Patent GB-541561-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in methods of, and machines for, sorting record cards
Filed: 1940-05-30
Abstract: 541,561. - Statistical-apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation). May 30, 1940, No. 9527. [Class 106 (i)] A method of sorting record cards, by means of a sorting machine, consists in passing the cards through the machine and (a) selecting automatically all the cards that bear any of a predetermined group of characters and sorting automatically the selected cards into a number 'of sub-files in accordance with these characters while forming a reject file with the remaining cards, (b) repeating the step (a) until all the characters in the series have been selected utilising at each repetition the reject file from the previous step, and (c) assembling the sub-files thus formed. A machine for carrying out this method of sorting when each group of characters comprises two characters only, would be provided with two sub-file pockets and a reject pocket. The record card, Fig. 1 (not shown) has two superposed card fields one representing numerals only the other representing letters of the alphabet as well as numerals. The cards are perforated in accordance with a code for the letters and numerals. In the machine described the cards are paired during the sorting runs and during the first run those bearing designations 0 and 5 are sorted into one or other of a pair of pockets, during the second run cards bearing 1 and 6 designations are sorted and so on. Three additional runs sort the cards bearing designations 10, 11 and 12. Four index point positions (I-IV) constitute a selection group for the digits and two additional zone index point positions (V and VI) are used for the letters. The machine is provided with a conventional card feeding, reading and sorting mechanism, a translator mechanism and a selector unit. Operation and circuit arrangements.-The selection of a card column is effected by rotation of a crank to position the reading brushes 14, Fig. 9. The card field is selected by adjusting a switch 104, which connects the translator magnets 30 in one or other of differently timed circuits to control sorting operations in dependence on the combination of index point positions I to IV. For the letters the index point positions V and VI selectively control relay magnets 201, 202. To condition the machine for sorting according to digits and letters with perforations in the V or VI positions. A switch 210 is adjusted to one of its three positions. For the first sorting run the normal position of the commutators 85a, 85b of the selector unit is as shown in Fig. 9. Assuming a card bearing " O " passes through the machine its corresponding contact 50 will be closed and a circuit will be completed from line 100 through switch 210, wire 211, "0" " contact 50, commutator 85a, switch arm 92a, ring 93a and a wire 94a to the sorting magnet 16a for the sorting pocket Fa. Assuming the next card bears designation " 5 " the circuit will be completed through its closed contact 50 line 91b, commutator 85b, switch arm 92b and a wire 94b to the sorting magnet 16b for the pocket Fb. A holding circuit for the magnet 16b is provided by cam control contacts 226. During this first run of the cards contacts 60, under control of the translator,. are opened for cards bearing representations of the digits 1 to 4, 6 to 9, 10, 11 and 12. The last card bears a character (Sk) and closes contacts 50Sk to complete a circuit from line 100, through line 112, contacts 50Sk, line 54, line 53, relay magnet 80 to line 110. Energization of magnet 80 steps on the commutator arms 87, 92a and 92b. The stepping on of the commutator arms ensure that cards for " 1 " and " 6 " will be sorted on the next run. If none of the cards bears " 1 " or " 6 " the contacts 60 will not be opened and a circuit will be completed from the line 100 through switch 51, line 98, the " 1 " contacts 60, the " 6 " contacts 60. A wire 86, arm 87, ring 88, cam contacts 90, wire 53 and magnet 80 to the line 110 so as to step the commutator arms to the " 2 and " 7 " contacts. After the final run the contacts 60 and commutators are restored to normal position. With the switch 210 in its mid position the circuit to the sorting magnets can only be closed if the contacts 221 are closed as the result of a representation being present in the V index position. In the right-hand position of switch 210 contacts 222 are closed as the result of a representation of the VI index position. The machine may be used to sort out cards bearing a particular designation. For cards bearing designation 3 in the lower field the switch 104 is placed in the dotted position, the switch 210 in the full position, switch 260b is opened and the switch 51 is moved to dotted position. Key controlled contacts 52 are then operated three times to step on the commutator arms. For a particular letter in the upper field the switch 104 remains in full line position and switch 210 moved to its appropriate dotted position. Specification 529,842 is referred to.