Patent GB-426270-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to perforated-record-controlled statistical apparatus
Filed: 1933-09-30
Abstract: 426,270. Statistical apparatus. BARON, H., 231, Strand, London.-(Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges.; Siemensstadt, Berlin) Sept. 30, 1933, No. 26978. [Class 106 (i)] Total-taking; combined with other machines.- A perforated - record - controlled statistical machine includes means actuated in accordance with the controlling record to operate on a single-bank adding machine whereby the latter computes data on the record. The perforated - record - strip controlled mechanism V, Fig. 1, selectively actuates one of ten levers 32 adapted to depress the ten keys of a single bank printing adding machine R. A five-denominational number, say, is entered in the adding machine by five successive depressions of keys, the highest denomination being entered first and an automatic shift taking place in the counter-entering mechanism as successive denominations are entered. In the mechanism shown five-denominational numbers (price) are entered. A counting device 146, Fig. 10 ensures a complete entry before the machine crank 98, Fig. 6, is turned, so that if there are no significant numbers for the higher denominations, then " 0 " s must be entered. Machine R has two adding mechanisms for intermediate totals, key Z, Fig. 2, and final totals, key S. A key -#- cuts out adding when only recording is required. Key h cuts out one of the adding mechanisms. The two machines R and V are on a common base So and machine V pivots about hinge 204, making or breaking circuit connections 207, 209. Switch 163 is the main current switch ; Nv is for setting the salesman's number and keys Ne, Nz, Nh, Nt, Nzt for setting a classification number when it is desired to add into machine R only those data (prices) relating to a particular classification number (goods identification number). Perforated strip, Fig. 15. This is perforated according to a four-point code, of which the four points have the values 1, 2, 4, 8, indicated at the top of each data column in Fig. 15. " 0 " is represented by " 2 " and " 8 " perforations. The single line of perforations at the two edges of the strip are used for strip feed by sprockets 14, Figs. 3 and 4. The numbers punched in the data columns are printed at the right of Fig. 15 by way of explanation. In the first, left-hand, column the " 8 " hole position is used for a special hole " S " controlling the machine operations and the " 1 " " 2 " and " 4 " hole positions are used for the clerks' identification number. The next five columns are used for the goods identification number (e.g. 14726) and the right hand four columns for the price (e.g. 6 marks 75 pfennigs). To permit the apparatus to clear the adding machine of previous accumulations, these nine columns are perforated with " 0 " s., in the first rows. At the lower end of the strip the number " 36 " identifies the adding machine in use. Perforation-reading. The strip passes over the apparatus V in a direction at right angles to the plane of Figs. 1 and 4, is fed by sprockets 14 and is held down by a plate 15. If a bolt 22 is released, plate 15 is raised about pivot 19 by an arm 30 and spring 21. Mounted on plate 15 are the hole-reading brushes 26, Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to contact through holes with individual plates 28, (see also Fig. 20). A ratchet mechanism actuated from a cam on shaft 38 feeds the perforated strip one step at each rotation of shaft 38. Actuating selected adding keys. Main shaft 38, Figs. 6 and 7, is driven by a motor M through a resilient clutch and drives a shaft 46 through a one-revolution clutch 56, 54 so that shaft 46 makes one revolution for nine rotations of shaft 38. Magnet 60 controlling this clutch 54 is energized each time a special brush Bs, Fig. 20 reads the special perforation " S ", Fig. 15. Each of the ten key-actuating levers 32, Fig. 6, is pivoted on rod 31, is controlled by a spring 33, and has pivoted to it at 32e a bell-crank 36. The ten cranks 36 coact with four translator bars 67 ... 70, Fig. 9<a>, which are selectively moved according to the strip-holes read. These bars have notches so arranged that whatever combination of bars is moved, there will only be one row of four aligned notches in the four bars. This permits only the crank 36 corresponding to the hole read, to rock counter-clockwise, Fig. 6. By this movement the lower end of crank 36 comes under a bar 88 which is subsequently lowered by roller 92 and a cam on shaft 38 to pull down the crank 36 and its lever 32 to depress the corresponding adding key. The levers 32 rebound against a sound-damping (paper) bar 35. When a strip column is read one or more of four magnets M1 ... M8, Fig. 20, is energized to remove one or more stops from the path of lugs 67<a> ... 70<a> on the bars 67 ... 70. Subsequently an arresting member is moved by a cam on shaft 38 to allow springs actuating the bars to slide those bars whose lugs 67<a> ... 