Patent GB-1034373-A (GB)
Title: Information storage and retrieval
IPC: G11B7/0033
Filed: 1963-08-26
Abstract: 1,034,373. Statistical apparatus; randomaccess stores. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Aug. 26, 1963 [Sept. 18, 1962], No. 33766/63. Heading G4M. A plurality of magazines 10a-10n, Fig. 1, each containing a plurality of cards have a common card selection system and card transport system whereby any card may be selected from any magazine and be transported to a binary transducing station 24, an analogue transducing station 26 or an optical projection station 28. Cards.-The cards are of plastic material, and those for storing binary or analogue information have a magnetic coating on each side. A plurality of tracks of information are recorded on each side of the cards. A further type of card has four rows of pictures, 16 in each row, the rows being separated by raised guard strips to prevent abrasion of the transparencies. Each card has a unique set of code notches in its bottom edge for selection purposes. Magazines.-Each magazine comprises a box 40, Fig. 7a (not shown), open at each end 44, 46 and at the bottom and has a pair of cardretaining members 48, 50 which normally engage notches 34, 36 in the upper edges of the cards, but which release the cards when solenoid 46 is energized. A set of selector bars 52 and a card-eject bar 54 are common to all the magazines. Card selection.-The set of selector bars consists of a number of pairs of bars (for binary 0 and 1) which are selectively raised by solenoids. On releasing the retaining members 48, 50, Fig. 7a, the selected card drops by the depth of the notches and the remaining cards are supported by the selector bars. The magazine may be vibrated, e.g. by an eccentric, an audio transducer or an electromagnetically operated hammer to facilitate release of the selected card. The retaining members 48, 50 are then reengaged and the selector bars lowered. The selected card is ejected on to the transport system by a bar 54 which engages a notch in the bottom edge of the card and which is moved to project the card out of the end 46 of the magazine. Card transport system.-Once ejected from the magazine, the card is gripped between a pair of conveyer belts and a series of idler rollers which convey the card along guide channel 18, Fig. 1. The card is directed to the appropriate station 24, 26 or 28 by deflectors, which may be either mechanical or pneumatic, one or more passes through the station being performed if required in order to complete the transducing operation. The card is then returned to a magazine, not necessarily the one from which it was taken. Card return mechanism.-The card enters the magazine at the opposite end to that from which it was ejected and slides between grooves 158, 160, Fig. 11 (not shown). A lever 142 is swung against the card so as to bow it inwards, and at the same time a notched cylinder 144 rotating clockwise engages the leading edge of the card and assists in flipping the card out of grooves 158, 160 into the magazine. Binary transducing station.-Correct alignment of the card is ensured by skewed rollers 312 and a sheet of foam plastic 318, Fig. 15c (not shown), which urge the top edge of the card against guide 322. Air inlets 334 provide an air bearing for the card, and vacuum ports 330, 332 draw the card against either the read heads or the write heads as desired. Eight read heads are provided and may be moved to any one of 16 discrete positions by a set of tandemcoupled solenoids having weighted-length armatures, in order to select a particular group of tracks on the card. Analogue transducing station, Fig. 16a (not shown). The card enters by a channel 358 and is arrested by a stop 362, vacuum is then applied through port 364 to hold the card and stop 362 is withdrawn. A set of read and write heads is mounted on a wheel 350 which is continuously rotated. A solenoid 392, Fig. 17a (not shown), is energized to project a pin 394 into engagement with a worm thread 396 so that as shaft 380 rotates, arm 397 is raised and in turn raises shaft 380 and wheel 350 to scan each head across a number of tracks on the card. When pin 394 is retracted shaft 380 and wheel 350 drop to their initial positions. The card is ejected from the station by releasing the card at port 364, whereupon wheel 350 drives the card out through channel 360. Optical projection station, Fig. 18e (not shown).-Four selector bars are selectively operated to release one of 16 stop bars 706 which are notched along the bottom edge and are biased by springs to a retracted position. Energization of an electromagnet 700 causes the released stop bar to project into the card path, and the card is stopped with the desired column opposite a viewing aperture. One of the four pictures in the selected column is selected for projection by means of a mask which is moved vertically by a pair of tandem-coupled solenoids.