Patent GB-593506-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to combined counting and sorting apparatus
Filed: 1945-05-10
Abstract: 593,506. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO.; Ltd. May 10, 1945, No. 11797. Convention date, May 10, 1944. [Class 106 (i)] In a sorting machine for record cards &c., a plurality of unit counters are arranged in a circle and are operated by a common actuator and a single magnet which rotates past the counters in synchronism with the sensing of a card.. When the magnet is energized opposite a counter, means operate to cause the counter to be operated by the actuator. Fig. 1 shows the counting apparatus embodied in a known type of sorting machine in which a magnet, energized when a brush senses a hole in a column of a card, divides a group of sorting blades to provide a passageway to convey the card into the one of a series of pockets 16 corresponding with the position of the hole in the card. A series of counters (of known type) are provided, corresponding with the pockets 16 of the sorting machine, for representing the number of cards in each pocket and also the total &c. A shaft 45, Fig. 6, driven from the mainshaft of the sorting machine, carries a member 46 bearing a magnet 48, Fig. 5. The magnet 48 passes in succession a series of latches 50 and, when energized by an impulse from the sorting brush, pulls the latch to which it is opposite and releases an arm 53 to be pulled by its spring 54 against a flange 61 on a collar 60 on an eccentric 59 turning with the shaft 45. As the shaft 45 continues its rotation the eccentric pushes the arm 53 radially outwards together with a plunger 56 which, through a pin-andslot connection 63, 64, rocks a bail 65 carrying a pawl 70 which adds a unit into the counter in known manner. Thus, each time a card is deflected into a pocket a unit is added to a corresponding counter, and also to totals counters MT, IT, GT. Cards with no designation which are passed to the reject pocket are counted by a counter RE. To print the numbers standing on the series of counters, a paper strip 106, Fig. I and 4, is fed from a supply roll 107 and over a platen 99, and the drum carrying the counters, Fig. 6, is released from its detent 85 by pressing a button 86, and then rotated by a handle 98, Fig. 1, so that the type wheels of each counter in turn contact an inking roller 110 and then print the amount on the paper strip, feeding it forward at the same time. To reset the counters, a button 126 is depressed removing a pin 124 from a notch on a wheel integral with a handle, 122 which is then rotated. The handle 122 is mounted on a shaft 21, Fig. 6, which carries a mutilated gear wheel 120 ; this engages one of the gears 113 associated with each counter and through it rotates a toothed ring 118. The majority of the gears 113 are fixed to their shafts and so zeroize the counters as the toothed ring 118 rotates ; the gears 113 associated with the RE, MT, IT and GT counters, however, are free on the shaft but are adapted to be coupled with a collar 114, Fig. 5, fixed to the shaft by a screw 115 rotated by a hand wheel 116 (see also Fig. 1). A lever 128, Fig. 4, cooperating with a fulcrum pin 130 prevents printing and resetting from being carried out at the same time, and extensions 127 on each key stem open contacts 31 to disable the sorting machine during either of these operations. The machine may be adapted to count all holes in a single column while sorting on the first hole, or counting may be effected in response to only preselected holes. A selected group of holes may be counted while sorting is controlled by another group of holes. Again the sorting operation may be suppressed while counting proceeds, and vice versa. The occurrence of cards having selected multi-digit amount may be counted,&c.