing the number stored in said second storage means with the quantity of times a cardinal numeral symbol is printed after operation of and in response to said means for initiating printing, said means for comparing generating a second signal when the number of times a cardinal numeral symbol is printed by said printing means is equal to the number contained in said second storage means; said printing means being responsive to said second signal for effecting the printing of a decimal point symbol; and means for rendering said cyclical counting means nonoperative until the occurrence of said second signal.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for handling a plurality of numbers, each number having a maximum quantity of digits, the combination comprising: a plurality of storage means; means for entering a number into a first one of said storage means, said number-entering means including means for transferring the contents of certain ones of said storage means into certain other ones of said storage means as a number is entered into said first one of said storage means; means for printing the cardinal numeral symbols associated with the individual digits of the numbers stored in said storage means; means for initiating printing of the number stored in said first storage means; and means conditioned by the printing of the number stored in said first storage means for initiating printing of each of the numbers stored in each of said storage means according to a predetermined order.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for handling a plurality of numbers, each number having a maximum quantity of digits, the combination comprising: a plurality of storage means; means for entering a number into a first one of said storage means, said number-entering means including means for transferring the contents of certain ones of said storage means into certain other ones of said storage means as a number is entered into said first one of said storage means; means for printing the cardinal numeral symbols associated with the individual digits of the numbers stored in said storage means; means for initiating printing of the number stored in said first storage means; and means conditioned by the printing of the number stored in said first storage means for initiating printing of each of the numbers stored in each of said storage means according to a predetermined order.

Claim 17

In an apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means for entering a number into said first storage means includes a set of manually operable cardinal numeral representing switches, and wherein said means for initiating printing includes a manually operable switch means.

Claim 18

In an apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each of said storage means includes means for storing a value indicative of the quantity of decimal fraction digits in the number stored in the associated storage means; means for incrementing the contents of each of said value-storing means for each printed cardinal numeral symbol corresponding to said number in said associated storage means; means for comparing said contents with a predetermined number; means for generating a decimal point print signal when said contents and said predetermined number are equal; said printing means including means responsive to said decimal point print signal for effecting the printing of a decimal point symbol.

Claim 19

In an apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said printing means includes spacing means for selectively printing adjacent symbols with a normal symbol-to-symbol spacing, and control means for altering said spacing in response to a first signal; cyclical counting means coupled to said printing means for counting the quantity of symbols printed as each number stored in each of said storage means is printed and for generating said first signal when a predetermined count is contained therein, wherein the cardinal numeral symbols associated with the numbers in each of said storage means are printed in groups, each group being separated from adjacent groups by a greater than normal symbol-to-symbol spacing; and means for resetting said cyclical counting means to an initial state after said symbol corresponding to the most significant digit of said each number has been printed.

Claim 20

In an apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said cyclical counting means comprises a scale of three counter.

Claim 21

In an apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said each of said storage means includes means for storing a value indicative of the quantity of decimal fraction digits in the number stored in the associated storage means; means for incrementing the contents of each of said value-storing means for each printed cardinal numeral symbol corresponding to said number in said associated storage means; means for comparing said contents with a predetermined number; means for geneRating a decimal point print signal when said contents and said predetermined number are equal; said printing means including means responsive to said decimal point print signal for effecting the printing of a decimal point symbol; said printing means including spacing means for selectively printing adjacent symbols associated with a number being printed with a normal symbol-to-symbol spacing, and control means for altering said spacing in response to a second signal; cyclical counting means coupled to said printing means for counting the quantity of symbols printed subsequent to printing of said decimal point symbol as each number stored in each of said storage means is printed and for generating said second signal when a predetermined count is contained therein, wherein the cardinal numeral symbol associated with the whole number portion of the numbers in each of said storage means are printed in groups, each group being separated from adjacent groups by a greater than normal symbol-to-symbol spacing; and means for resetting said cyclical counting means to an initial state after said symbol corresponding to the most significant digit of said each number has been printed.

Claim 22

In an apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said cyclical counting means comprises a scale of three counter.

Claim 23

In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said printing-initiating means includes a manually operable switch means, and said printing means includes a type wheel secured to a rotatably mounted shaft; power means for rotating said shaft; and means for energizing said power means in response to operation of said manually operable switch means.