Patent GB-529053-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical machines photoelectrically controlled by records
Filed: 1939-05-10
Abstract: 529,053. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. May 10, 1939, No. 14011. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group XL] A photo-electric statistical machine adapted to read and store data from records for transfer to accumulator and other mechanism comprises means photo-electrically controlled by one or more columns of the record for determining which data shall be transferred and what use shall be made of the transferred data. The records are shown on a photographic film 199, Fig. 1, containing a reproduction of an original document such as a cheque at the side of each record, which is of the kind comprising transparent or opaque spots one in each column 1 to 16 at varying levels 0-9 representing digits for example. The film is fed in a known way from a reel 215, Fig. 2, to a reel 216 when a clutch is in engagement to transmit a drive from a continuously rotating sleeve 234 to a shaft 221. The records on the film pass between plates 225 formed with scanning holes 226a one for each column of the record. One side is illuminated by a lamp 210 with a cylindrical lens 227 ; and each hole on the other side is connected by a quartz rod 228 to a photoelectric cell 211 connected to an amplifier controlling relays. The Specification also describes known forms of accumulator and other mechanism more fully described in U.S.A. Specification 1,976,617 for making use of the photo-electric readings of the records for such purposes as additions, subtractions and printing. The Specification also describes a known kind of storing mechanism, Fig. 5. According to one form of the invention, the transfer of the stored data is controlled by a spot 204S in the column 1 of the record in conjunction with a set of cam contacts c1, c2, c6 ... c10, Fig. 4 on the continuously rotating shaft 241, which, as shown is also provided with a cam device 270 for operating a printing mechanism in a known way. The cam contacts are associated with the other electric devices as shown in the diagrams Figs. 6 and 6A. The photo-electric cells 211 at the top of Fig. 6 are connected by amplifiers 212 to relays A1 ... A6. Below this is shown the start and stop keys 336, 338 in series through various contact with coils R1, 229, 272. On the left, is shown the cam contact C1 associated with contacts A1a ... A6a of the photo-electric relays, contacts D1 ... D6 of the storing mechanism, and cam contact C2 ; on the right is shown the coils relating to the various mechanisms ; and in the centre contacts belonging to various relays connected to sockets 13 ... 26 adapted to be connected in various ways to sockets 1 ... 12 and 25 the devices on the left and sockets 45 ... 69 of the devices on the right. Fig. 6A which is a continuation of Fig. 6, shows the cam contacts c6 ... c10 and the contacts and coils associated therewith as well as the main motor 217, the lamp 210 for the photoelectric scanning of the records, and the main double switch 335. By suitable connections between the various sockets, the machine can be made to perform various functions in which stored data are transferred or 'not and when transferred are used in one way or another under automatic photo-electric control by the spot 204 S of the record. In another form of the invention, columns 1, 2, 3, of the record are used for controlling the functions of the machine in conjunction with adjustable registers. Suitable connections of sockets are made as in the first form and when the machine is working, the data read photoelectrically from the columns 1, 2, 3 are compared with the data set on the registers. The correspondence or lack of correspondence between the compared data determines whether the data read and stored from other columns of the record are transferred or not; and the transferred data are used in various ways depending on the connections made. Specifications 256,223, [Class 106 (i)], 429,950 and 497,054, [Group XL], are referred to.