Patent GB-852827-A (GB)
Title: Accounting machine with means for sensing magnetic records
Filed: 1957-09-16
Abstract: 852,827. Accounting- machines; magnetic record-card machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Sept. 16, 1957 [Sept. 19, 1956], No. 29042/57. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XVI] A calculating-machine is combined with means for sensing a magnetic record and for causing the entry of an amount read from the record into the calculating-machine, and comprises checking members settable in accordance with an amount so entered and means for comparing the setting of the checking members with the magnetically recorded amount during a further reading operation and for locking the calculating-machine against further normal operation in the absence of agreement. The invention is applied to an accounting machine adapted for dealing with banking transactions and generally similar to that described in Specification 648,389. The present machine, Fig. 1, prints on a record strip and on an inserted ledger card, Fig. 3A, which bears a magnetic record of the balance and of the next available printing line, this information being entered into the machine automatically in a Balance Pick-up operation. After new items have been set up on the keyboard and entered, a New Balance operation is performed in which the new balance is magnetically recorded on the card in place of the former balance. Certain of the controls are effected by solenoids, and various mechanisms and timing cams control contacts, in relay circuits, Fig. 106 (only part of which is shown), to ensure a proper sequence of operations and to prevent incorrect operation. The machine has the usual differential mechanisms controlled by rows of amount and transaction keys and has two lines of totalizers, one of which serves as a balance totalizer. Indicating drums 298 are set by ring gearing from the differential mechanisms. An account number keyboard enables a set account number to be compared with one magnetically recorded on the ledger card to ensure that the correct card has been selected. Main differential mechanisms.-These are of well-known type with the addition in each of the amount banks of a check and recording plate 123, Fig. 6, rotatably positioned by a link 305 connected to the minimum-movement mechanism and aligned by a bar 308. Each plate 123 has an initially adjustable rise in an otherwise circular periphery which is sensed, as described below, in certain checking and recording operations. The Row 2 transaction differential mechanism also positions a check plate. After depression of an Eject key, the Row 3 transaction differential mechanism is arranged to close switch contacts, Fig. 67 (not shown), in the control circuits, whereas the Total (Row 1) differential mechanism is arranged to close one pair of contacts, Fig. 65 (not shown), when in a New Balance position and another pair when in a New Balance-Non Transfer position. Auxiliary differential mechanisms.-The usual differentially settable spider 204, Fig. 6, of each amount bank carries a stud 381 by which it can be arrested by an associated auxiliary differential mechanism comprising a stop arm 122 movably supported by an arm 367 and a lever 366. A latch 370 carried by the latter has a stud 371 in a slot of a segment 373 and is controlled by a driving member 375 on a shaft 369 rockable by the auxiliary driving mechanism described below. In a magnetic record reading operation, the member 375 carries the latch 370 and segment 373 with it counter-clockwise until a solenoid 119 is de-energized under the control of the reading circuits as described below and releases a pawl 120 to arrest the segment. The latch is then rocked outwardly so that its stud 371 engages a notch 363 in a locking plate 364. The stop arm 122 is thus positioned to correspond to the time of release of the solenoid 119. When the members 375 are restored, a stud 385 in each restores the corresponding segment and latch. A similar mechanism is provided for the Row 2 transaction differential mechanism and is controlled by the sign channel Q so as to arrest that differential mechanism in the Balance and Overdraft Pick-Up positions for positive and negative balances respectively. Auxiliary driving mechanism.