70<a> are not obstructed. This gives the appropriate alignment of notches to permit the movement of the key-actuating lever 32 corresponding to the perforation value read. When the full number has been entered on the adding keys, printing and adding of the number into the counters is effected by rocking the crank 98. When bar 88 depresses the lower end of crank 36 to actuate the key, crank 36 rocks lever 110, 111 about pivot 109 so that its end 111 is removed from nose 102<a >of hook 102 pivoted at 101 to bar 100. Hook 102 engages pin 103 on a lever 105 which is subsequently rocked about pivot 104 by pin 108 and cam 107 on shaft 38, whereby bar 100 would be moved to the right to rock the crank 98. Until all five denominational digits have been entered on the keys, however, rocking of the crank is prevented by the full-entry device described below. The special keys on the adding machine are actuated by levers 113, equivalent to the numeral-key levers 32, also pivoted at 31 and controlled by levers 115 and cams on shaft 46. The special key levers 115 are actuated, when released, by springs 114. To reduce friction these cams are lubricated by oil-impregnated felt strips 202 backed by metal strips 203. The cams on shaft 38, or shaft 46, are spaced apart by rings and threaded by common rods to prevent relative rotation. Each shaft may be removed bodily with its cams and a scale is provided to indicate the angular setting of the cams. Full-entry device. The following device ensures that the crank 98 of the adding machine can only be rocked after the digits for all denominations (five in the present instance) have been entered on the keys. If there are no significant figures in the higher denominations then " 0 " is perforated in the strip and the " 0 " keys must be depressed the appropriate number of times. The end 153a of a lever 153 normally rides on the periphery of a cam 148 and lies in the path, Fig. 10, of a lug 100c on the bar 100, Fig. 6, so that the latter cannot rock the crank 98. A ratchet 146 with fifteen teeth is rigid with a disc 148 with three notches 148<a>. Ratchet 146 is advanced one tooth by pawl 145 each time a key is struck so that only after five keys have been struck will a notch 148<a> reach the point 153<a>, thus allowing arm 153 to rise and unlock the bar 150. A toothed disc 147 and a roller 149 on arm 151 serve for aligning the discs 146, 148. Rigid with parts 146, 148 is an indicating disc which shows a red mark through a window whenever the end 153<a> is in a notch 148<a>. In a modification of this indicator, means is provided for advancing the disc 146 manually, provided the end 153<a> is not in a notch 148<a>. Plurality of strip-controlled devices. Three strip-controlled mechanisms V, Fig. 13, may be associated with three adding machines (R Fig. 1). In this event the one strip passes through all three mechanisms V. If one mechanism V stops, together with its portion of the strip, whilst the others continue, the following mechanism prevents the strip tearing. As the strip passes out of each device V it passes under the forward arm 210<a>, Fig. 7<a>, of a lever 210 pivoted at 211. If the mechanism stops, the strip tension increases, arm 210 is raised, and, through its lug 215, releases an arm 212 pivoted at 213. Finger 212<a> on arm 212 thereby rotates bolt 22 anti-clockwise about its pivot 22<a>, against the spring 216, whereby plate 15 is raised automatically, Fig. 4, to release the strip. The tension in spring 132 is also slackened so that arm 133 and roller 134 release the wheel 131 on the card feed shaft 13. Splitting machine.-Operations of machine. If all the data in the price columns of the strip, Fig. 15, are to be entered into the adding machine, the switches Ne, Nz, Nh, Nt, Nzt, and Nv, Fig. 2, are set to zero. The four sets of brushes Bel ... Be8, Bzl ... Bz8, Bhl ... Bh8, and Bt1 ... Bt8, Fig. 20, read the four price denominations successively, commencing at the highest denomination. The units set of brushes is on the right and the thousands set to the left. The five sets of brushes Gel ... Gzt8 to the left read the goods identification number commencing with the units set on the right, and control the relays Rel ... RztB with contacts re1 ... rzt8. The five sets of contacts nel ... ne8, nzl ...nz8, &c. up to nzt8 are cam contacts operated by five cam drums settable by the five switches Ne, ... Nzt of Fig. 2-in the present instance set to " 0 ". Each cam drum similarly operates five contacts nel ... ne8<1>, &c., and ne &c. In this case, for every digit read a circuit is completed which energizes the appropriate one or more of the four magnets M1 ... M8 corresponding to the four hole positions of the code and controlling the translator bars 67 ... 70, Figs. 6 and 9a. To alter the splitting of the columns, the switch U, Fig. 20, may be moved so that the brushes Gel ... Ge8 reading the goods identification number (units) is switched to read a fifth denomination in the price. It it is desired to add the sales of a particular clerk, the clerk's switch Nv, Fig. 2, is set to the clerk's number. In th