Patent GB-391210-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical apparatus
Filed: 1931-10-22
Abstract: 391,210. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London.-(Assignees of Bryce, J. W. ; 160, Willard Avenue, Bloomfield, New Jersey, U.S.A.) Oct. 22, 1931, No. 29313. Convention date, Oct. 23, 1930. [Class 106 (i).] Total-taking; combined with punching- machines.-The machine relates to statistical apparatus of the kind in which a master machine is adapted to transmit data to a slave machine. In the present instance the slave machine is a punching-machine to which card-group totals are transmitted so that the punching - machine produces record cards punched with the totals. According to the present invention the data (for each total-card) are transmitted simultaneously, and for this impulses are generated at the slave machine (emitter 137) and transmitted to the master (commutators 20), from which the appropriate impulses are selected and retransmitted to the slave (plugs 138, 139 for punch-selector magnets 136). The tabulating (master) machine is of the kind described in Specification 247,200, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], but having " reading-out " mechanism as in Specification 356,304 for reading the totals off the counters. Each counter-wheel in the tabulator has geared to it brushes 22, 24 of a double commutator 19, 20, Fig. 19. These two brushes are attached to one gear wheel and thus rest on that pair of segments 21 which correspond to the number standing on the counter-wheel. Fig. 19 is the circuit diagram of the tabulator (master) and Fig. 18 the circuit diagram of the punching- apparatus (slave). When the card group changes the reset motor RM is energized to drive the total-taking and reset devices, including the driving of emitter 29. Impulses are thus transmitted differentially by brushes 33, 22 to the printer magnets 14 to print the totals, by arresting the type bars differentially according to the positions of the stationary brushes 22. At the same time a punching- magnet PM, Fig. 18, is energized over a circuit 54, 55, 56 in parallel with the reset motor RM. In a similar way to the above totalprinting the emitter 137 is rotated and - over circuit 140<1>, 21, 24, 26, 138, 139, - the magnets 136 are energized differentially. These magnets 136 control the punch-selecting interposers 113, Fig. 2, as described below. To disconnect the total circuits during adding, the circuits of emitter 29 and commutators 19 are opened at contacts 35 operated by a coil 36 which is energized by cam contacts 37. Selective punching and perforating machines.- Each column of punches 111, Fig. 2, has an interposer 114 mounted on a rack 113, 132 which rises vertically past a pawl 131 in synchronism with the motion of emitter 137 past its brushes 140<1>; this emitter 137 is mounted on a shaft 84 driven by the punch motor PM and the racks 113 are allowed to be spring-raised under control of cams on shaft 84. When a magnet 136, Figs. 18 and 2, is energized from brushes 24, 1401, it withdraws a latch 133 from its associated pawl 131 by rod 134 and armature 135. Pawl 131 thus arrests the interposer 114 opposite the correct punch. Subsequently a plate 112, common to all forty-five columns of punches, is moved to the left to effect punching by a toggle 118, which is straightened by links 117 and levers 116 actuated from cam shaft 84. This punches the total on the counter wheel into the recordcard at the station 119. To prevent automatic restarting of the tabulator, Fig. 19, before the above punching is completed, there are contacts 67 in the restart circuits, Fig. 19, which contacts are maintained open by the armature of punch clutch magnet 56, Fig. 18, as long as the magnet is energized. Magnet 56, when energized, clutches the shaft 84 to the punch motor drive through a onerevolution clutch. Card stop 94, for arresting the card at the punching station, is reciprocated horizontally by links 103, arms 104, arm 106 and cam 107 on shaft 84. An extension of slot 94 engages an arm carrying a card feed roller 95, so that the roller 95 is moved away from. the card whilst the stop 94 is in arresting position. If desired, the above devices could be modified to transmit the letters of the alphabet. Key-set punching devices. In addition to the totals punched in the cards as above described, it may be desired to punch other information (e.g. date, code number) in one or more cards. For this twelve keys 150, Fig. 11, and setting - retaining devices, Fig. 9, act in conjunction with magnets 136, Figs. 18 and 2, with punchselectors 113 other than those employed for the automatic totalpunching described above. The setting- retaining is according to the code shown in Fig. 8. Under the kev levers 151 are four bails 1152A, 1152B, 1152C, 1152D adapted each to close a separate pair of four pairs of contacts 152. Each lever 151 has one or more lugs 1151 engaging the bails and arranged so that when a key is depressed, one or more pairs of contacts 152 are closed corresponding to the code representation for the number on that key. When any key is depressed it lowers a bail 153 and closes contacts 156, but the arm 154 is immediately cammed off by a pin 157 to release the contacts again. Closure of contacts 156, Fig. 18, energizes over line 158 a solenoid 159 which closes its contacts 164 and connects its set of four magnets 165 to conductor bars 116A .. 166D which are in turn connected to contacts 152. As many sets of four magnets 165, each with their pair of commutators 170, as desired are connected through plugs 172 to selected punch-selection magnets 136. The setting-retaining device of each card column consists of four magnets 165, Fig. 9, with brushes 175 and two commutators 170 with conducting spots 176 as shown. When the solenoid 159 is energized those magnets 165 which are in series with closed contacts 152 attract their armatures and shift their brushes 175 axially of the rotating drums 170. Each brush so shifted, moves from one circumferential row to another of spots 176. With no brushes moved, there will be no circuit made as spots 176 rotate past brushes 175. But if certain brushes have been moved (e.g. corresponding to " 4 ") then at the " 4 " time in the cycle, and only then, the spots 176 and brushes 175 will be so related as to close a circuit from line 173 to line 177 and to line 171 leading to the punch-selector magnet 136 which thereupon, Fig. 2, arrests its interposer 114 behind the correct punch. An associated magnet 193 is subsequently energized to restore the shifted brushes 175. If, however, a switch 197, Fig. 18, in series with this magnet, is open, the data manually set up will be read out at each cycle of the punching apparatus. When the first key 150, Fig. 11, is depressed contacts 156 are closed and the first set of four magnets 165 on the left of Fig. 18 are used to control the punching of the information into the associated card column. The action of this section also energizes magnet 168 which opens contacts 161 and closes contacts 161a, so that when the next key 150 is depressed the first set of four magnets 165 is cut out of circuit and the next set is brought into action automatically to control punching in the next column and so on, column by column. To skip a column, the switch 160 for the corresponding section is opened and switches 160a, 160b are closed. Energization of a magnet 168 also closes contacts 161b to light a signal lamp 204. A lighted lamp indicates that the column has an entry or is being skipped. Subtotal-taking.-Separate use of manual punching apparatus. All the connections from the statistical machine, Fig. 19, to the punching apparatus, Fig. 18, may be conveniently embodied in a single multiple cable. By disconnecting this cable, the punching apparatus may be used independently. Alternatively, a switch 139a, Fig. 18, may be opened to disconnect the emitter 137. For this independent action a key 210 is used to energize the circuits, switch 188 being already closed. Closure of a switch 211 causes continued operation of the punch for successive gang punching. This gang punching may be also controlled by commutators 19, 20, Fig. 19. The appropriate connections from 138 to 139, Fig. 18, are made, switch 139a is closed and switch 50, Fig. 19 (auto totals) is opened. At the end of a card group the tabulator motor TM is stopped ; but, since switch 50 is open, the reset motor RM is not energized and totalprinting and resetting do not occur. Switch 211 is then closed and motor PM and magnet 56 are energized ; gang punching continues until switch 211 is opened. The same result will occur if switch 210 is held closed.