Patent GB-735329-A (GB)
Title: Record controlled printing, card punching and like machines
Filed: 1952-12-18
Abstract: 735,329. Statistical apparatus. BURROUGHS ADDING MACHINE CO. Dec. 18, 1952 [June 7, 1952], No. 32132/52. Class 106 (1). [Also in Groups VIII and XVI] Supplementary electronic control means, rendered operable upon any one of a plurality of electronic control devices each representative of data coded into records in columns on cards fed to a record-controlled machine for printing, card punching or like recording machine becoming operative, are provided, to indicate, through a circuit controlled jointly by all the supplementary control means, failure of any one of the control devices to effect its intended function. Thus, the feeding of cards to the machine is stopped automatically and/or an alarm such as a light signal, is given, if there is a failure in the sensing and/or the control devices such as would result in a defect in printing, card punching or other recording operation. In the form of apparatus described, punched record cards 35, Fig. 1, are fed in succession, by a reciprocating picker 44 and operable through linkage 46, on energization of a solenoid 47 connected to the linkage, to rollers 37 by which they are passed to a sensing station having a line of brushes 38 which sense successively, the index points of its related column of data and contact a roll 39 through which an emitter 61, Figs. 7, 7A (not shown), a wiring arrangement and an electronic control device identified with the digit sensed and comprising a gas-filled thyratron is selected to prepare circuits through a network to cause these electromagnets which are required to effect and print the identified digit to be energized. A billing form 41, Fig. 3, is fed in time relation to the sensing of the cards, to a ribbon 42 of a platen 43 opposite a print head block 12 of a printing station such as that described in Specification 695,127. The solenoid 47 is energized by closing a line switch S, Fig. 8, and, on manual depression of a card feed switch CFS, card feeding is started. Switch CFS closes a circuit to energize a start relay 48 from a positive line 49 from a D.C. power supply. Relay 48 closes a holding contact 55, under control of a breaker cam C1 to form a holding circuit for the relay 48. Contact 56 is opened by relay 48 to break a circuit containing an error signal lamp 57, and this lamp remains extinguished as long as relay 48 is energized. Relay 48 also closes a contact 58 to energize solenoid 47, by a circuit from positive line 49, to start feeding. When feeding commences manual pressure on switch CFS is relieved to avoid de-energization of relay 48 by cam C1 which momentarily opens its contact in the hold line to relay 48 shortly after this is energized. The machine continues to function automatically until circuit to feed solenoid 47 is broken by opening of contact 58. As a brush makes contact with roll 39 through a perforation in a card, circuits are made through a circuit containing the emitter 61 to select and cause to function from a group of electronic control devices T0-T9, Fig. 7A (not shown), the one identified with the digit sensed, and circuits are prepared through a network to energize these electromagnets, 30, Fig. 2 (not shown), required to effect printing of that digit. The control device selected, if it functions properly, enables the machine automatically to continue card feeding operations. If the device does not function, a control relay 66, in series in the plate line of a thyratron tube T12, Fig. 1 (not shown), is not energized, since tube T12 is not rendered conductive, contact 105 does not close and hold circuit through contact 55 to relay 48 is broken. Contact 58 opens to break circuit of coil of solenoid 47 to stop card-feeding. Also, lamp contact 56 closes and error signal lamp 57 lights by circuit from line 51 and earth line 54 through lamp 53 and positive conductor 108.