Patent GB-235568-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card-controlled statistical machines
Filed: 1925-06-10
Abstract: 235,568. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Bryce, J. W.). June 11, 1924, [Convention date]. Record - controlled electric driving mechanism. - Statistical machines in which the cards are read in motion are provided with apparatus for converting the combinationhole reading of a Peirce code card into the equivalent of the single-hole reading of a Hollerith card with ten index points to each column. The invention is described as applied to a machine having the adding and printing mechanisms set out in Specification 229,660, in which the type-bars 10 are arrested diffentially by latches 14 operated by magnets 15. Depression of starting key 27 starts the motor 21 through a circuit 30a, stop-key 30, magnet 29, key 27, and line 28, magnet 29 initiating a holding circuit through cam contact 32. Card contact' 25 and contacts 33, 34 subsequently close to complete a circuit through magnets 36, 37, of which 37 initiates a second motor-holding circuit through wire 38. A circuit 28, 33, 34, 40 and 41 is then completed to contacts 42, 43, these latter contacts only connecting wires 41 and 44 to common bar 45 momentarily when the card 50 is in the correct reading position relative to the four brushes 46 .. 49, thus obviating false readings. These four reading brushes read simultaneously the four index points of the column, and are connected through resistances 51, magnet windings 52 .. 55, and wire 56 to line 180. There are four brushes for each card column. When one or more brushes read holes, the appropriate windings 52 .. 55 attract their armatures 57 .. 60, which are latched up by members 61. The armature 57 is connected by a link to a pivoted arm 57a coacting with contacts 64, 65; armature 58 is linked to two arms 58a, 58b, coacting with contacts 66 . . 69; armature 59 is linked to four arms 59a . . 59d operating contacts 77 .. 86. The contacts and arms are interconnected electrically as shown, arm 57a being joined to wire 90a, contacts 90, 91 and wire 180 and contacts 77 .. 86 being connected to ten separate plates 88 marked 0 .. 9 and set in an insulating bar 96. Rotating synchronously with the type-bars 10 are contact members 94, 95 on an arm 92 fixed to a shaft 97 so that when one member 94 rubs over the plates from 0 to 9, the other member 95 contacts with a bar 93 connected to magnet 15, wire 99, and line 190. In one machine cycle the shaft 97 makes half a revolution. According to the combination of holes in a column, various of t'he armatures 57 . . 60 are raised, and certain of the contacts 64 . . 86 are made and broken so that the line 902 is connected to the correct plate 88 corresponding to the number represented in the column by one or more perforations. For instance, if a column is perforated to represent " 6," the first and fourth brushes 49 and 46 read holes and armatures 60 and 57 are raised and latched up, raising arms 57a and 60a .. 60g, armatures 58 and 59 remaining stationary. A circuit is then completed as follows :-line 180, contacts 90, 91, line 90a, contacts 64, 58a, 67, 59b, 72, 60c, 79 to the plate 88 marked " 6," members 94, 95, bar 93, magnet 15 which differentially arrests the type-bar with the " 6 " at the printing position, and wire 99 to line 190. At the end of the card cycle contacts 101 close to energize a magnet 63, thus moving to the right a bar 62 which unlatches all latched-up armatures 57 . . 60. Specification 207,959, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], is referred to.