Patent GB-541092-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machinery for sorting record cards
Filed: 1940-05-09
Abstract: 541,092. Statistical-apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation). May 9, 1940, No. 8403. [Class 106 (i)] A machine for sorting record cards of the kind in which the different items of data are represented by different combinations of one or more code designations comprises card reading and feeding means, a sorting mechanism under the control of a sorting magnet to direct the card into one or other of two card pockets, a translator mechanism including indicator contacts, one for each item of data, selectively operable under the control of translator elements, and a selector device to connect the contacts selectively to the sorting magnet so as to direct the card to one or other pocket according to whether the selected contact is or is not operated. The sorting of the different items in a selected card field and column is thus effected in a succession of runs of the cards through the machine. The cards are of the kind shown in Fig. 1 with upper and lower fields having four index point positions and perforated in accordance with the code shown in Fig. 7. The combination denoted by "S" serves to effect an automatic control of the machine. Card feeding and reading means.-The cards are stacked in a magazine 12, Fig. 2, and fed by a picker 11 to pairs of feed rollers 13. The cards pass between a set of four reading brushes 14 and a contact plate 14a. The brushes are carried in a holder 14b movable across the machine to select the desired column. A manually operated switch serves to select the particular field. The passage of the cards to the sorting pocket A or reject pocket R is controlled by a sorting magnet 16. Translator mechanism.-This mechanism which prepares distinctive circuits to the sorting magnet 16 in response to the code perforations comprises four differentially notched slides 33, Figs. 4, 5 and 8, with co-operating bars 40 for controlling indicator contacts 50 and noting contacts 60. The slides 33 are normally held against the action of springs 35 by the armatures 31, 32 of control magnets 30 I-IV engaging recesses 34 in the slides. The magnets 30 are arranged in the circuits of the brushes 14. The contact operating bars 40 are pivotally mounted and each has a projection 42 engaging a cam 29 on a shaft 27 the rotation of which permits the appropriate bar 40 to move inwardly under the pressure of the blade of its contact 50 thereby closing the related contacts and opening the related contacts 60. This setting up of the contacts is effected during the first run of the cards through the machine when those with a "o" representation. are sorted and to maintain the setting of the contacts 60 a latch 61 is provided to hold them in open position for succeeding runs of the card. A restoring magnet 97 serves to release the latches 61 at a predetermined time. A gear 21 in the train of gears driving the feed rollers 13, is operatively connected to the shaft 27 and to a shaft 24 carrying a cam 36 which serves to restore the slides 33. Selector device and circuit arrangement.-The selector means is constituted by commutator switches 84, 85 attached to the rear of the casing and wired up to the pairs of contacts 60, 50 as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. The contact arms 87, 92 are mounted on a shaft 83 with a ratchet wheel 82 operated by the armature of a magnet 80. The "o" segment of the commutator is left blank. The column selection having been made by the crank handle 17, the card field is selected by raising or lowering the switch arm 104. A start key 70 is then depressed to close the circuit of the motor control magnet 71. A holding circuit is maintained through contacts 76 and a stop key 75. A special card with the "S" designation is placed on top of the stack of cards and a switch 51 is placed in the position shown. At the beginning of the first sorting run the contact arms 92, 87 stand in the "o" positions to initiate an operation under control of the "o" items at the end of which the "S" card steps on the contact arms to the "I" segments. The "o" cards are passed to the pocket A while the remainder with the "S" card are directed to pocket R. During this first run the contacts 50 and 60 are operated according to the digital items contained in the cards. The reject cards are then placed in the magazine for a second sorting run under control of the "I" segments. If no "I" designation cards are present the sorting run is eliminated and the contacts stepped on automatically and so on. At the termination of the sorting operations the "S" card causes the contact arms to advance to segments 84a, 85a. A circuit is completed through the magnet 80 to advance the arm 87 to the blank segment " o." At the same time the segment 85 a completes a circuit through the restoring magnet 97 to open contacts 73 and break the motor circuit. To sort the cards according to a selected single item the contact arms may be directly adjusted to the desired position by one or a succession of impulses sent to the magnet by a manually operable key 52 and altering position of switch 51. Specification 529,842 is referred to.