-The operating shaft 369 for the auxiliary differential mechanism and other mechanisms which are required to operate during the reading or writing of the magnetic record of a ledger card are actuated by a rack 389, Fig. 16, reciprocated by a cam 386 on a shaft 387 which rotates with a cam shaft 428 driven through 2: 1 gearing from a one-revolution clutch, in turn driven by a constantly running auxiliary motor, Fig. 10 (not shown). Thus when the clutch is tripped, the rack 389 is moved from one extreme position to the other. In addition to rotating the shaft 369 so as to set or reset the auxiliary differential mechanism, the rack 389 also operates through adjustable gearing a drive pinion 543 for a feed table 519 for the ledger card so as to cause the table to be fed into, or out of, the machine. The one-revolution clutch is tripped by a solenoid and this is energized initially over a switch closed by the rotation of a shaft caused by a further solenoid energized on operation of Balance Pick-Up Motor bar 113, Fig. 1, to cause an inward movement of the table. The solenoid is also energized (a) at the end of the main machine operation in which the old balance is entered or immediately after the inward movement of the table in the event of a pawl-check or account number-comparison failure or if an amount key is depressed (see below), to cause an outward movement of the table; (b) in a New Balance operation as soon as the table reaches its outer position so as to cause it to move back into the machine; and (c) in a New Balance operation as soon as the table reaches its innermost position to cause it to be fed out again. The circuits controlling the solenoid for this purpose comprise contacts controlled directly or by means of a relay by the checking circuits, the control keys, the function control switch, cams on the printer cam shaft of the machine, and cams on the shaft 428 of the auxiliary driving mechanism, which shaft rotates half of a revolution at each operation of that mechanism. Machine release.-Depression of any of the Row 2 Transaction keys, other than the Overdraft key, shifts a release bar to close a switch to energize the release control relay which in turn energizes a release solenoid, Fig. 60 (not shown), which rocks a tripping lever to free the usual machine release shaft for rocking to effective position under the action of a spring. A cam on that shaft opens contacts to ensure de-energization of the solenoid. An arm rocked by a detent bar associated with the Row 2 keys co-operates with an arm on the release shaft to prevent release of the machine if a key is only partially depressed and to prevent depression of a Row 2 key while the release shaft is in effective position. The keys of Row 1, except the Subtotal and Clear Total keys, co-operate with a further release bar which closes a switch to energize a further relay which also causes operation of the release solenoid. In a Balance Pick-up operation, the main driving mechanism is released automatically when the ledger card table reaches its inner position; the release solenoid in this case being energized over contacts closed by a cam on the cam shaft 428 of the auxiliary driving mechanism. Keyboard interlocks.-The usual slides are associated with the rows of Transaction keys to block depression of various ones of these keys on depression of other ones and to enable or disable an automatic cheque-counting mechanism such as is described in Specification 629,707. In addition certain of the keys are blocked by slides actuated by a solenoid when the magnetic record of the ledger card has been read incorrectly. Moreover, a full Balance Pick-Up operation is prevented if an amount or cheque-counting key is depressed. For this purpose, the zero step throw-out shaft carries a parallel rod which cooperates with slides controlled by the amount and cheque-counting keys so that if one of these keys is depressed, the shaft cannot rock. Normally, the shaft is rocked in a Balance Pick-Up operation by mechanism, Fig. 68 (not shown), actuated by a cam rotated by the auxiliary driving mechanism. When the shaft rocks, it opens a switch which causes operation of the machine release shaft, and if it is prevented from rocking in a Balance Pick-up operation, a full machine cycle will not be initiated but the ledger card table will be immediately returned to its initial position. In other total operations, a shaft aligned with this zero stop throw-out shaft is rocked by the total control mechanism and rocks the latter shaft also, so as to block depression of the amount and cheque-counting keys. Account number keyboard.-This is formed as a unit 112, Fig. 1, separate from the main keyboard and comprises three banks of account number keys each comprising ten depressible keys 1463, Figs. 86 and 88, supported in insulating material and having studs 1475 cooperating with similar but reversed slides 1480 and 1481, and studs 1483 for moving contact fingers 1492 of a contact member common to the bank into engagement with individual contacts 1494. The slides 1480, 1481 have alternate camming and latching projection 1488, 1487 and a spring 1489 urges them in opposite directions. The arrangement in each bank is such that on depression of a single key, any other depressed key is released and the newly depressed key is latched, while if two adjacent keys are depressed, the bank is cleared. Setting Account number differential mechanisms under the control of the Account Number Keyboard switches.-Three auxiliary differential mechanisms similar to those described above are provided for the three account number denominations. In each of these denominations, the solenoid which arrests the differential mechanism is controlled either by the magnetic record or by the switches of the corres