Patent GB-622650-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electro-mechanical means for registering and storing data, expressible by combinations of symbols in code form
Filed: 1946-04-13
Abstract: 622,650. Data-storing devices. ERICSSON TELEPHONES, Ltd., and CROWE, D. C. April 13, 1946, No. 11413. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group XXXVIII] Electromechanical apparatus for registering and storing data in the form of coded combinations of symbols comprises a plurality of resilient members arranged in groups, each member being clamped at one end while its other end is free to be set into either of two stable positions, and means for bringing any one of the groups into association with means for reading the settings of the members and /or means for changing the settings. Fig. 2 shows a storage mat in which resilient wires 2 are fixed to a mounting plate 1, the free end of each wire being set in one of two possible stable positions defined by adjacent notches 4 in the upturned edge 5 of the plate. Each wire represents a numerical value and is " effective " in its R.H. position, and " ineffective " in its L.H. position, while four grouped successive wires represent values of 1, 2, 4, 8, so that any number from 0 to 15 may be registered. A mat comprising 12 groups of 4 wires can register a 12 digit number in decimal notation. A number of similar mats are mounted radially in a drum (Fig. 4) rotatable on an axle 6. Levers 11 each have at the tip (Fig. 7) a pair of oppositely sloping faces 28, 29 and a thin stepped shelf 27, and are pivoted on a carriage 13 (Fig. 5), one lever being opposite the end of each of the 48 wires of a selected mat 10. The carriage is fixed to a pair of rods 14 sliding in a framework 15, against springs 26 under control of a plate 16 which is pivoted about 17 by two setting electromagnets 18, 19 (not shown) and by a reading electromagnet, which moves the plate through a less angle than do the setting magnets. The levers are pivotable about 12 by selecting electromagnets 22, arranged (Fig. 6) in groups of four and operating the levers through rods 24 against springs 25. Each lever operates the centre member of a 3-contact spring set 30 controlling an indicating or recording device. To read the existing setting of the wires, all the magnets 22 are energized, depressing the R.H. ends of the levers; the reading magnet is energized to move the carriage to the right so that the stepped shelves at the tips of the levers are brought below the ends of the wires 2. Magnets 22 are then de-energized so that the R.H. ends of the levers are urged upwards. Due to the tip shape, the levers corresponding to " effective " wires are returned to their normal position while those corresponding to " ineffective " wires are retained depressed. The condition of the spring-set 30 of each lever therefore indicates the setting of the corresponding wire, and these spring-sets may control a device indicating or recording the value set up on the mat. De-energization of the reading magnet allows the carriage and levers to return to normal. To set up a new value on a mat, only those magnets 22 are energized which depress the levers corresponding to the wires which are to be set in the " effective " position, and the setting magnets are energized, moving the carriage further to the right than the reading position until the opposed sloping faces of the lever tips engage the ends of the associated wires and force them into the " effective " or " ineffective " positions according as the levers are depressed or undepressed. The setting and selecting magnets are then released. The drum carrying the various mats is positioned by its flange 9 (Fig. 4) which is notched to receive the nose of a pawl 32 engaged by electromagnet 33 against spring 33a. The flange also carries cam-rings 34, 35, 36, 37 controlling the centre members of spring-sets 38, 39, 40, 41, the camrings being cut so that a different combination of contact spring engagement is effected when each mat is brought into the setting and reading position under the control of contact-making keys or the like, which apply an electric potential to the front or back contacts of spring-sets selected according to the required mat. A relay is energized as long as any centre spring touches a marked contact, and causes an external power source to rotate the drum until the cam rings disconnect all the centre springs from the marked contacts, when the relay releases, disconnects the drive and energizes electromagnet 33 to lock the drum with the selected mat in the setting and reading position. The drum may have a second assembly of cam rings and spring-sets at its other end, and may carry mats mounted end to end in pairs. The apparatus is applicable to the recording of warehouse stocks.